There are two main occasions when you will encounter a 404 error.
- First, when you click on a link and go to a 404 error page instead. This is the result of the original link being broken. The article Getting 404 Errors When Clicking on SmartTag Links addresses this problem and provides a solution.
- Second, occurs if you're being redirected and experience a 404 error. In this case, something is intercepting the MemberMouse redirect to the intended page and sending you someplace that doesn't exist. The list of things that can interfere with redirects generally breaks down into:
1. Other plugins,
2. Custom .htaccess rules,
3. Improper SSL setup, and/or
4. Custom code,
5. Deleted core pages
In this case, here are some steps to help isolate the issue:
- Core Pages - Do you still have all your MemberMouse core pages installed? They are essential for the plugin to work properly and are easy to repair and/or restore. You can restore your core pages by going to General Settings > Manage Install > Repair Core Pages.
Check the URL - Sometimes the URL will give a clue about what is causing the error. For example, if you are getting redirected to /healthy-habits-page/ and get a 404 error, then that means this page 'healthy-habits-page' doesn't exist. You can confirm this by searching for the page in your WordPress pages.
.htaccess Problems - Many times the .htaccess file is the culprit. The .htaccess is a configuration file used by Apache web-servers on your root folder that can, among other things, control redirects, protect folders, and change aspects of your URL’s. Many times you can solve 404 issues by regenerating this file. You should also check your .htaccess file to ensure you don't have any rules in there that will cause problems. For instance, have you created any custom redirects in your .htaccess file? If you have, try commenting the changes out and seeing if you still get the 404 error. If you're not sure what the .htaccess file is or where it can be found, your Hosting Provider can walk you through setting up your .htaccess file and troubleshooting issues.
SSL Certificate - Check to see if HTTP/HTTPS switching is causing the problem. Improper SSL setup usually can be observed in the URL. If the URL changes from HTTP to HTTPS and gives a 404 error, then the SSL version of the site might not be pointing to the right place. We recommend you go through the steps listed in this article, Securing Your Site with HTTPS, to confirm that the SSL certificate is set up correctly with regard to WordPress as well as that you have all the correct security settings on your MemberMouse pages.
Other Plugins or Theme Conflicts - If your problem still exits after repairing your core pages, making sure the page exists, checking the .htaccess file and your SSL settings, then you need to rule out whether other plugins or themes are causing the issue. This is best done by putting MemberMouse into safe mode. This disables all your other plugins and theme. Read this article if you'd prefer to deactivate your plugins and theme manually. If the problem is no longer happening while in Safe Mode, then one of your additional plugins or theme is causing the problem. If a 3rd party theme or plugin is causing an issue, you should contact the author of the 3rd party software for support or discontinue using the offending software.
If you are still experiencing the 404 error, then please submit a ticket to customer support, let us know the troubleshooting steps you've gone through and we'll continue to work with you to resolve the issue.