How to fix “The requested URL was not found on this server”

The error “The requested URL was not found on this server” usually occurs when the server cannot find the requested resource.

In the context of a WordPress site, this can be caused by issues with permalinks or the .htaccess file. Here’s how you can troubleshoot and fix this issue:

1. Update permalinks:

• Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
• Go to “Settings” > “Permalinks.”
• Select a permalink structure, such as “Post name” or any other option.
• Click “Save Changes.”

Updating permalinks will generate a new .htaccess file, which may resolve the issue.

2. Check and edit the .htaccess file:

If updating permalinks doesn’t fix the problem, you may need to check your .htaccess file. You can find the .htaccess file in the root directory of your WordPress installation.

1. Connect to your server using an FTP client or File Manager in your hosting control panel.
2. Locate the .htaccess file in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
3. Open the .htaccess file and make sure it contains the following default WordPress rules:

# BEGIN WordPress

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

# END WordPress

4. Save the changes and check if the issue is resolved.

If you don’t see a .htaccess file in your WordPress root directory, create a new file named “.htaccess” and add the default WordPress rules mentioned above. Then, save the file and upload it to the root directory.

3. Enable the Apache mod_rewrite module:

Make sure the Apache mod_rewrite module is enabled on your server, as it’s required for WordPress permalinks to work correctly. If you’re unsure how to do this, contact your hosting provider for assistance.

4. Check for plugin conflicts:

Sometimes, plugins can cause conflicts that lead to errors like “The requested URL was not found on this server.” Try deactivating your plugins one by one and see if the issue is resolved. If the issue disappears after deactivating a particular plugin, that plugin is likely causing the conflict. You can either keep the plugin deactivated or find an alternative plugin with similar functionality.

If the issue persists after trying these solutions, you may want to contact your hosting provider for further assistance.