# Custom Permalinks Return 404 Errors

> Pages return 404 after changing WordPress permalinks? Learn the likely causes, from .htaccess to mod_rewrite, and how to fix them in Phox.

Source: https://phox.wdes.org/docs/custom-permalinks-return-404-errors/
Last updated: 2020-05-17

If you are getting 404 error when accessing pages, please see the information below.

## Symptoms

I just setup my WordPress installation and my awesome new Phox theme. I went into _WP Admin > Settings > Permalinks_ and selected something other than the default option. But now when I try and navigate to a page, it just returns a generic “404 Error – Page not found” message. What gives?

## Likely Causes

Firstly, this is not a theme issue. The problem involves your core WordPress installation, or your web server configuration. That said, there a few things that can cause this to happen:

- Apache II mod_rewrite module is not being loaded by your web server.
- Your WordPress [.htaccess](http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/howto/htaccess.html) file is missing or not writeable by the web server.
- Apache II is configured to disallow overrides by your .htaccess file.

## Solutions

There are several solutions to this issue. Please see the bulleted list below.

- First make sure that mod_rewrite is installed and enabled on your Apache II web server, and also make sure that the webserver allows your .htaccess file to [override](http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/mod/core.html#allowoverride) the server directory configuration.
- Make sure that your WordPress .htaccess file is present in your WordPress installation. If it is not, simply create a blank file called .htaccess and upload it to your WordPress installation folder.
- Set permissions on your .htaccess file that allows your web server to write to the file – CHMOD 666.
- Go back and set your permalinks option to the “default” option and save the change. Then, set it to something other than the default and save the change.
- If your .htaccess file is writeable by the web server, it will contain new directives that sets rewrite rules for your custom permalink option.
- If it is not writeable, you will see a message below your permalinks screen that contains the rule set you need to add manually into your .htaccess file, save it, and upload it back to the WordPress installation folder.
- Check to see if you can navigate from your front page menu links without error.
- If the issue persists, contact your web host support team for further assistance.

> **Tip:** For additional information on working with permalinks in WordPress
>
> visit the [WordPress Codex](http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Permalinks).