Fix Soft 404 Errors in Google Search Console
If you spend enough time digging through the Page Indexing report in Google Search Console, you will inevitably run into an error that sounds like a contradiction: "Submitted URL seems to be a Soft 404."
A standard 404 error is straightforward. It means a page is gone, and your server is correctly telling Google that the page no longer exists. A "Soft 404," however, is a communication breakdown. Your server is telling Google that the page is perfectly fine and loading correctly (a "200 OK" status code), but when Googlebot actually reads the page, it looks dead, empty, or missing.
Because Google refuses to send its users to blank or broken pages, it will not index a Soft 404. Here is how to diagnose why Google is confused and the exact steps to resolve the issue. Need a quick refresher on how Google processes your site? Read our breakdown on the [differences between crawling, indexing, and ranking].
Key Takeaways
- A Soft 404 happens when your server says a page is fine (200 OK), but Googlebot sees an empty or broken page.
- Google will not index pages flagged as Soft 404s to protect the user experience.
- Fix dead pages by returning a true 404 or 410 status code.
- Fix moved or replaced pages by setting up a 301 redirect.
- Fix thin or empty pages by adding valuable content or populating empty category feeds.
Why Do Soft 404 Errors Happen?
Google algorithmically decides a page is a Soft 404 when the content strongly mimics a dead page, despite the server saying otherwise. The most common culprits include:
- Empty Category or Tag Pages: Creating a new blog category without assigning any posts to it leaves the resulting page blank. Google sees the empty feed and assumes it is an error.
- Out-of-Stock Products: E-commerce sites frequently trigger this when a product is removed and replaced with a generic "Item Not Found" text while still returning a 200 OK server status.
- Extremely Thin Content: If a page only contains a title and a single sentence, Google might assume the page hasn't fully loaded or lacks enough substance to be considered a real page.
- Blocked JavaScript: If your core content relies on JavaScript to load, and Googlebot fails to render that JS properly, it will see a blank page and flag it.
How to Fix Soft 404 Errors
The solution depends entirely on what the page is actually supposed to do. Choose the path below that fits your specific URL:
1. Make It a Hard 404 (If the page is truly dead)
If the page no longer exists and there is no relevant replacement, you need to fix your server response. Ensure your server returns a true 404 (Not Found) or 410 (Gone) status code. This tells Google definitively to drop the page from its index and stop wasting your crawl budget. Pro Tip: Soft 404s waste Googlebot's time. Learn how this impacts your site's SEO in our guide on [what crawl budget is and how to optimize it].
2. Set Up a 301 Redirect (If the page moved)
If the content has moved to a new URL, or if an out-of-stock product has been replaced by a newer model, do not let the old URL return a blank screen. Set up a 301 Redirect from the Soft 404 URL to the most relevant live URL. This preserves your SEO authority and fixes the error instantly.
3. Improve the Content (If the page is real)
If the page is valid and should be indexed, but Google thinks it is empty, you need to prove Google wrong. Add substantial, helpful text to the page. If you have several thin pages, consolidate them into one comprehensive master resource. If it is a category page, ensure there are actual blog posts populating the feed.
4. Check Your Rendering (If it's a technical glitch)
If the page looks great to you but Google is flagging it, use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console. Click "Test Live URL" and then "View Tested Page." Look at the screenshot and the HTML tab. If the page looks blank to Googlebot, you likely have blocked resources (like CSS or JS) that need to be allowed in your robots.txt file.
Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
Does a Soft 404 hurt my website's SEO?
Soft 404s do not directly result in a manual penalty, but they do waste your crawl budget. If Google spends its time crawling empty pages, it has less time to crawl and index your highly valuable, ranking-ready content.
How long does it take Google to remove the Soft 404 error after I fix it?
Once you apply the fix (like a 301 redirect or updating content), go to Google Search Console and click "Validate Fix." It can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks for Google to recrawl the URLs and update your report.
Can a custom 404 page cause a Soft 404 error?
Yes. If you build a beautiful custom 404 page ("Oops, page not found!") but forget to configure your server to actually return a 404 status code with it, Google will read the "Oops" text, see the 200 OK server status, and flag it as a Soft 404. Always ensure your custom error pages return the correct HTTP status code. Next Steps: Once you fix the error, don't wait weeks for Google to notice. Follow our quick guide on [how to reindex a page fast in Google]."
WebIndexFix
WebIndexFix is a technical SEO blog focused on solving Google indexing problems, crawl errors, ranking drops, and website visibility issues with simple step-by-step guides.
