This guide focuses on helping visitors recover from a missing page. For planning the site’s intended page hierarchy and links, see the website structure guide.
1. Explain the problem in plain language
Tell visitors that the page could not be found without blaming them or exposing technical details. A concise headline and one sentence of context are usually enough to explain what happened.
Keep the tone consistent with the rest of the site. A small touch of personality can feel welcoming, but it should not obscure the fact that the requested page is unavailable.
Do not imply that the requested content exists if it has been removed. If there is a known replacement, link to it clearly.
A visitor may reach a missing page through an old bookmark, a mistyped URL, or a broken link. The 404 message should work in each case and avoid implying that the visitor caused the error.
2. Offer a few useful ways forward
Provide a prominent link to the homepage and relevant routes such as key services, a resource hub, or contact information. Choose links that help visitors continue, rather than listing every destination on the site.
If the site has a search function, make it available where appropriate. Use descriptive link text so visitors know where a route will take them.
When the missing URL is a common old address, consider whether a permanent redirect to the closest current page is more helpful. The 404 page is for URLs that do not have an appropriate replacement.
If the site removes a page that has a clear replacement, route the old URL to that replacement when appropriate. Reserve the 404 response for a page without a useful destination.
3. Design a clear recovery page in Wio
Keep the message and primary recovery action easy to find. Use Section Spatial to refine the explanation and links, then Pages Spatial to balance the composition without drawing attention away from the next step.
Make the page work on mobile and desktop. Use readable text, visible focus states for links, and clear contrast. A visitor who has already reached a dead end should not face a confusing or inaccessible recovery page.
Keep the page lighter and simpler than a standard marketing page. Avoid adding unrelated promotions or multiple competing actions that make it harder to return to useful content.
Keep a concise route to key site areas, but avoid a full navigation catalog that repeats the entire site menu. The recovery page should offer a few helpful choices.
4. Test missing URLs and monitor patterns
Open the 404 page directly and test every recovery link. Then test a URL that does not exist to confirm the site displays the intended page rather than a blank screen or unrelated error.
Review error logs or search data where available to find common broken URLs. Fix internal links and redirect old URLs when a relevant replacement exists.
Recheck the page after navigation changes. The 404 design should remain accurate as the site grows and its most useful destinations change.
Make sure the server returns the correct not-found status along with the designed page. A visually correct message alone does not ensure that a missing URL is handled properly.
