Why it matters
Soft 404s are not indexed, and Google keeps crawling them, which wastes crawl effort on pages that add nothing.
Soft 404 errors
The page returned a success code but looks like an error or empty page to Google. Return a real 404 when the page is missing, or give the page meaningful content if it should exist.
Diagnose it
Symptoms, checks and fixes
Common symptoms
- URLs listed under "Soft 404" in the Page indexing report.
- Empty category pages, out-of-stock pages with no detail, or "nothing found" search results pages.
Checks to run
| Check | How to tell | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Is the page actually missing? | Open it and look for a "not found" message or almost no content. | Make the server return a 404 or 410 status for pages that do not exist.[1][2] |
| What does Googlebot see? | In URL Inspection, run a live test and use "View tested page" to see the rendered content. | If key content is missing from the rendered page, fix the template or the script that loads it.[3][1] |
| Is it an empty listing? | Check category, tag or filter pages with zero items. | Add real content, merge the page into a fuller one, or stop generating the empty page.[1] |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why does Google call my page a soft 404?
Because the page returned a 2xx status but looked like an error or an empty page to Google.[2]
How we work together
Two ways to get started
Website Subscription
Your website, fully managed — no big upfront cost.
We design, build, host, maintain and keep improving your site for one simple monthly fee.
- Custom-designed & built for your brand
- Hosting, security & maintenance included
- Ongoing edits & content updates
- Continuous SEO & performance improvements
- Scale up or down as you grow
Fixed Project
A one-off custom build you own outright.
A defined scope and a single fixed quote — delivered once, and yours to keep.
- Bespoke design & development
- Defined scope & timeline
- You own the website & code
- Optional care plan after launch
- Custom-quoted to your needs
Sources
- [1] Page indexing report (Search Console Help). Checked 9 October 2026.
- [2] Google crawling docs: How HTTP status codes affect Google's crawlers. Checked 10 October 2026.
- [3] Search Console Help: URL Inspection tool. Checked 10 October 2026.
Ready to get started?
Get a free, no-obligation quote for your project. We respond within 24 hours.