I can see a 404 in the dashboard- how do I fix it?
The Retour dashboard makes it straightforward to create a redirect directly from a recorded 404 error without having to re-enter the broken URL manually.
Creating a redirect from a 404
In the Dashboard, find the 404 URL you want to address. Look for the option to create a redirect from that row- this will open a new redirect form with the source URL already populated from the 404 record. You only need to enter the destination URL and choose a status code, then save.
Deciding where to redirect
Before creating the redirect, consider where the best destination is. Ideally redirect to the most closely related page- a replacement page if one exists, or the relevant section listing page. Avoid redirecting everything to the homepage as a fallback, as this provides a poor experience for visitors who were looking for something specific.
After creating the redirect
Once a redirect has been created for a 404 URL, the dashboard will mark it as handled. Future visits to that URL will be redirected rather than generating a new 404 entry. The original 404 record remains in the dashboard for reference but will no longer accumulate new hits.
Fixing the link at source
If the referrer column shows that the broken link is coming from another page on your own site, update that page to use the correct URL. A redirect is a safety net, not a substitute for fixing broken links in your own content.
Creating a redirect from a 404
In the Dashboard, find the 404 URL you want to address. Look for the option to create a redirect from that row- this will open a new redirect form with the source URL already populated from the 404 record. You only need to enter the destination URL and choose a status code, then save.
Deciding where to redirect
Before creating the redirect, consider where the best destination is. Ideally redirect to the most closely related page- a replacement page if one exists, or the relevant section listing page. Avoid redirecting everything to the homepage as a fallback, as this provides a poor experience for visitors who were looking for something specific.
After creating the redirect
Once a redirect has been created for a 404 URL, the dashboard will mark it as handled. Future visits to that URL will be redirected rather than generating a new 404 entry. The original 404 record remains in the dashboard for reference but will no longer accumulate new hits.
Fixing the link at source
If the referrer column shows that the broken link is coming from another page on your own site, update that page to use the correct URL. A redirect is a safety net, not a substitute for fixing broken links in your own content.