Redirect 404 Pages to Homepage in Blogger (Custom Redirects, Smart 404, and JS Fallback) - KodeRian

Few things are more frustrating—both for readers and search engines—than landing on a dead page. On Blogger, a 404 error (“Not Found”) usually appears when a post was deleted, moved, the permalink changed, or a link was shared without the right domain configuration. In this expanded guide, you’ll learn how to redirect 404 pages to the homepage in Blogger, plus the right way to prevent and fix 404s so your SEO, crawl budget, and user trust stay intact.

We’ll walk through several approaches—from Custom Redirects (ideal), to a custom 404 page that suggests relevant content, and finally a JavaScript fallback that can send visitors to your homepage. You’ll also get practical troubleshooting tips, an FAQ, and copy-paste snippets you can drop straight into your template. Think of this like polishing details in a custom scrollbar tutorial: small UX upgrades (whether it’s a Blogger CSS scrollbar or a smart 404 flow) add up to a smoother, more professional site.

What Is a 404 Page and Why It Matters

A 404 error is the browser’s way of saying “this URL doesn’t map to a valid page.” On Blogger, it can show up as:

• 404 Error / 404 Not Found / Error 404
• HTTP 404 / HTTP 404 Not Found
• 404 File or Directory Not Found
• 404 Page Not Found

Common causes:

1. Permalink changes after the post was shared or indexed.
2. Deleted or unpublished content while external links still point to it.
3. Custom domain misconfiguration (e.g., non-www vs www).
4. Typos in shared URLs.

Why it matters: too many broken links can tank user satisfaction and waste crawl budget. Search engines tolerate a normal number of 404s (they’re part of the web), but blanket or incorrect behavior (like redirecting every 404 to the homepage) can create soft 404 signals and confuse indexing.

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Strategy First: The Right Order of Fixes

Before you drop a site-wide redirect, follow this priority checklist:

1. Fix the link at the source (menus, posts, social profiles).
2. Use Blogger’s Custom Redirects for 1:1 mappings (old URL → new URL).
3. Design a helpful 404 page with search, categories, and “popular posts.”
4. As a last resort, add a gentle JavaScript redirect for true dead-ends.

Handled this way, you protect SEO and still give visitors a way out, fast.

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Fix 404s Caused by Custom Domains (www vs non-www)

One of the most common 404 triggers on Blogger is mixing www and non-www links. Google treats them as separate hosts. Make sure you redirect the bare domain to the www version (or vice versa, depending on your setup).

Steps

1. Login to Blogger.
2. Go to Settings → scroll to your Publishing (custom domain) section.
3. Enable “Redirect domain.com to www.domain.com”.

That single toggle prevents a big chunk of avoidable 404s.

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Fix 404s After Changing Permalinks (Best Practice)

If you’ve updated a post’s URL after sharing it, map the old path to the new one using Blogger’s built-in Custom Redirects. This gives search engines a consistent destination and preserves traffic.

Steps

1. Open Settings → Errors and redirects.
2. Find Custom redirects → click Add.
3. Enter the From path and the To path (just the path parts, not the full domain).
4. Toggle Permanent to ON (acts like a 301).
5. Click Save.

Example:

From: /2024/08/how-to-rename-post-url.html
To:   /2024/08/how-to-update-permalink-in-blogger.html

Tip: Blogger’s redirect tool doesn’t support regex or wildcards. If you changed many URLs, you’ll need one mapping per path. Prioritize the highest-traffic ones first.

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Design a Useful 404 Page (Visitor-First)

Instead of dumping users onto a blank error screen, turn your 404 into a mini-homepage: show search, categories, latest posts, and popular tutorials. It keeps users engaged and reduces bounce.

Recommended 404 Content

• Brief message: “We can’t find that page.”
• Search bar: help users find what they meant.
• Popular posts / recent posts widget.
• Top categories or tags.
• Button: “Back to Homepage.”

In Blogger → Settings → Errors and redirects → Custom 404, you can add HTML to style this page. Here’s a quick starter:

<div class="kdr-404">
  <h2>Oops… page not found (404).</h2>
  <p>The link may be broken or the page may have moved. Try a search or head home.</p>

  <form class="kdr-search" action="/search" method="get">
    <input name="q" placeholder="Search tutorials…" aria-label="Search">
    <button type="submit">Search</button>
  </form>

  <a class="kdr-home" href="/">Go to Homepage</a>

  <!-- Optional: insert Popular/Recent Posts widget snippet here -->
</div>

<style>
.kdr-404{max-width:720px;margin:48px auto;padding:24px;border-radius:12px;background:#0f1720;color:#e6ecf5}
.kdr-404 h2{margin:0 0 12px;font:800 28px/1.2 system-ui}
.kdr-404 p{margin:0 0 16px;opacity:.85}
.kdr-search{display:flex;gap:8px;margin:12px 0 18px}
.kdr-search input{flex:1;border:1px solid #2a3340;border-radius:10px;padding:10px;background:#1a2130;color:#e6ecf5}
.kdr-search button,.kdr-home{border:0;border-radius:10px;padding:10px 14px;background:#3367d6;color:#fff;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none}
.kdr-home{display:inline-block}
</style>

This visitor-first approach alone often outperforms a blunt redirect to the homepage.

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Last Resort: Redirect All 404s to the Homepage (JavaScript)

Sometimes you need a blanket fallback—e.g., during a big migration or while you clean up broken links. You can ask Blogger to run a small script on your custom 404 page that sends users to the homepage after a brief delay. Use this carefully, because redirecting every 404 to the homepage can look like a soft 404 to search engines and dilute relevance.

Where to add it

1. Go to Settings → Errors and redirects.
2. Open Custom 404.
3. Paste one of the scripts below (edit URL if needed).
4. Save.

Instant redirect (no delay)

<script>
  window.location.href = "/";
</script>

Redirect after a short message (recommended)

<div class="kdr-404-redirect">
  <p>The page you want isn’t available. Sending you to the homepage…</p>
  <a href="/">Go now</a>
</div>
<script>
  setTimeout(function(){ window.location.href = "/"; }, 1500);
</script>

Redirect with referrer awareness (optional)

<script>
// If the visitor came from your own site, go home; otherwise show helpful UI.
// Adjust domains as needed.
(function(){
  var ref = document.referrer || "";
  var sameSite = ref.indexOf(location.hostname) !== -1;
  if (sameSite) setTimeout(function(){ location.href="/"; }, 1200);
})();
</script>

Important: If you want to audit and fix broken links later, temporarily disable any auto-redirect so you can see which 404 URLs are being hit.

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Bonus: Track 404s and Measure Impact

• Search Console: Check Pages / Crawl stats to find 404s discovered by Google.
• Analytics: Create a GA event on your custom 404 page (e.g., fire an event on load). This shows real visitor hits.
• UTM tags: If redirecting, optionally append a UTM parameter to learn how often users “fall back” to home. Example:

  <script>
    location.href = "/?utm_source=404&utm_medium=redirect";
  </script>
  

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Prevent Future 404s (Maintenance Checklist)

1. Lock your permalink strategy: decide on a format; avoid changes after publishing.
2. Update internal links when you rename posts or change paths.
3. Re-share corrected links on social profiles, menus, and partner sites.
4. Keep a helpful 404 page even if you redirect some URLs—readers appreciate it.

Same mindset you’d apply when you customize scrollbar Blogger UI: consistency and small details prevent friction later.

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Troubleshooting

My custom redirect isn’t working

• Use only the path (e.g., /2025/01/post.html)—not the full domain—in Blogger’s Custom redirects.
• Double-check uppercase/lowercase; URLs are case sensitive in many contexts.
• Confirm the destination exists and is published.

WWW redirect still shows 404

• Ensure the Redirect domain.com to www.domain.com toggle is ON.
• Give DNS changes time to propagate (if you recently set up a custom domain).

Google still lists the old URLs

• That’s normal for a while. Keep 301 mappings in place and let search engines recrawl.
• Update your XML sitemap and submit it in Search Console.

Should I redirect every 404 to home?

• Only as a temporary fallback. Overuse can create “soft 404” issues. Prefer 1:1 redirects and a helpful 404 page.

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FAQs

What’s the best fix for a single broken post?

Use Custom redirects for a clean 301 from the old path to the correct post. It preserves link equity and gives the best user experience.

Is JavaScript redirect SEO-friendly?

It’s a last resort. Search engines may not treat JS redirects like server-side 301s, and blanket homepage redirects can be flagged as soft 404s. Use sparingly.

Can I redirect to a category page instead of home?

Yes. If the missing post belongs to a topic, redirecting to a relevant label or hub page can be more helpful than home.

What if I migrated many URLs?

Create high-priority redirects first (top traffic posts), keep an excellent 404 page, and use analytics to discover more paths to map.

Does a pretty 404 page really help?

Absolutely. A smart 404 with search + popular posts turns a dead end into a discovery moment, reducing bounce and keeping readers engaged.

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Copy-Paste Snippets

Minimal 404 → Home (in Custom 404 field)

<script>
  window.location.href = "/";
</script>

Friendly 404 with delayed redirect

<div class="oops">That page is gone. Redirecting you to the homepage…</div>
<script> setTimeout(function(){ location.href="/"; }, 1500); </script>

Homepage button only (no auto redirect)

<a class="btn" href="/">Back to Homepage</a>

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Conclusion

On Blogger, fixing 404s the right way is a balance: map what you can with custom redirects, present a helpful 404 page to keep readers exploring, and only use a homepage redirect as a temporary guardrail. This approach safeguards your SEO while giving visitors a clear path forward. Whether you’re reworking permalinks, switching to a custom domain, or just tightening up site polish (like you would in a custom scrollbar Blogger makeover), the steps above will keep your blog fast, friendly, and resilient.

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