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🔀 Fix 404 Errors and Create Redirects in Website Studio

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Camilo Aponte

Camilo Aponte

Last updated on Sep 30, 2026

🔍 Overview

If your Site Audit has flagged hundreds of broken URLs, you can export that list, create 301 redirects to send visitors and search engines to the correct pages, and design a custom 404 error page — all within Search Atlas. This article walks you through each step.

📋 Step 1: Export Your 404 URLs from Site Audit

Before creating redirects, you need a clean list of all broken URLs on your site.

  1. Go to OTTO SEO → Site Audit in the left sidebar.
  2. Open your project and wait for the crawl to finish.
  3. Navigate to OTTO SEO → Site Audit → Overview (Website Overview) and filter by 404 status code.
  4. Click the Export to Docs button to download a CSV file containing all 404 URLs.
  5. Open the CSV in a spreadsheet tool. You will see columns for the broken URL and the page that links to it. Use this to determine where each broken URL should redirect.

Tip: If you have a large list (such as 915 URLs), sort the broken URLs by folder or pattern. Many URLs may share the same fix, which lets you create fewer redirect rules.

🔀 Step 2: Create 301 Redirects in Website Studio

Once you have your list of broken URLs and their intended destinations, set up 301 redirects inside Website Studio.

  1. Open Website Studio from the left-hand navigation.
  2. Select the project that matches the site you audited.
  3. Go to Settings inside your project, then find the Redirects section.
  4. Click Add Redirect.
  5. In the Source field, enter the broken URL path (for example, /old-page-name).
  6. In the Destination field, enter the new URL path where you want visitors to land (for example, /new-page-name).
  7. Set the redirect type to 301 (Permanent).
  8. Click Save.
  9. Repeat for each URL in your export list, or use bulk import if that option is available in your plan.

Note: A 301 redirect tells search engines that the page has permanently moved. This passes link equity to the new URL and removes the broken URL from search results over time.

🎨 Step 3: Create a Custom 404 Error Page in Website Studio

Even after setting up redirects, some visitors may still reach a dead end. A well-designed custom 404 page improves the user experience and keeps visitors on your site.

  1. Inside your Website Studio project, click Add Page.
  2. Name the page 404 or Page Not Found.
  3. Use the drag-and-drop editor to design the page. Best practices include:
    • A clear, friendly message explaining the page does not exist.
    • A search bar or navigation links to help visitors find what they need.
    • A prominent button linking back to your homepage.
  4. Once the page is designed, go to Settings for the page and assign it as your site's 404 error page.
  5. Save and publish your changes.

Tip: Keep the message short and helpful. Avoid technical language — a simple line like "Sorry, we can't find that page. Let's get you back on track." works well.

✅ Step 4: Verify Your Redirects Are Working

After setting up your redirects and custom 404 page, confirm everything is functioning correctly.

  • Paste a formerly broken URL into your browser and confirm it lands on the correct destination page.
  • Re-run a Site Audit crawl after a few days to verify the 404 errors are no longer flagged.
  • Check that your custom 404 page appears when you visit a URL that genuinely does not exist on your site.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bulk-import redirects instead of adding them one by one?
Bulk import availability depends on your plan. Check the Redirects section in Website Studio settings for an import option. If you do not see one, adding redirects individually or grouping similar URL patterns into wildcard rules can save time.

Should I use a 301 or 302 redirect?
Use a 301 (Permanent) redirect when a page has moved for good. Use a 302 (Temporary) redirect only when the move is short-term, such as during a promotion or A/B test. For fixing 404 errors, 301 is almost always the right choice.

Why are 404 errors bad for SEO?
Broken pages waste crawl budget, lose any backlink value pointing to them, and create a poor experience for visitors. Fixing them with 301 redirects transfers authority to your live pages and improves overall site health.

💬 Need More Help?

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