Title: 404 error
Last modified: August 1, 2022

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# 404 error

 *  Resolved [alanowen](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alanowen/)
 * (@alanowen)
 * [3 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/404-error-413/)
 * We have tried clicking the permalinks, uninstalling and reinstalling, but all
   we get is a 404 error and its starting to affect the Google ranking#?
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2F404-error-413%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [Jeroen Rotty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jeroenrotty/)
 * (@jeroenrotty)
 * [3 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/404-error-413/#post-15880330)
 * Hey [@alanowen](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alanowen/),
 * Thank you for reaching out.
 * I had a look at the sitemap URL and I’m able to see the 404 as well. However,
   the non-pretty permalink of your site.co.uk/?sitemap=1 does load the sitemap.
 * It seems like there is indeed an issue with your permalinks, but I checked your
   menu on the site and it looks like you don’t have pretty permalinks enabled. 
   I recommend using “postname” as your pretty permalink option. [https://yoast.com/help/how-do-i-change-the-permalink-structure/](https://yoast.com/help/how-do-i-change-the-permalink-structure/).
 *  Thread Starter [alanowen](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alanowen/)
 * (@alanowen)
 * [3 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/404-error-413/#post-15880462)
 * It seems that [https://www.wholesalebrandedcosmetics.co.uk/?sitemap=1](https://www.wholesalebrandedcosmetics.co.uk/?sitemap=1)
   does work. After trying your suggestion, none of the products would load, so 
   I changed it back to ‘Plain’ and now it works, although [https://www.wholesalebrandedcosmetics.co.uk/sitemap_index.xml](https://www.wholesalebrandedcosmetics.co.uk/sitemap_index.xml)
   still has a 404 error?
 *  [Jeroen Rotty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jeroenrotty/)
 * (@jeroenrotty)
 * [3 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/404-error-413/#post-15880783)
 * I would investigate why your pretty permalinks wouldn’t work as having pretty
   permalinks for your whole site is recommended: [https://yoast.com/change-wordpress-permalink-structure/](https://yoast.com/change-wordpress-permalink-structure/)
 * I just noted that your site runs on a Windows IIS server, it might not directly
   work as pretty permalinks use your .htaccess file to make things work. Please
   check with your web host if/how you can make it work. When you don’t have pretty
   permalinks, it’s normal that /sitemap_index.xml wouldn’t work as it relies on
   pretty permalinks to work.
 *  Plugin Support [Maybellyne](https://wordpress.org/support/users/maybellyne/)
 * (@maybellyne)
 * [3 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/404-error-413/#post-15907219)
 * This thread was marked resolved due to a lack of activity, but you’re always 
   welcome to re-open the topic. Please read [this post](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-this-before-your-post/)
   before [opening a new request](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wordpress-seo#new-post).

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘404 error’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 4 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [Maybellyne](https://wordpress.org/support/users/maybellyne/)
 * Last activity: [3 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/404-error-413/#post-15907219)
 * Status: resolved