Title: Create a “Page Doesn’t Exist” message
Last modified: August 19, 2016

---

# Create a “Page Doesn’t Exist” message

 *  Resolved [isopropyl24](https://wordpress.org/support/users/isopropyl24/)
 * (@isopropyl24)
 * [18 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-a-page-doesnt-exist-message/)
 * Instead of just a blank page (with the header, background, sidebars, ect.), I
   want to display a message if someone tries to load a non-existent page. How can
   I do this?

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

 *  [Len](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lenk/)
 * (@lenk)
 * [18 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-a-page-doesnt-exist-message/#post-678821)
 * If your theme didn’t come prepackaged with a 404.php it’s easy to create one.
   What theme are you currently using so that I can be more specific?
 *  Thread Starter [isopropyl24](https://wordpress.org/support/users/isopropyl24/)
 * (@isopropyl24)
 * [18 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-a-page-doesnt-exist-message/#post-678951)
 * [http://themes.wordpress.net/columns/3-columns/1755/fog-10/](http://themes.wordpress.net/columns/3-columns/1755/fog-10/)
 *  [Len](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lenk/)
 * (@lenk)
 * [18 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-a-page-doesnt-exist-message/#post-678960)
 * Try this,
 *     ```
       <?php get_header(); ?>
   
       <div id="content">
   
       <?php include(TEMPLATEPATH."/l_sidebar.php");?>
   
       <div id="main"><div class="entry">
   
       <h3>ERROR 404 - NOT FOUND</h3>
       <p>&nbsp;</p>
       <p>YOUR CUSTOM ERROR MESSAGE HERE</p>
   
       </div></div>
   
       <?php include(TEMPLATEPATH."/r_sidebar.php");?>
   
       </div>
   
       <?php get_footer(); ?>
       ```
   
 * Paste that in a plain text editor such as notepad, call it 404.php and upload
   it to your themes folder.
 *  Thread Starter [isopropyl24](https://wordpress.org/support/users/isopropyl24/)
 * (@isopropyl24)
 * [18 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-a-page-doesnt-exist-message/#post-678979)
 * Works perfectly, thanks!

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

The topic ‘Create a “Page Doesn’t Exist” message’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [message](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/message/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [isopropyl24](https://wordpress.org/support/users/isopropyl24/)
 * Last activity: [18 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-a-page-doesnt-exist-message/#post-678979)
 * Status: resolved

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