Title: SEO data optimization error 404
Last modified: May 13, 2022

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# SEO data optimization error 404

 *  Resolved [xavierbiron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xavierbiron/)
 * (@xavierbiron)
 * [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/)
 * Hello,
 * I’m using the last version of Yoast SEO 18.8. When I click on “Start SEO data
   optimization”, I got this error message :
 *     ```
       Oops, something has gone wrong and we couldn't complete the optimization of your SEO data. Please click the button again to re-start the process.
   
       Below are the technical details for the error. See this page for a more detailed explanation.
   
       Error details
       Request URL
       http://mot.test/wp-json/yoast/v1/indexing/prepare
   
       Request method
       POST
   
       Status code
       404
   
       Error message
       No route was found matching the URL and request method.
       ```
   
 * I’ve read some articles, and tried to install Yoast help and Reset Indexables
   tables & migrations. It didn’t help. My rest API is well enabled and my permalinks
   too.
 * I don’t know what to try.
    Thanks.

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

 *  Plugin Support [Michael Tiña](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mikes41720/)
 * (@mikes41720)
 * [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/#post-15647944)
 * Hi [@xavierbiron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xavierbiron/)
 * The SEO data optimization can fail due to several factors. Please do try resetting
   it again and re-running the process and check if it’s still the same error:
 * 1. Install & activate the [Yoast Test Helper plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/yoast-test-helper/)
   
   2. Go to Tools > Yoast Test 3. Locate the Yoast SEO section and click on the ‘
   Reset indexables tables & migrations’, ‘Reset Prominent words calculation’, and‘
   Reset Internal link counter’ buttons. After each click, the page will reload 
   to confirm that the specific reset was successful. 4. Go to SEO > Tools, and 
   under SEO data, click the “Start SEO data optimization” button to allow Yoast
   to rescan your content.
 * You can also refer to this article for more information – [https://yoast.com/help/we-couldnt-complete-the-optimization-of-your-seo-data/](https://yoast.com/help/we-couldnt-complete-the-optimization-of-your-seo-data/)
 *  Thread Starter [xavierbiron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xavierbiron/)
 * (@xavierbiron)
 * [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/#post-15649398)
 * Hi,
 * Thanks for the answer.
    I’ve followed your instructions and I still get the same
   error message. Any idea ?
 *  [devnihil](https://wordpress.org/support/users/devnihil/)
 * (@devnihil)
 * [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/#post-15657839)
 * [@xavierbiron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xavierbiron/) We’re sorry 
   to hear you are still experiencing this issue.
 * Can you please confirm you are using the most recent release of Yoast SEO version
   18.9? You can learn more about updating here: [https://yoast.com/help/how-can-i-update-my-free-plugin/](https://yoast.com/help/how-can-i-update-my-free-plugin/)
 * Also, can you confirm you are using WordPress 5.9.3? You can check by clicking
   on the W in the top left and selecting About. If you need to update, please check
   with your host provider. Please know that if you are using an older version of
   WordPress Core you may experience unexpected behavior with Yoast. This guide 
   explains more: [https://yoast.com/why-we-dont-support-old-wordpress-versions/](https://yoast.com/why-we-dont-support-old-wordpress-versions/)
 * If you update to the most current version of WordPress and Yoast SEO, does this
   resolve the issue?
 * If you have confirmed both WordPress, Yoast SEO, and all of your site’s other
   plugins and themes are up to date and the problem is still occurring, we would
   next recommend performing a conflict check. A plugin or theme conflict can sometimes
   cause functionality problems, errors, or unexpected behavior from the plugin.
   If you are unfamiliar with checking for conflicts, we have a step by step guide
   on how to check for conflicts available here: [How to check for plugin conflicts](https://yoast.com/help/how-to-check-for-plugin-conflicts/).
 * Test this on your development or staging site, if you have one. If not, we recommend
   using the [Health Check & Troubleshooting](https://wordpress.org/plugins/health-check/)
   plugin. This plugin allows you to run a conflict check **without affecting normal
   visitors to your site**.
 * Can you please confirm you have performed a complete conflict check by disabling
   other plugins, and resetting the theme to a default such as [TwentyTwentyOne](https://wordpress.org/themes/twentytwentyone/)
   and let us know the results?
 * If you do not feel comfortable to do this yourself or if this does not solve 
   your issue, our [Yoast SEO Premium plugin](https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/)
   comes with one year of (technical) support.
 *  Thread Starter [xavierbiron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xavierbiron/)
 * (@xavierbiron)
 * [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/#post-15658221)
 * Hi,
    I confirm I have now the last version of Yoast (18.9). My WP version was
   already updated (5.9.3). I’ve disabled all the extensions (except Yoast), and
   activated the theme twentytwentyone. The issue is still the same.
 *     ```
       Error details
       Request URL
       http://mot.test/wp-json/yoast/v1/indexing/prepare
   
       Request method
       POST
   
       Status code
       404
       ```
   
 * I’ve installed the health check plugin, which didn’t help.
    Any ideas ? Thanks
 *  Plugin Support [Michael Tiña](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mikes41720/)
 * (@mikes41720)
 * [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/#post-15662357)
 * Hi [@xavierbiron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xavierbiron/)
 * Since this issue still occurs with just a default theme and only the Yoast SEO
   plugin, we can rule out any plugin or theme conflicts.
 * Based from your findings that the pathway w`p-json/yoast/v1/indexing/prepare/`
   is getting a `404` status, it looks like something on your site/server setups
   blocks this request. It is a request that our plugin makes to the REST API for
   scanning posts and index them in the website database. Therefore, SEO data optimization
   cannot be performed.
 * Because we don’t know your server setup, we cannot determine exactly why the 
   server returns a 404 for the REST API requests made by Yoast. Based on similar
   issues we receive from other users, this typically occurs due to a security or
   server setting.
 * Please check the ‘mod_security’ settings that prevent our plugin from accessing
   the REST API? If there are no ‘mod_security’ settings preventing access at the
   server, you may have a custom .htaccess rule or security plugin limiting access
   to the WordPress REST API. Please review any security restrictions and whitelist
   the Yoast plugin for accessing the feature.
 * If you have a Web Application Firewall (WAF), like Comodo, please verify that
   it is not set up to strip the parameter from the Yoast REST API requests. Some
   users have reported that some WAF setups are too strict to prevent Blind SQL 
   injection attacks. Your hosting provider can easily check and help you to resolve
   this.
 * Otherwise, we might need to take a look closer at your site. You may want to 
   consider [Yoast SEO Premium](https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/) as well.
   Thanks!
 *  Thread Starter [xavierbiron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xavierbiron/)
 * (@xavierbiron)
 * [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/#post-15663763)
 * Hi,
    Thanks for your help. I investigate on the side of my htaccess files, and
   it doesn’t seem to be the problem. I removed everything except the WP block and
   the basic setup lines (as I use Bedrock). And the issue is still the same. For
   the mod_security, I don’t think it is activated as I’m on a local dev server.
   And no firewall is installed that I’m aware of.
 * I’ve started the Yoast premium subscription.
    How is it possible to resolve this
   issue ? Thanks. Xavier
 *  Plugin Support [Michael Tiña](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mikes41720/)
 * (@mikes41720)
 * [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/#post-15668539)
 * Hi [@xavierbiron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xavierbiron/)
 * Since you’ve purchased a Yoast SEO Premium subscription, please do feel free 
   to contact us directly at **[support@yoast.com](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/support@yoast.com?output_format=md)**
   for further assistance – [https://yoast.com/help/support/#premium](https://yoast.com/help/support/#premium)
 * You can reference this forum thread so that all of the necessary information 
   can be taken into account for the additional troubleshooting.
 *  [devnihil](https://wordpress.org/support/users/devnihil/)
 * (@devnihil)
 * [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/#post-15692150)
 * We are going ahead and marking this issue as resolved due to inactivity. If you
   require any further assistance please create a new issue.
 *  Thread Starter [xavierbiron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xavierbiron/)
 * (@xavierbiron)
 * [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/#post-15692183)
 * Hi,
 * I’ve finally found the problem. It was somewhere in my htaccess file. I had a
   rewrite rule which was adding a trailing slash at the end.
    By excluding the 
   wp-json repertory, it works now : `RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/wp-json/.+`
 * So problem solved.
    Thanks

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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

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 * 9 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [xavierbiron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xavierbiron/)
 * Last activity: [4 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seo-data-optimization-error-404/#post-15692183)
 * Status: resolved