How to create a custom 404 "page not found" page

In TeleportHQ, a 404 page is the page visitors see when they open an address that doesn't exist on your site, for example a mistyped link. To make your own, add a page, design it, then right-click it in the Pages list and click Set as 404 Page. If you skip this, your published site still gets a plain default 404 page.

Before you start#

• You need a role that can create and edit pages.
• Your project can have only one 404 page. Setting a new one replaces the old one.

1. Create the 404 page#

1. In the left sidebar, click the layers icon (tooltip Pages, Components & Tree View).
2. On the Pages folder row, click +.
3. Click New Page, then click Blank Page.
4. Type 404 as the page name and press Enter.
5. Design the page on the canvas. For example, add a heading Oops, this page doesn't exist and a button that links to your homepage.

A new blank page already starts with your site's navigation and footer, if your site has them. See How to add a new page.

2. Set it as the 404 page#

Naming a page 404 doesn't make it the 404 page. You mark it yourself:

1. In the Pages list, right-click the page. You can also click the … button at the end of its row.
2. Click Set as 404 Page.

Check that it worked#

In the Pages list, a small fallback icon now shows next to your 404 page. The page only works on the published site, not inside the editor. To test it, publish your site, then add /does-not-exist to the end of your live site's address and open it. See How to publish your site.

Troubleshooting#

Set as 404 Page is greyed out The page is your homepage, or it's already the 404 page. The homepage can't also be the 404 page. Pick a different page.

"Home page can't be marked as fallback" You tried to set your homepage as the 404 page. Create a separate page for it.

"Details page can't be marked as fallback" The page shows one item from a data source (for example, one product), so it can't be the 404 page. Use a normal page.

A link to my 404 page appeared in my navigation or footer When you add a page, TeleportHQ asks AI to link it from your navigation and footer, before you've named it. Select the link on the canvas and delete it. To stop it next time, switch off the automatic links before you add the page. See Why do my menu links change when I add or rename a page?

My 404 page doesn't show in the editor The editor shows the page you open, so open the 404 page from the Pages list to edit it. Your visitors see it on your live site when an address doesn't exist. In Preview, a link to an address that doesn't exist shows it too.

Good to know#

• Default 404 page. If you never set one, the published or downloaded site gets a simple page with a large 404, the heading Page not found and a Back to home link. Its title is 404 - Not Found.
• Search engines skip it. The default 404 page tells search engines not to index it.
• Fixed address. The URL field in Page SEO Settings is greyed out on the 404 page, and Custom Redirect isn't available.
• Always published. The 404 page can't be excluded from your published site.
• Pages the AI creates. When TeleportHQ's AI creates a page named like 404 or Not Found and your project has no 404 page yet, that page is set as the 404 page automatically.