Not found (404) in Google Search Console: What to do (and what to ignore)

Start with the map:

• GSC Indexing Statuses Explained (guide)

What this status means

Googlebot tried to fetch the URL and got a 404.

That is not automatically a problem. The problem is when 404s create crawl debt and keep Google busy on junk.

Classify URLs (this decides the fix)

Classify each URL into:

• Keep: should be 200 and indexable
• Move: 301 to a true successor page
• Remove: 410 if intentionally removed; otherwise 404

If you want the full playbook:

• 301 vs 410: GSC Cleanup After a Site Pivot (and What to Ignore)

Fix checklist

1. Remove dead URLs from sitemap.
2. Fix internal links pointing to 404s.
3. 301 only when there is a real successor.
4. Use 410 for intentional removals.

Validation

• GSC URL Inspection: confirm the final status code you intend.
• Watch the Pages report for 1-2 weeks (it lags).