Should You Really Fix All 404 Errors Reported in Search Console?

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Official statement

On Reddit, John Mueller clarified how to approach Search Console reports showing a significant number of 404 errors related to URLs that don't exist. The culprit: spam sites creating links to imaginary pages. In this specific case, John Mueller simply advises ignoring the errors indicated in the report: "if the page isn't supposed to exist, it's normal for it to return a 404 error."

Source : Search Engine Journal

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Official statement from November 7, 2023 (2 years ago)

⚠ A more recent statement exists on this topic Why Did Your Search Console Impressions Drop Overnight? John Mueller · September 23, 2025 View statement →

What you need to understand

Search Console reports sometimes display an impressive number of 404 errors, which can worry SEO professionals. But not all these errors deserve the same attention.

The case mentioned here concerns URLs that have never existed on your site. These phantom pages appear in your reports because third-party sites (often spam) create links to imaginary pages on your domain.

Google clarifies that it's perfectly normal for a non-existent page to return a 404 code. This is actually the expected and recommended behavior. The mistake would be wanting to eliminate these reports at all costs.

Not all 404 errors are problematic for your SEO
Non-existent URLs should legitimately return a 404 code
Spam backlinks to fictional pages require no action
Search Console reports these errors for completeness, not urgency
Focus your efforts on real broken pages that have lost their content

SEO Expert opinion

This clarification is consistent with the technical reality of the web and with field observations. Too many SEO professionals waste valuable time trying to "fix" 404 errors that pose no real problem.

However, an important nuance must be added: this approach only applies to URLs that have never existed. If you've deleted content that was generating traffic or had quality backlinks, these 404s deserve real attention with appropriate 301 redirects.

Warning: Distinguish between "legitimate" 404s (pages never created) and "problematic" 404s (deleted content, modified URLs, broken internal links). Only the latter require active correction through redirects or content restoration.

The obsession with "zero errors" in Search Console can be counterproductive. It's better to invest your time in creating quality content and optimizing existing pages rather than chasing ghosts.

Practical impact and recommendations

Analyze the origin of your 404 errors: review the URLs involved and check whether they ever existed on your site
Ignore 404s on fanciful URLs created by spam sites (random strings, bizarre parameters, non-existent extensions)
Focus on 404s that correspond to real former pages: analyze their traffic history and backlinks
Implement 301 redirects only for deleted pages that had value (traffic, backlinks, conversions)
Monitor broken internal links with a crawler (Screaming Frog, Sitebulb): these 404s must be fixed
Don't create fake content just to eliminate 404s from Search Console
Document your 404 management strategy for your team to avoid unnecessary interventions

Intelligent management of 404 errors requires in-depth contextual analysis rather than systematic correction. This distinction between legitimate and problematic 404s demands technical and strategic expertise.

For complex sites with a rich history, auditing 404 errors, analyzing lost backlinks, and implementing an optimal redirect architecture can represent substantial work. A specialized SEO agency can support you in this process by cross-referencing Analytics data, site history, and backlink mapping to effectively prioritize high-impact actions.