404 or 410: Does Google really differentiate when it comes to deindexing a URL?

What is the technical difference between 404 and 410?

The HTTP 404 code indicates that a resource was not found on the server, without implying whether its absence is temporary or permanent. It is the default status when a URL no longer exists or never existed.

The 410 (Gone) code was designed to explicitly indicate that a resource has been permanently removed and will never return. In theory, it allows the bot to understand that it can stop trying to crawl this URL.

Why does Google's statement change the game?

For a long time, SEOs debated whether 410 accelerates deindexing compared to 404. Google cuts to the chase: both statuses are treated similarly.

Specifically, if you remove a page and you’re torn between a 404 or a 410, Google will neither penalize nor favor one over the other. Both result in the same pace of URL removal from the index.

What impact does it have on crawl budget and bot frequency?

A rarely mentioned point: the 410 can theoretically signal to bots that they no longer need to come back and crawl this URL. The 404, on the other hand, leaves room for doubt about a possible return of the page.

In reality, field observations show that Google continues to crawl periodically 404 URLs, especially if they have active backlinks or appear in sitemaps. Thus, the 410 does not guarantee an immediate halt to bot visits.

• 404 and 410 produce the same effect on deindexing according to Google
• The 410 is technically more explicit in signaling a permanent removal
• Both codes do not differently impact crawl budget in most cases
• Google can continue to crawl 404/410 URLs if they receive active backlinks
• Neither status constitutes a signal of penalty or punishment in the algorithm

Does this statement align with field observations?

Tests conducted on medium to large sites confirm that 404 and 410 URLs disappear from the index at a comparable speed. The difference in treatment, if it exists, remains marginal and difficult to measure reliably.

A caveat: on sites with a very limited crawl budget, some SEOs have observed that 410s seem slightly more effective at halting repeated recrawls. However, these cases remain anecdotal and not generalizable. [To be verified] on larger data sets.

Why do some SEOs continue to prefer the 410?

The 410 is still seen as a best semantic practice: it expresses a clear intent for permanent removal, which can help technical teams and audit tools better understand the state of the site.

Some CMS or frameworks automatically generate 404s for any non-existent URL, making it difficult to distinguish between a deliberately deleted page and a simple broken link. The 410 provides this documentary nuance, even though Google does not care.

In what cases does this rule not apply or pose problems?

If you remove a strategic page with many quality backlinks, neither 404 nor 410 is the right choice. You lose juice and visibility. A 301 redirect to equivalent or similar content remains the best option.

Another case: temporary removals. If you take down a page for a few weeks (out of stock product, previously recurring event), the 404 may be preferable to the 410, even if Google does not differentiate between them. It’s a matter of consistency with your teams and your monitoring tools.

What should you do when removing a page?

Start by analyzing the SEO value of the URL: traffic volume, backlinks, ranking on strategic queries. If it has value, redirect it in 301 to the best available alternative.

If the URL has no traffic, no backlinks, and has never been indexed, a simple 404 or 410 is more than enough. There's no need to worry about choosing between the two.

What mistakes should you avoid when managing HTTP codes?

A common mistake: leaving 404 pages in the XML sitemap. Google will continue to crawl them unnecessarily, wasting crawl budget. Regularly clean your sitemap.

Another trap: using a 404 or 410 when the page has simply been moved. If you change the URL of an existing page, what you need is a 301 redirect, not a removal.

How can you check if your site is handling URL removals correctly?

Use Search Console to monitor the 404 errors reported by Google. If you have hundreds of them, check that they aren’t broken internal links or misconfigured redirects.

Manually test a few removed URLs with a tool like Screaming Frog or HTTPStatus to confirm they return the correct code. A misconfigured server can return a 200 with an error message in the content, which prevents deindexing.

• Audit URLs to be removed to detect backlinks and residual traffic
• Choose between 301 (redirect) and 404/410 (removal) based on SEO value
• Remove deleted URLs from the XML sitemap and internal linking
• Check the HTTP codes returned with a crawler or dedicated tool
• Use Search Console to speed up deindexing if necessary
• Document removals to avoid future errors during migrations