Create your custom 404 error page just like any other page using the WordPress Page Editor. Then go to 'Appearance' -> '404 Error Page' and select the created page as your custom 404 error page. That's it!
* Different from other similar plugins the 404page plugin **does not create redirects**. That’s **quite important** because a correct code 404 is delivered which tells search engines that the page does not exist and has to be removed from the index. A redirect would result in a HTTP code 301 or 302 and the URL would remain in the search index.
* Different from other similar plugins the 404page plugin **does not create additional server requests**.
More detailed information about the 404page plugin can be found in the [Plugin Manual](http://petersplugins.com/docs/404page/). For support check the [Support Forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/404page).
= The 404page plugin was sucessfully tested by the author with the following themes =
* [Athena](https://wordpress.org/themes/athena/)
* [Customizr](https://wordpress.org/themes/customizr/) (Read more about [Customizr Compatibility Mode](http://petersplugins.com/docs/404page/#settings_operating_method))
* [WP Super Cache](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-super-cache/)(Read more about [WP Super Cache Compatibility](http://petersplugins.com/docs/404page/#wp_super_cache)
* [WPML WordPress Multilingual Plugin](https://wpml.org/)([officially approved by WPML team](https://wpml.org/plugin/404page/))
== For developers ==
= Action Hook =
The plugin adds an action hook 404page_after_404 which you can use to add extra functionality. The exact position the action occurs after an 404 error is detected depends on the Operating Method. Your function must not generate any output. There are no parameters.
= Native Support =
If you are a theme developer you can add native support for the 404page plugin to your theme for full control. [Read more](http://petersplugins.com/docs/404page/#theme_native_support).
To enable the WordPress 404 error handling you have to set the Permalink Structure ('Settings' -> 'Permalinks') to anything else but 'Default'. Otherwise 404 errors are handled by the webserver and not by WordPress.
= Are 404 errors redirected? =
No, there is no redirection! The chosen page is delivered as a 'real' 404 error page. This results in a HTTP 404 code and not in 301 or 302, which is important for Search Engines to tell them, that the page does not exist and should be deleted from the index.
= Is it possible to add custom CSS to the 404 page? =
* new feature to send an HTTP 410 error for deleted objects
= 3.1 (2017-07-24) =
* bugfix for Polylang ([See Topic](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/3-0-breaks-polylang-support/))
* bugfix for CLI ([See Topic](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/uninstall-php-from-cli-failed/))
* add debug class to body tag
* also add body classes for Customizr theme
* do not add error404 class if already exists
* further redesign admin interface
= 3.0 (2017-07-05) =
* new feature to force 404 error after loading page
* new feature to disable URL autocorrection guessing
* finally removed Polylang stuff disabled in 2.4
* redesigned admin interface
* code improvement
= 2.5 (2017-05-19) =
* hide 404 page from search results on front end (if WPML is active, all languages are hidden)
* do not fire a 404 in Compatibility Mode if the [DW Question & Answer plugin by DesignWall](https://www.designwall.com/wordpress/plugins/dw-question-answer/) is active and a question has no answers
= 2.4 (2017-03-08) =
* ensure that all core files are loaded properly ([See Topic](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/had-to-deactivate-404page-to-make-wordpress-correctly))
* Polylang plugin does no longer require Compatibility Mode ([See Topic](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/still-displaying-the-themes-404-page-with-polylang/))
* hide all translations if WPML is installed and "Hide 404 page" is active (thanks to the [WPML](https://wpml.org/) guys for pointing me at this)
* post status fix ([See topic](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/doesnt-work-with-custom-post-status/))
* [Enfold theme](https://themeforest.net/item/enfold-responsive-multipurpose-theme/4519990?ref=petersplugins) issue fix (thanks to the guys at [Kriesi.at](http://www.kriesi.at/) for supporting me)
Version 2.0 is more or less a completely new development and a big step forward. [Read more](http://petersplugins.com/blog/2016/02/23/the-404page-plugin-now-works-with-wpml-and-other-enhancements/)
