410 Error: What It Is and How to Fix It

When browsing the internet or managing a website, you send requests that return HTTP status codes. These codes sometimes belong to the 4xx class, which stands for client error responses. Some, like the 404 error – “Not Found”– are widely recognized. Others, like the 410 Gone error, are more specific and sometimes misunderstood. In this article, we’ll explain what a 410 error is, when it’s used, and how to fix it.

What does the 410 status code mean?

When you send a request to a website and receive an HTTP status code 410 – Gone error message, it indicates that the resource you are requesting is no longer available and has been permanently removed. This HTTP status code differs from the other status codes in the 4xx status code category. For example, the 401, 403, and 404 status codes.

The 401 and 403 status codes mean that the resource is forbidden or you are unauthorized to access it. The 404 error indicates that the resource you are requesting cannot be found, but it may be temporarily unavailable.

The 403 – Gone error is primarily helpful in informing search engines that the resource will no longer be available. This allows them to remove the page from their indexes. It can also be used for:

Common causes of the 410 error

1. Legal or Policy Reasons: A page was taken down due to copyright, privacy, or compliance issues.
2. CMS or Plugin Rules: Some CMS plugins, like WordPress, can be configured to return 410 status codes for deleted posts.
3. Content Deletion: A blog post, product, or page was intentionally removed and won’t be restored.
4. SEO Strategy: Outdated pages were removed to clean up the site structure

How to Fix a 410 Error

Fixing a 410 error depends on whether it’s intentional or accidental. If the 410 is deliberate, you may not need to take any action; the server is behaving as expected. However, you can consider:

• Redirecting the URL to a relevant new page using a 301 redirect, if you want to redirect the clients to a similar page or resources that replace it.
• Leaving it as a 410 if the content is obsolete and has no replacement (e.g., expired promo pages), so the users know there was an offer or a resource that once existed but is expired or no longer available.

If the 410 is not intentional:

Check Your CMS or Routing Rules:
In WordPress, plugins like Redirection or SEO tools can return 410 status codes. You can try disabling or modifying these rules, then clear your browser cache (if you are using developer tools) and try again. You shouldn’t expect that when you receive a 410 status code, the resource is cached but unavailable; this status code indicates that it will never be available again. However, if this is misused, it can still be cached if the web server is misconfigured, but this will misinform the client.

Review .htaccess (Apache) or nginx.conf:

You will need to check the virtual hosts or .htaccess files in Apache and the server blocks in Nginx for rewrite rules that set a 410 status for specific URLs.
Example in Apache:

Redirect gone /old-page.html

In NGINX:

location = /old-page.html {
return 410;
}

Restore the Content:
If the page was removed accidentally, re-upload the file or restore it in your CMS.

Clear Server Cache or CDN Rules:

As previously mentioned, misconfigured Cache Control or other caching layers, such as CDNs like Cloudflare, may return outdated 410s. You will need to purge the cache.

When to Use 410 Instead of 404

You can use the 410 status code when:

• You never want search engines to attempt crawling that page again.
• You’re declaring the content permanently removed for legal, business, or SEO reasons.

And you can use 404 when:

• The content is missing but might return later.
• You’re unsure if the removal is permanent.

Once you apply a fix, make sure to:

• Re-crawl your site using tools like Screaming Frog.
• Submit fixed URLs to Google Search Console for reindexing.
• Monitor the affected pages for traffic recovery or changes in indexing status.

Conclusion

The 410 Gone error is a crucial and beneficial HTTP status code when used correctly. It sends a clear message to both browsers and search engines that a page is intentionally and permanently removed. Whether you’re cleaning up old content or fixing misconfigurations, understanding the 410 error helps keep your site optimized and your users informed. If you’re still unsure about anything, please don’t hesitate to contact our customer support.