SharePoint Document Issues

How to Fix SharePoint Home Page Redirecting to a 404 Error

Ayan Masood Oct 10, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user encounters a 404 error specifically when attempting to edit the main SharePoint site page, while editing other subpages works without any issues.

How to Fix SharePoint Home Page Redirecting to a 404 Error

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to access and edit the main home page of a SharePoint site.
Observed behavior: The system redirects to a 404 Not Found error page, indicating the root home page file may be missing or deleted.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary site member or owner permissions to access Site Contents and the site's Recycle Bin in your SharePoint environment.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore the Missing Home Page from the SharePoint Recycle Bin

If the home page was accidentally deleted, restoring it from the site's Recycle Bin will immediately resolve the 404 error and bring the page back online.

In most cases, a 404 error isolated to the home page means the default Home.aspx file was accidentally moved to the Recycle Bin. Restoring it will fix the broken root URL.

Navigate to Site Contents

Open your SharePoint site, click on the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner, and select 'Site Contents' from the dropdown menu.

Open the Recycle Bin

In the Site Contents page, look towards the top right area and click on the 'Recycle bin' button.

Locate the Deleted Home Page

Scroll through the list of deleted items to find your site's home page file, which is typically named 'Home.aspx'.

Restore the File

Select the checkbox next to the Home.aspx file, and click the 'Restore' button at the top of the list to move it back to its original location.

Restore the Missing Home Page from the SharePoint Recycle Bin

Verification: After restoring the file, navigate back to your root site URL and try editing the home page again to confirm the 404 error is resolved.

Solution 2

Escalate the Issue to a Microsoft 365 Administrator

If the page is not found in the Recycle Bin or the error persists after restoration, official Microsoft support intervention is required.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage and Edit Your Downloaded SharePoint Documents with WPS Office

While WPS Office does not directly fix SharePoint site configuration errors, it serves as a powerful, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office for editing the documents you download from your SharePoint libraries. Enjoy a familiar interface and robust editing tools without the hefty subscription fees.

1. Download the Software: Visit the official WPS website to download and install WPS Office Free on your computer or mobile device.
2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office, click on 'Open', and navigate to the local folder where your SharePoint documents are synced or downloaded.
3. Edit Seamlessly: Select your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file to start editing instantly with full formatting compatibility.

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microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my SharePoint site show a 404 error only on the home page?

A 404 error isolated to the home page usually occurs if the default landing page (such as Home.aspx) was accidentally deleted, renamed, or moved. Other subpages continue to work normally because their specific underlying files are still intact in the Site Pages library.

How long do deleted pages stay in the SharePoint Recycle Bin?

Deleted items, including site pages, typically remain in the SharePoint site Recycle Bin for 93 days before they are permanently deleted, provided the recycle bin does not exceed its storage quota.

Can I create a new home page if the old one is permanently deleted?

Yes. You can navigate to Site Contents > Site Pages, click 'New' to create a site page, design it to your preference, and then select 'Make homepage' from the top command bar to set it as the new default root page.

Document & File Issues