Fix a SharePoint Site 404 Error by Replacing the Home Page
Question details
Restore access to a SharePoint site's landing page when it returns a 404 Not Found error but documents and files remain accessible.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening a SharePoint site whose home page may have been deleted.
- Observed behavior
- The site home page displays a 404 Not Found error, while documents and files can still be accessed.
Identify the affected site's tenant name and site path from a working SharePoint document link. Sign in with an account that can create and publish site pages and set the site's home page; ask the site owner for help if those actions are unavailable.
Create a replacement SharePoint page and set it as the home page
Use this method when the site landing page is missing but the Site Pages library remains accessible.
A deleted home page can leave the site's landing address pointing to a page that no longer exists. Creating and assigning a replacement home page can resolve that specific cause without changing the site's document libraries.
In your browser, open https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite/SitePages/Forms/ByAuthor.aspx. Replace yourtenant and yoursite with the values for the affected site, leaving the rest of the path unchanged. If your site uses a different base path, append /SitePages/Forms/ByAuthor.aspx to its actual site URL.
In the Site Pages library, select New > Site Page. Choose a template if prompted, enter a page title such as Home, and add the content needed for the site's landing page.
Select Publish after editing the page. If the site requires page approval, follow the approval process before expecting other users to see the page.
Return to the Site Pages library, select the new page, and open its ellipsis (...) menu. Select Make homepage, sometimes labeled Make Home Page, and confirm if prompted.
Open the site's base URL, such as https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite, rather than the old page URL. Confirm that the replacement page opens and that existing document links still work.
Check the scope of a SharePoint 404 error that persists
Use these checks if assigning a valid home page does not resolve the error.
Work with accessible SharePoint documents in WPS Office
WPS Office does not repair SharePoint home pages or hosting errors. For documents you can still access and download, it offers a free, lightweight Office alternative with a familiar interface and Microsoft Office format compatibility for an easy transition to local editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my SharePoint site show 404 while its files still open?
The site's home page may have been deleted or its landing address may point to a missing page. Document libraries can remain accessible independently. Open the Site Pages library directly to check whether a valid home page exists.
What should I replace in the Site Pages library URL?
In https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite/SitePages/Forms/ByAuthor.aspx, replace yourtenant with your tenant name and yoursite with the affected site's path. Keep SitePages/Forms/ByAuthor.aspx unchanged. For sites with a different base path, append that library path to the actual site URL.
Where is the Make Home Page command?
Open the Site Pages library, select the page you want to use, and open its ellipsis (...) menu. Look for Make homepage or Make Home Page. If the command is unavailable, ask the site owner to check your permissions and set the home page.
Can I recover the original home page instead of creating a new one?
If the page is still retained, open the site's Recycle Bin, select the deleted page, and choose Restore. Then check the page in Site Pages and set it as the home page if necessary. Ask the site owner for help if you cannot access the Recycle Bin.
Can WPS Office fix this SharePoint 404 error?
No. The fix must be made in SharePoint by restoring or replacing the home page and assigning it as the site's landing page. WPS Office can help you edit compatible documents downloaded from accessible libraries, but it cannot change SharePoint site settings.
