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Troubleshooting Common Pretty Links 404 Errors: A Comprehensive Guide

53 threads Sep 16, 2025

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Encountering a 404 error with your Pretty Links can be frustrating, especially when it disrupts your affiliate marketing or link tracking. Based on common issues reported by users, this guide will walk you through the most frequent causes of these 404 errors and provide step-by-step solutions to get your links working again.

Why Do Pretty Links Generate 404 Errors?

A 404 "Not Found" error means that when someone clicks your Pretty Link, the server cannot find the resource it's supposed to redirect to. This is often not a problem with the destination URL itself, but rather with how the Pretty Link is being processed on your WordPress site. Common triggers include conflicts with other plugins, server settings, or specific URL structures.

Common Causes and Their Solutions

1. URL Parameter and UTM Tracking Issues

The Problem: Links that work fine on their own may return a 404 error when UTM parameters (e.g., ?utm_campaign=example) or other query strings are appended to them. This often happens when the link has a trailing slash or when parameter forwarding is not configured correctly.

The Solution:

  • First, ensure the "Parameter Forwarding" option is enabled for the specific Pretty Link. This setting tells the plugin to pass any additional parameters from the Pretty Link to the final destination URL.
  • If the problem persists, try adjusting the link structure. Some users have found that removing a trailing slash from the Pretty Link slug resolves the issue with certain email marketing services.
  • As a more advanced troubleshooting step, you can try changing the global redirect method. Navigate to Pretty Links → Options and change the "Redirection Type" from "template_redirect" to "init," or vice versa. This changes the WordPress hook used for the redirect and can sometimes resolve conflicts.

2. Naming and Slug Conflicts

The Problem: A Pretty Link will not work if its slug (the custom part of the URL) conflicts with an existing page, post, or directory on your WordPress site. For example, if you have a page with the slug "contact," creating a Pretty Link with the slug "contact" will cause a conflict.

The Solution:

  • Always choose a unique slug for your Pretty Links that does not match any of your existing WordPress content.
  • Using a custom prefix (like /go/ or /recommends/) is a highly effective way to avoid these conflicts entirely. You can set a global prefix in Pretty Links → Options under the "Link Prefix" setting.

3. Plugin and Theme Conflicts

The Problem: Occasionally, another plugin or your theme can interfere with Pretty Links' ability to perform redirects correctly. Security plugins, in particular, are known to sometimes block or alter redirects.

The Solution:

  • Perform a conflict test. Temporarily deactivate all other plugins except Pretty Links and switch to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-One). If the links start working, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the culprit.
  • Check the settings of any security or caching plugins. Ensure they are not overly aggressive and are not blocking or modifying redirects. Look for any rules that might be affecting URLs with your chosen prefix.

4. Permalink Structure Issues

The Problem: Pretty Links relies on WordPress's permalink structure. If there's an issue with your site's permalinks, it can break all of your Pretty Links.

The Solution:

  • Simply resaving your permalink structure can often flush the rewrite rules and fix the issue. Go to Settings → Permalinks and click "Save Changes" without making any modifications.
  • If you are using a multilingual plugin like WPML, ensure you are running the latest version of Pretty Links, as updates often include compatibility fixes. After updating, resave both your General and Permalink settings.

5. Database Corruption

The Problem: In rare cases, the database table that stores link click data can become corrupted, which can lead to unexpected behavior in the plugin's admin area and potentially with the links themselves.

The Solution:

  • If you are experiencing issues where your created links are not appearing in the admin list (yet still redirecting), your database may need repair. Contact your web hosting provider and ask them to run a repair on your WordPress database tables, specifically the wp_prli_clicks table (the prefix may be different).

When to Contact Your Web Host

If you have tried all of the above solutions and your Pretty Links are still generating 404 errors, the problem may lie with your server configuration.

  • Mod_Security: Some hosts run a web application firewall called Mod_Security. It can sometimes falsely flag and block redirects, especially if they are affiliate links. You may see a "403 Forbidden" or "Not Acceptable" error. Contact your host's support, provide them with the Pretty Link that is failing, and ask if Mod_Security is blocking it.
  • Server Limits: If users report a "Bad Request" error mentioning that the "Size of a request header field exceeds server limit," this is caused by an overabundance of prli_click cookies. This is a server-level limit on header size. Your host may need to adjust the limit_request_field_size directive in your server configuration.

By methodically working through these common causes, you can usually identify and resolve the reason behind Pretty Links 404 errors. The key is to start with the simplest solutions, like checking for slug conflicts and resaving permalinks, before moving on to more advanced troubleshooting.

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