Gone Response

Description

This plugin returns a 410 Gone HTTP status for all 404 errors while still displaying the 404 content to users. Useful for SEO and notifying search engines that the page is gone, but still showing users the default 404 page content.

Key Features

  • Automatic 410 Status for Missing Pages – Automatically sends a 410 Gone HTTP status for all 404 errors, helping search engines recognize permanently removed content.
  • Retains 404 Page Content – Displays your theme’s default 404 page content to users, preserving the user experience while signaling the page is gone.
  • SEO-Friendly – Enhances SEO by informing search engines that removed pages are permanently gone, which can aid in quicker de-indexing of outdated URLs.
  • Lightweight and Hassle-Free – Simple, efficient functionality with no configuration required, making it easy to install and use without any setup.
  • Compatible with All Themes – Works seamlessly with any WordPress theme, using the theme’s existing 404 template for consistent branding and design.

This plugin is ideal for site owners looking to manage removed pages effectively while improving SEO and user experience.

Stay connected

License

This plugin is licensed under the GPLv2 or later license. For more information, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html.

Installation

  1. Upload the plugin files to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory, or install the plugin through the WordPress plugins screen directly.
  2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ screen in WordPress.
  3. That’s it! The plugin will automatically send a 410 HTTP status for all 404 errors.

FAQ

Why should I use a 410 status instead of 404?

A 410 status informs search engines that a page is permanently gone, unlike a 404 which means the page could come back. This helps improve your SEO by ensuring search engines de-index pages that are permanently removed.

Can I customize the content shown to users?

This plugin retains the standard 404 template used by your theme, so you can still customize your 404 page layout and content through your theme settings.

Reviews

November 13, 2024
It saved our time. by automatically removing us permanently from the search console.
November 4, 2024 3 replies
this plugin does serve 410 headers But it won’t improve seo. 410 are for resources that have existed in the past and no longer exists. unfortunately this plugin does not follow the standards and serves all missing content with a 410 header (whether it ever existed or not) there is no benefit to this approach and my research (stackexchange) indicates this might sctually harm seo in cases where you’ve temporarily changed a posts status to draft or trashed and restored it.
Read all 2 reviews

Contributors & Developers

“Gone Response” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Contributors

Translate “Gone Response” into your language.

Interested in development?

Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.

Changelog

1.0

  • Initial release of the plugin.