Title: 404 Widget for Google Author: Dave McHale Published: Nopémber 1, 2008 Last modified: Nopémber 28, 2019 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/google-404/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=564564) This plugin **hasn’t been tested with the latest 3 major releases of WordPress**. It may no longer be maintained or supported and may have compatibility issues when used with more recent versions of WordPress. ![](https://ps.w.org/google-404/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=999354) # 404 Widget for Google By [Dave McHale](https://profiles.wordpress.org/dmchale/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/google-404.2.1.zip) * [Details](https://su.wordpress.org/plugins/google-404/#description) * [Reviews](https://su.wordpress.org/plugins/google-404/#reviews) * [Installation](https://su.wordpress.org/plugins/google-404/#installation) * [Development](https://su.wordpress.org/plugins/google-404/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-404/) ## Description **– This plugin has been adopted! Please review the description below. –** A 404 page is what a user sees when they try to reach a non-existent page on your site (because they’ve clicked on a broken link, the page has been deleted or they’ve mistyped a URL). While the standard 404 page can vary depending on your web host, it doesn’t usually provide the user with much useful information and users may just surf away from your site. Therefore, Google recommend creating a custom 404 page that provides the user with more information about your site and its content. The Google 404 widget is a quick and easy way to embed a search box on your custom 404 page and provide users with useful information designed to help them find the information they need. Where it can, the Google widget will also suggest other ways for the user to find the information they need, thus increasing the likelihood that they’ll continue to explore your site. For best results, you should set up a [Google webmaster account](http://www.google.com/webmasters/) and submit an XML sitemap of your blog to ensure the Google 404 widget works effectively. Find out more [here…](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/136085) #### Features Currently the plugin outputs the Google 404 widget in US English by default, or tries to use the current WordPress language. You can use the `google_404_language` filter to specify a different language code. Also looking to add the possibility to [change the appearance](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/100044) of the widget. #### Please note The Google 404 widget plugin is NOT a WordPress widget. It is simply the term Google use to describe their enhanced 404 page script. #### Adoption Story This plugin was originally developed by [Ben Huson](https://profiles.wordpress.org/husobj/) and was adopted in September 2014 thanks to the [adopt-me](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/adopt-me) tag. #### Coming Soon! The ability to customize the CSS from an options page within the WordPress Admin area, attempt to dynamically inject the Google search box without needing to modify your template files, and more! ## Installation You should first set up a [Google webmaster account](http://www.google.com/webmasters/) and submit an XML sitemap of your site to ensure the Google 404 widget works effectively. 1. Download the archive file and uncompress it. 2. Put the “google-404” folder in “wp-content/plugins” 3. Enable in WordPress by visiting the “Plugins” menu and activating it. 4. Add the `google404()` function call to your 404.php template. 5. if ( function_exists( ‘google404’ ) ) { google404(); } You could also add this code to your theme’s index.php, single.php, image.php, archive. php and search.php below the HTML that is displayed if no posts are present (where you insert this may vary from theme to theme). You may also use the `google_404_styles` and `google_404_language` filters for manually overriding the CSS values or language used by the Google 404 widget. ## FAQ Currently no FAQs. ## Reviews ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ffbd597f901ceffbe56476fb33d56aa904e9d5364f599fb10942c9832c48c47? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Recommended As A Replacement to WordPress 404](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/recommended-as-a-replacement-to-wordpress-404/)󠁿 [](https://profiles.wordpress.org/gegan249/) Séptémber 3, 2016 I’m using Virtue and after creating a child theme, moved 404.php to my child theme( so it wouldn’t be overwritten at a core update.) In place of Wordpresses `’ I replaced the plugin’s Google 404 search bar and it worked perfectly. It’s a better user experience. [ Read all 1 review ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-404/reviews/) ## Contributors & Developers “404 Widget for Google” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ Dave McHale ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/dmchale/) “404 Widget for Google” has been translated into 2 locales. Thank you to [the translators](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/google-404/contributors) for their contributions. [Translate “404 Widget for Google” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/google-404) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/google-404/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/google-404/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/google-404/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/google-404/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 2.1 * Changing plugin name to avoid [trademark violation](https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-org/detailed-plugin-guidelines/#17-plugins-must-respect-trademarks-copyrights-and-project-names) * General code QoL updates * Added minimum PHP & WP requirements (5.3 & 4.4 respectively). CAUTION: Both of these will be updated in a future release, likely to 5.6 and 4.9 #### 2.0 * Initial release after adoption. * Updated docblock and readme file to remove adopt-me tag and reflect new ownership. * Added blank index.php * Added plugin icons for 4.0 support #### 1.1 * Added ‘google_404_language’ filter. * Added ‘google_404_styles’ filter. #### 1.0.2 * Added GPL License info. * Try to use current WordPress language before defaulting to English. * Moved all functionality into class. * Update styles. #### 1.0.1 * Added documentation to read me file. #### 1.0 * First release. ## Meta * Version **2.1** * Last updated **6 years ago** * Active installations **50+** * WordPress version ** 4.4 or higher ** * Tested up to **5.3.21** * PHP version ** 5.3 or higher ** * Languages * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-404/), [Spanish (Chile)](https://cl.wordpress.org/plugins/google-404/), and [Spanish (Spain)](https://es.wordpress.org/plugins/google-404/). * [Translate into your language](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/google-404) * Tags * [404](https://su.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/404/)[error](https://su.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/error/) [google](https://su.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/google/) * [Advanced View](https://su.wordpress.org/plugins/google-404/advanced/) ## Ratings 5 out of 5 stars. * [ 1 5-star review ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-404/reviews/?filter=5) * [ 0 4-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-404/reviews/?filter=4) * [ 0 3-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-404/reviews/?filter=3) * [ 0 2-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-404/reviews/?filter=2) * [ 0 1-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-404/reviews/?filter=1) [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-404/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-404/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ Dave McHale ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/dmchale/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-404/)