Post After 303 or 302 returns 404 Not Found error. What could be the possible causes and solutions?

Updated: Feb 14, 2025

Post After 303 or 302 returns 404 Not Found error. What could be the possible causes and solutions?

A 404 Not Found error is an HTTP status code that indicates that the requested resource could not be found on the server. After a 303 or 302 redirect, if a user encounters a 404 error, it could be due to several reasons. In this answer, we will discuss the possible causes and solutions for a 404 Not Found error after a 303 or 302 redirect.

  1. Incorrect Redirect URL: The most common cause of a 404 error after a redirect is an incorrect redirect URL. The URL specified in the redirect response may be incorrect, leading the user to a non-existent page. To solve this issue, check the redirect URL in the server logs or the code that generates the redirect response. Ensure that the URL is correct and points to an existing resource on the server.
  2. Cache Issues: Another possible cause of a 404 error after a redirect is cache issues. The browser or proxy server may cache the old version of the page, which no longer exists, and serve it instead of the new version. To solve this issue, try clearing your browser cache or contacting your proxy server administrator to clear the cache.
  3. Server Configuration Issues: Server configuration issues can also cause a 404 error after a redirect. For instance, if the server is not configured to handle redirects correctly, it may return a 404 error instead of the expected redirect response. To solve this issue, check the server configuration settings and ensure that redirects are enabled and configured correctly.
  4. Content Delivery Network (CDN) Issues: If you are using a CDN to serve your content, a 404 error after a redirect could be due to CDN caching issues or misconfiguration. To solve this issue, check the CDN settings and ensure that redirects are enabled and configured correctly. You may also need to clear the CDN cache or contact the CDN provider for assistance.
  5. Malware or Hacking: In some cases, a 404 error after a redirect could be due to malware or hacking. Malware may redirect users to non-existent pages or hackers may delete or move files, causing a 404 error. To solve this issue, scan your server for malware and ensure that all software is up-to-date. You may also need to contact your hosting provider or a security expert for assistance.
  6. DNS Issues: DNS issues can also cause a 404 error after a redirect. If the DNS server cannot resolve the redirect URL to an IP address, it may return a 404 error. To solve this issue, check your DNS settings and ensure that the redirect URL is correctly configured. You may also need to contact your DNS provider for assistance.

In conclusion, a 404 Not Found error after a 303 or 302 redirect can be caused by several reasons, including incorrect redirect URLs, cache issues, server configuration issues, CDN issues, malware or hacking, and DNS issues. To solve this issue, you may need to check the server logs, clear caches, configure settings, scan for malware, or contact your hosting provider or a technical expert for assistance.