Setting Up Custom Error Pages

Why Use Custom Error Pages?

When visitors encounter an error on your site, the default server error pages are plain and unhelpful. Custom error pages provide a branded experience, guide visitors back to working pages, and help retain users who might otherwise leave your site immediately.

Common Error Codes to Customise

• 400 Bad Request – The server cannot process the request due to a client error
• 401 Unauthorized – Authentication is required to access the resource
• 403 Forbidden – The server refuses to fulfil the request
• 404 Not Found – The requested page or file does not exist
• 500 Internal Server Error – A generic server-side error occurred
• 503 Service Unavailable – The server is temporarily unable to handle the request

Method 1: Using .htaccess

The simplest way to set up custom error pages is through your .htaccess file. Add the following directives:

ErrorDocument 400 /errors/400.html
ErrorDocument 401 /errors/401.html
ErrorDocument 403 /errors/403.html
ErrorDocument 404 /errors/404.html
ErrorDocument 500 /errors/500.html
ErrorDocument 503 /errors/503.html

Create the corresponding HTML files in an /errors/ directory within your web root.

Method 2: Using cPanel

1. Log into cPanel and navigate to Advanced > Error Pages
2. Select the domain you want to configure
3. Click on the error code you want to customise
4. Enter your custom HTML content in the editor and save

Best Practices for Error Pages

• Keep your branding – Include your logo, navigation, and colour scheme so visitors know they are still on your site
• Provide helpful links – Add links to your homepage, popular pages, a search bar, or a sitemap
• Use friendly language – Avoid technical jargon. A message like "We could not find that page" is better than "404 Not Found"
• Include a search function – Help visitors find what they were looking for
• Keep it lightweight – Avoid external dependencies in your error pages in case those resources are also failing

Well-designed error pages turn a frustrating experience into a chance to keep visitors engaged with your site.