How do I modify the default error page templates in Joomla?

How Do I Customize the Error Pages in Joomla?

When a visitor to your website encounters a 404 error, it’s important to provide them with an informative experience that will help them recover from the issue. If the page is part of a Joomla website, then you’ll need to use the Joomla platform to customize the error page. Fortunately, Joomla makes it easy to customize the settings of the 404 error page.

What Is a 404 Error?

First, let’s discuss what a 404 error is. A 404 error is a response code issued by your web server when a visitor visits a page or resource that doesn’t exist. It’s important to have an informative error page prepared that provides helpful information to the visitors when they reach this dead end. This can include helpful links, such as providing redirected links to other pages in your website, or helpful tips that gives hints on the missing page.

Customize the 404 Page in Joomla

In Joomla, the 404 page is a template you can easily change. To change it, open the Joomla administrator panel and click on “Site” from the main menu. Then, click on the “Global Configuration” option. Under the Site tab in the Global Configuration settings, you will see the “Error Reporting” option. Change the “Error Reporting” to “None” and click on the “Save” button.

Now, under the System tab in the Global Configuration settings, you will need to find the option to “Override the default 404 page”. Turn that option on and you’ll be asked to enter the name of the template you will use for the 404 page. Then, you will need to create a template for the 404 error page. You can use the Joomla Template Creator for this purpose. Once the template is created, enter its name in the “Error Page Template” field and click “Save”.

Now you’ve successfully changed your Joomla website’s 404 page. You can further configure your 404 page by adding additional code or by using a pre-built plugin. To get more out of your page’s design, either of these solutions can be beneficial.

Conclusion

Customizing the 404 page in Joomla is easy, and it can be an effective way to keep your visitors from being stuck on broken pages. Free Spirits www.freespirits.gr and www.fspirits.com can help you with any customization project, big or small.