404 errors

[trevorlblum]

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404 errors can be as simple as no /index.html file in your repo. Try a subdirectory access ( like .....com/blog.html ) rather than the base / default for .....com. If that works, you may just have a corrupt or deleted index.html. The Netflix host in your repository can be tricky to identify who is the host and who to talk to, so try the sub directory call before you look past it.

[mecodeatlas]

Hi @trevorlblum, we're happy you're here! You are more likely to get a useful response if you are explicit about what your project entails, giving a few more details might help someone give you a nudge in the right direction.

Also, the Discussions category is solely related to conversations around the GitHub product Discussions. This question should be in the Pages category. I've gone ahead and moved it for you. Good luck!

[trevorlblum]

Sorry about this, I really don’t have a question, just a comment and I thought it worth making the observation about /index.html after I had a wild goose chase among domain registry, hosts and experts before I realised the error was as simple as a mistken deletion. Is there a place for advice to dummies like myself where ‘helpful hints’ should go? Cheers

…

On 9 Apr 2025, at 22:16, Code Atlas ***@***.***> wrote: Hi @trevorlblum <https://github.com/trevorlblum>, we're happy you're here! You are more likely to get a useful response if you are explicit about what your project entails, giving a few more details might help someone give you a nudge in the right direction. Also, the Discussions category is solely related to conversations around the GitHub product Discussions <https://docs.github.com/en/discussions/collaborating-with-your-community-using-discussions/about-discussions>. This question should be in the Pages category. I've gone ahead and moved it for you. Good luck! — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#156179 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AFNFANKGJNTAHIBIKTDEZM32YUFTVAVCNFSM6AAAAAB2XZDJ32VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTENZXG43DGMA>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

[321david123]

The only place I imagine is here but I guess you know this already: GitHub Discussions

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[MurugananthamB]

Hi @trevorlblum ,

You're absolutely right — 404 errors often trace back to missing or misconfigured index.html files, especially when deploying static sites via GitHub Pages.

Here are a few additional troubleshooting tips that might help others facing similar issues:

✅ Check the repository structure:
Make sure your index.html is located in the root of the branch you're using for GitHub Pages (main or gh-pages). If it's in a subfolder (e.g., /public), GitHub won't serve it unless configured correctly.

✅ Ensure GitHub Pages is correctly configured:
Go to your repo → Settings → Pages → and verify:

Source is set to the correct branch (e.g., main)

If using /docs or a subfolder, ensure that’s selected

✅ Use the right base URL if using a custom domain or project site:
If you're hosting at username.github.io/repo-name, make sure all your relative paths (CSS/JS/images) are prefixed properly. Use:

 <base href="/repo-name/">

in your if needed.

✅ Clear browser cache or try in incognito:
Sometimes browsers cache an old 404 and it might seem like your changes aren’t working.

✅ GitHub Actions or third-party hosts:
If your GitHub repo is connected to a CI/CD pipeline (e.g., Vercel, Netlify, or even a Netflix internal host as you mentioned), double-check the output directory and routing config. A common issue is outputting files to /build or /dist but not routing the root path (/) correctly.

[gracedot789]

Hi, I am getting error 404 on https://albaik-menu-65aa28.gitlab.io/ i already name the file with index.html

[gracedot789]

i fixed it the file name should be exactly index.html and its good to go

[nisxant69]

A 404 error often happens because the main index.html file is missing or corrupted in your repository. Instead of trying to access the base URL (like yoursite.com), try accessing a specific subdirectory or page (like yoursite.com/blog.html). If the subdirectory page loads correctly, it confirms that the problem is with the missing or damaged index.html file. In cases where your site is hosted through a complex service like Netflix, it can be difficult to figure out who manages the hosting or who to contact for support, so testing with a subdirectory first can save you time before reaching out for help.

[Sanjayraj-k]

Hi @trevorlblum ,
You're absolutely right — a missing or misnamed index.html is a common reason for 404 errors on the root path. I tried accessing a specific subdirectory like /blog.html, and it worked perfectly. Turns out, the index.html file was either deleted or not committed properly.

Appreciate the tip — this helped me isolate the issue quickly without diving too deep into host configurations. 🙌

[Shimal007]

That's a really helpful tip!
It’s true — a 404 often means GitPages can’t find an index.html at your root directory.
Checking a subdirectory first (like yourusername.github.io/repo-name/blog.html) is a clever way to see if your files are there but just not correctly routed from the root.
This can save a lot of time before you start investigating more complex issues with your host.
Thanks for sharing!

[hemanthsrisurya]

Officially 404 code meaning the current index directory of the webscript is often missing

[yassa-life]

The 404 error was due to a missing or misnamed index.html; accessing a subpage works fine, so fix that.

[Harshithss07]

@trevorlblum
Thanks for the tip! I'm still learning how GitHub Pages works, and I didn’t realize a missing index.html could cause a 404 on the main page. Trying a direct link to a subpage like /blog.html is a helpful idea—I'll keep that in mind when debugging. Appreciate the clear explanation!

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[PRIYAtechky]

A 404 error usually means the requested file cannot be found on the server.
In your case, the issue might be due to a missing or corrupted index.html file in your repository.

Things to check:

1. Default entry point
   Most hosting platforms (including GitHub Pages or custom hosts) look for an index.html file in the root directory.
   • If https://yoursite.com/ shows 404 but https://yoursite.com/blog.html works, then your index.html is likely missing or broken.
2. File path / directory structure
   Ensure that the HTML files are placed correctly in the repo and not inside an unexpected subfolder.
3. Case sensitivity
   File names on many hosts are case-sensitive (Index.html ≠ index.html).
4. Deployment/host configuration
   If you’re using a third-party host (like Netflix OSS services or other static hosting), confirm that:
   • The correct repo/branch is linked.
   • The hosting service is pointing to the right folder (often / or /docs).

[jfullstackdev]

so I guess it's fixed by now ? I visited your root

trevorlblum.github.io

it redirected me to

http://trevorblum.name/

and this is what I see

[trevorlblum]

The original Github message was just a note for Github newbies and it got good response. My Github Pages link is to my Internet address where I have the very low-level html-only pages that I specifically leave as totally uninteresting. An original site was plagued with offers from multiple ‘helpers’ offering to do great things. This one does what I want - it discourages the improvers from being a pest. I do use the Github.io <http://github.io/> site for a heap of things such as WIP for demo via web apps ( in Javascript so they are available to any web browser ). You could look at trevorblum.name/age if you like codeword puzzles, trevorblum.name/boag if you like MRI reconstructions or even trevorblum.name/piccies if you like photos. Otherwise, let’s hope that newbies are no longer getting the dreaded 404. Cheers

…

On 17 Aug 2025, at 16:29, jfullstackdev ***@***.***> wrote: so I guess it's fixed by now ? I visited your root trevorlblum.github.io it redirected me to http://trevorblum.name/ <http://trevorblum.name/> and this is what I see image.png (view on web) <https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9dca5306-9369-4f4b-8ce4-66e602500509> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#156179 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AFNFANPYGQH6ASFVQVHDZBL3OAOLDAVCNFSM6AAAAAB2XZDJ32VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTIMJTGAZDSNA>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

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[bsgautam]

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404 errors can be as simple as no /index.html file in your repo. Try a subdirectory access ( like .....com/blog.html ) rather than the base / default for .....com. If that works, you may just have a corrupt or deleted index.html. The Netflix host in your repository can be tricky to identify who is the host and who to talk to, so try the sub directory call before you look past it.

Thanks for the tip! I was struggling with a 404 on my GitHub Pages, and it turned out my index.html file was missing just like you mentioned. Accessing the subdirectory helped me confirm it. Appreciate the clear explanation! 🙌

[sharpjonov]

Nice breakdown — that’s a really good reminder!

I’ve run into the same issue before where the 404 wasn’t from the deployment platform itself, but simply because index.html was missing or renamed.
Trying a direct path like /blog.html or /about.html is a smart way to confirm whether it’s a routing problem or a missing root file.

Also worth adding: if someone’s using a framework (like React, Next.js, or Vue), they might need a proper redirects or rewrite rule for single-page app routing — otherwise, subpaths will throw 404s even if the files exist.

Thanks for sharing this tip — super practical for anyone troubleshooting GitHub Pages or static deployments!