Troubleshooting SharePoint 404 Not Found Errors

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SharePoint is a powerful and popular collaboration platform used by many organizations worldwide. However, like any complex system, it can sometimes throw up unexpected errors that leave users scratching their heads.

One such error that has confounded numerous SharePoint administrators is the infamous 'HTTP 404 - File not found' message. This article will explore some common causes of this issue and provide practical solutions to resolve it once and for all.

Understanding HTTP 404 Errors

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Before diving into specific troubleshooting steps, let's briefly explain what an HTTP 404 error actually means. When a web browser or client requests access to a resource (such as a file) from a server but the requested item is not found on that particular server, it returns a 'HTTP 404 - File Not Found' response.

In SharePoint terms, this usually indicates one of two things:

1. The requested document does not exist in the specified location.

2. There may be an issue with the URL being used to access the file or resource.

Common Causes and Solutions

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Now that we have a basic understanding of HTTP 404 errors let's move on to some common scenarios where this error might occur:

### Scenario #1: Missing or Corrupted Document

* Ensure that you are attempting to access an existing document within SharePoint.

* Double-check the file name and location.

#### Solution:

If after verifying step above, try re-uploading the missing document into your library. If still facing issue check for any permission issues on sharepoint site level or at item level

### Scenario #2: Issues with URL Structure

* Verify that you are using a valid SharePoint URL syntax.

* Ensure there are no extra forward slashes.

#### Solution:

Double-check the URL structure and ensure it follows the correct format. For example, if your document library is located at `https://sitename.sharepoint.com/YourDocumentLibrary`, then use this exact path when accessing documents within that library.

### Scenario #3: SharePoint Site Not Provisioned Correctly

* Ensure that you have provisioned the site correctly in Central Administration.

* Check IIS for any sites or applications related to your SharePoint instance and ensure they are running fine.

#### Solution:

If none of above steps resolve issue try re-provisioning your sharepoint site using central admin. Also make sure that necessary features like 'Document Library' have been enabled at the site level

### Scenario #4: Corrupt Web.config File or Missing DLLs

* Check for any issues with web.config files within your SharePoint root directory.

* Ensure all required .dll assemblies are present and up-to-date.

#### Solution:

If you're still experiencing problems, try manually deleting and re-creating the `web.config` file(s) in each of your site's directories. Additionally, make sure that the necessary DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries) for SharePoint are installed correctly on all servers running IIS. You can download these from Microsoft Download Center if needed.

Troubleshooting Tips

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1. Always start with basic troubleshooting steps such as restarting both your browser and/or client machine.

2. Check event logs, Sharepoint Logs to see any error messages or warnings related to this issue

3. Verify that the correct SharePoint site is being accessed using Fiddler or Chrome Developer Tools' Network tab

4. Ensure all necessary permissions are granted at both sharepoint level and also item level

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In conclusion, HTTP 404 - File Not Found errors in SharePoint can be caused by a variety of factors ranging from simple misconfigurations to more complex issues like missing DLLs or corrupt web.config files. By following the troubleshooting tips outlined above and taking a methodical approach to identify and resolve each potential cause one at a time, you should be able to successfully fix this issue once and for all!

Sharepoint 404 not found