Generate 404 Page

Included in: Simply Static Pro 2.0+

Simply Static Pro, version 2.0 and above, now includes an updated 404 Page section that makes it easier to manage how your static site handles “page not found” errors. You can enable automatic 404 generation, choose a custom WordPress page as your 404 template, and quickly regenerate the static 404 file with a single click.

This guide walks you through the new options and how to use them.

Where to Find the 404 Settings

You’ll find the new controls under:

Simply Static → General → 404

This area contains all configuration options for generating and updating your static 404 page.

Enable or Disable the Static 404 Page

Toggle Generate 404 Page to turn the feature on or off.

• Enabled: Simply Static will export a 404.html    file into your static output directory.
• Disabled: No 404 page will be generated.

Most static hosting providers (Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages, S3) automatically use this file to display a helpful “not found” message.

Choose a Custom 404 Page

You can now select any WordPress page as the source for your static 404 template.

To select a custom page:

1. Open Simply Static → General → 404
2. Find the dropdown labeled "Custom 404 Page"
3. Select the WordPress page you want to use
4. Save your settings

Simply Static will use this page’s layout and content when generating the static 404.html    file.

Quickly Regenerate the 404 Page

The new "Export 404 Page" button allows you to regenerate just the 404 page—without running a full export.

This is especially useful when:

• Updating the content of your custom 404 page
• Tweaking design or branding
• Testing how your 404 looks on the static site

To regenerate the 404 page:

1. Click Quick Export in the 404 settings panel
2. Simply Static will run a single export internally
3. Your 404.html    file will be immediately updated in the static output

No need to run a full static export!