Understanding 301, 401, 404, 410 HTTP Status Codes and Disavow Files for Better SEO & User Experience
When managing a website, technical decisions can have a major impact on both search engine rankings and user experience. Among the most powerful tools in your SEO toolbox are HTTP status codes—specifically 301, 401, 404, and 410—along with Google’s Disavow Tool. Each serves a unique purpose, and using them incorrectly can harm your visibility and trustworthiness online.
In this post, I’ll break down what each of these tools does, when to use them, and how they affect both SEO and UX.
301 Redirect – Permanent Redirect
What It Is:
A 301 redirect tells search engines and browsers that a page has permanently moved to a new URL. It automatically sends users from the old URL to the new one.
When to Use It:
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You’ve changed a URL slug or page structure
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You’ve moved content to a new domain or subdomain
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You’ve consolidated pages (e.g., combining multiple blog posts into one)
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You’re rebranding and want to preserve existing SEO value
SEO Impact:
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Passes 90-99% of the link equity (ranking power) from the old URL to the new one
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Preserves search engine rankings and prevents broken links from damaging your SEO
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Helps search engines understand the new URL structure quickly
User Experience Impact:
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Seamless experience for users; they are redirected without confusion or error messages
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Prevents visitors from landing on 404 pages
401 Error – Unauthorized Access
What It Is:
A 401 status code indicates that a user is trying to access a resource that requires authentication (like a login) and hasn’t provided valid credentials.
When to Use It:
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A page or section is protected behind a login or user permission
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You need to block bots or unauthorised access from indexing sensitive or private content
SEO Impact:
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401 pages are not indexed by search engines (which is usually the goal)
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Do not use 401 if you’re trying to block a page from users or search engines permanently — consider using 410 instead
User Experience Impact:
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Poor UX if a user unexpectedly encounters a 401 without explanation
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Should be paired with a helpful login prompt or explanation if intentional
404 Error – Page Not Found
What It Is:
A 404 status code indicates that the requested page cannot be found on the server. It usually appears when a user tries to access a URL that no longer exists, was typed incorrectly, or never existed in the first place.
When to Use It:
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A page has been deleted and there’s no direct replacement or redirection
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A user enters an incorrect URL
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To signal to search engines that the page should eventually be dropped from the index
SEO Impact:
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Google treats 404s as a natural part of the web, but too many unaddressed 404s can hurt crawl efficiency and user trust
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A few 404s won’t harm rankings, but it’s best to monitor and fix or redirect them where appropriate
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If the page was deleted intentionally and permanently, a 410 may be a better choice
User Experience Impact:
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A default 404 page can be confusing and frustrating for users
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To improve UX, create a custom 404 page that:
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Clearly explains the error
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Offers helpful links (like Home or Contact pages)
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Encourages users to stay on your site
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Best Practice for 404 Errors:
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Regularly audit your site using tools like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog to identify and fix broken links
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Use 301 redirects for any deleted pages that have a logical alternative or replacement
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Build a custom 404 page to reduce bounce rates and keep users engaged
410 Error – Permanently Gone
What It Is:
A 410 status code tells search engines that a page is permanently removed and should no longer be indexed or accessed.
When to Use It:
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You intentionally deleted a page and have no intention of replacing or redirecting it
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You want Google to deindex specific outdated or irrelevant content
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You’ve removed content for legal, privacy, or compliance reasons
SEO Impact:
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Informs Google to remove the page from its index faster than a 404 error
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Helps clean up thin or duplicate content
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Can be a signal of good SEO hygiene when used appropriately
User Experience Impact:
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Can be jarring for users if not paired with a friendly explanation page
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Best used when content is truly obsolete or irrelevant
Disavow Tool – Controlling Link Profile Quality
What It Is:
Google’s Disavow Tool allows you to tell Google to ignore specific inbound links that may harm your site’s SEO, particularly in cases of spammy or toxic backlinks.
When to Use It:
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You’ve received a manual penalty for unnatural backlinks
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You’ve done a backlink audit and found low-quality or spammy domains linking to your site
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Your SEO was previously managed by someone using black-hat link-building tactics
SEO Impact:
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Helps protect your domain’s authority by eliminating link-based penalties
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Should be used with caution—disavowing good links can hurt your rankings
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Does not result in instant improvement, but contributes to long-term health of your link profile
User Experience Impact:
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Indirect, but significant: A site with clean backlinks is more likely to rank well, be trusted, and be found by users
Best Practices for Using 301, 401, 410, and Disavow
| Status Code/Tool | Use Case | Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 301 Redirect | Content moved or merged | Keep redirect chains short, update internal links | Avoid redirect loops, excessive chains |
| 401 Error | Restricted content | Use for member-only areas | Don’t use to hide public pages |
| 410 Error | Deleted content | Use when you want it gone for good | Don’t use for temporary removals |
| Disavow Tool | Bad backlinks | Use after thorough backlink audit | Don’t disavow links you’re unsure about |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Using 404s instead of 410s for permanently deleted pages—Google may keep 404s indexed longer
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Not updating internal links after a 301 redirect—this dilutes link equity
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Overusing the Disavow Tool—you may accidentally hurt your own authority
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Misapplying 401 errors—leads to poor UX and confusion
- Redirecting all 404s to “home” – There is never a good reason to do this.
Balance SEO with User Experience
Using tools like 301 redirects, 401, 404 and 410 error codes, and the Disavow Tool strategically can help you maintain a healthy, high-performing website. But like any powerful SEO tools, they must be used with care.
At the heart of great SEO is great user experience. By keeping your site organized, free of broken links, and protected from harmful backlinks, you create an online presence that search engines can trust—and users can enjoy.
