Template 404

Theme: Multipurpose Fashion Theme

Overview

The 404 template is shown when a customer visits a page that does not exist. It includes a friendly "Page not found" message and links to help customers find their way (homepage, search).

Template Structure

This theme uses two files for the 404 page:

File	Format	Purpose
`templates/404.json`	JSON	Defines which sections appear on the 404 page and their order. References the `main-404` section.
`sections/main-404.liquid`	Liquid	Renders the actual 404 content (heading, message, links). The visible page content comes from this Liquid section.

Key distinction: The JSON template (404.json) is the page structure; the Liquid section (main-404.liquid) is the page content. The JSON file links to the section via "type": "main-404".

Template File

Template file: templates/404.json (JSON format—defines section layout)
Section file: sections/main-404.liquid (Liquid format—renders page content)
Applies to: 404 (automatic when a non-existent URL is visited)

How to Customize

Add or remove sections (Theme Editor)

Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize.
Visit a non-existent URL in preview (e.g. /pages/this-does-not-exist) to load the 404 template.
Use the template dropdown if needed to select 404.
Add, remove, or reorder sections.
Save.

Change the 404 message

The heading, subtext, and button text are translatable. You can change them in two ways:

Via Theme Customizer (recommended): Go to Customize > Theme settings > Languages (or Edit default theme content), then search for 404 or general.404. Edit title, subtext, and link.
Via locale files: Edit locales/en.default.json (or your language file) under general.404:
- title — Main heading (default: "404")
- subtext — Message below the heading (default: "The page you requested could not be found.")
- link — Button text (default: "Continue shopping")

Change layout or structure (Liquid)

To modify the HTML structure, add elements, or change styling, edit sections/main-404.liquid. Changes here affect the 404 page layout and markup.

Best practices

Clear "Page not found" message
Link to homepage and search (this theme includes both)
Optional: Add a search bar or featured links section via the Theme Editor

404 Page Template – FAQs

What is a 404 page?

A 404 page appears when a customer tries to visit a page that does not exist or has been removed. It informs users that the requested page cannot be found.

Why is a custom 404 page important?

A well-designed 404 page helps retain visitors, guide them back to useful content, and reduce bounce rates.

What should a good 404 page include?

Clear “Page Not Found” message
Link back to homepage
Search bar
Featured products or collections
Contact support link

Does a 404 page affect SEO?

Yes. Proper 404 responses tell search engines that a page no longer exists. A clean 404 page helps maintain SEO health by preventing user frustration.

Can I customize the design of the 404 page?

Yes. You can modify layout, messaging, branding, and suggestions within the theme’s 404 template file.

When do customers usually see a 404 page?

Customers may see it if:

A product was deleted
A URL was changed
An external link is incorrect
A collection was removed

Can I track 404 page visits?

Yes. You can track 404 errors using Google Analytics or other tracking tools to identify broken links and fix them.

How can I reduce 404 errors?

Use proper URL redirects when removing products, regularly audit broken links, and maintain clean navigation structures.

Multipurpose theme documentation