How to Fix 404 on AMP Pages After Deactivating the AMP Plugin

Apr 30, 2022 by Gulshan Kumar

Note: You should noindex /amp/ pages first.

Do you want to redirect AMP permalink to the Non-AMP URL? This guide is going to help you.

You might know well, Twitter has also started serving AMP pages. Therefore, using redirection is very important to prevent from 404 hits for old AMP WordPress permalink. After deactivating the plugin, you will receive Error 404 for all AMP permalinks.

To fix this problem, you need to setup a redirect from the AMP to NON-AMP(canonical) URL.

Go to Yoast SEO Plugin > Tools > File Editor
In the .htaccess field add AMP to Non-AMP path redirection rule
and Save changes

# Redirect from AMP to non-AMP path
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (.+)/amp(.*)$
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/wp-content/(.*)$ 
RewriteRule ^ %1/ [R=301,L]

Important changelog IST 3:15 PM 5/11/2017
* Excluded wp-content, concerning images which may contains ‘amp’ in the name.

What if you don’t have control to .htaccess?

Alternatively, you can also prevent 404 by doing a redirect from AMP to non-AMP path (canonical) pages using a free plugin called “Redirection“.

Install a free plugin called “Redirection“
Go to WordPress Dashboard > Tools > Redirection
Add a new 301 Redirection
Keep source /(.*)\/amp
Target URL https://www.yourdomain.com/$1

Kindly note: These steps should be implemented after disabling/noindexing AMP properly.

How do I set AMP to Canonical Redirect in case of NGINX?

location ~ /amp/?$ { rewrite ^(.*/)amp/?$ $1 permanent; }

Where I can find .htaccess file? 🤔

In the Apache server, .htaccess file is typically located in public_html directory. Or using Yoast File Editor or via WP File manager plugin can also be helpful.

Which method should I use .htaccess or Redirection?

If you’re using Apache web server then go with .htaccess else plugin way is easy.

My Search Console is still showing 404

Search Console may take some time to refresh data. Wait for few days and check again.

I hope this guides helps in fixing 404 for AMP URLs. If you have any specific query, please feel free to ask. Thanks!

52 thoughts on “How to Fix 404 on AMP Pages After Deactivating the AMP Plugin”

Arav Ramakan

Sep 26, 2017 at 6:12 PM

Hi Gulshan,

Thanks for sharing this useful info on rectifying the AMP page errors on how to remove 404 error pages after disabling the AMP plugin

Please post about more amp errors like user modified javascript errors and user modified css types of amp errors, I am struggling to rectify them, my webmaster reports are flooded with this errors.

Thanks in advance!!
Reply
Anto Navis

Oct 31, 2017 at 5:29 PM

Hi Bro,

Shall I know its rewrite the .htaccess files are best or we need to use the redirect plugin?

Which option is the best bro?

Can you share the opinion bro?

Thank you
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Oct 31, 2017 at 6:33 PM
  
  I would recommend using .htaccess method for redirecting from AMP to Non-AMP permalinks. It is safe.
  Reply
Lily Olson

Nov 18, 2017 at 1:52 PM

Hi Gulshan!

I read your post but I got a little stuck where you show the .htaccess field because mine looks different than yours, mine starts as follows:

# Use PHP56 Single php.ini as default
AddHandler application/x-httpd-php56s .php

# BEGIN W3TC Browser Cache

Do you think it’ll still work?

The other question is what you mean when you put:

Important changelogs IST 3:15 PM 5/11/2017
* Excluded wp-content path concerning images which may contain ‘amp’ in the name.

Would you please explain what that means? Do we have to do something else with that info?

Thank you! I really appreciate your help!
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Nov 18, 2017 at 4:09 PM
  
  Hi,
  
  Thanks for the comment. Let me explain you in the detail. When I had written “AMP to non-AMP redirect” code for the first time, it was
  
  # Redirect from AMP to non-AMP path RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (.+)/amp(.*)$ RewriteRule ^ %1/ [R=301,L]
  
  But after few months, I noticed that some of my images with file name “amp” were not loading.
  That’s why, I decided to exclude wp-content path completely.
  
  So, as per my current knowledge, below code is correct and it should work for you.
  
  # Redirect from AMP to non-AMP path RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (.+)/amp(.*)$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/wp-content/(.*)$ RewriteRule ^ %1/ [R=301,L]
  
  Here, RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/wp-content/(.*)$ means redirection is excluded for static files of wp-content. path.
  
  I had forget to update my screenshot after updating this thing in the changelogs.
  Thanks for reminding. Due to your question, I felt encouraged to update the screenshot.
  
  Feel free to use this code, it should work for you. You should add this code just above # BEGIN W3TC Browser Cache since you are using a Cache plugin.
  
  If you have any more queries, please feel free to ask.
  
  Thanks & Regards,
  Gulshan
  Reply
  - Lily Olson
    
    Nov 19, 2017 at 1:17 AM
    
    Thank Gulshan! I am not very tech about stuff like this. Do you think this system works no matter what type of plugins a website has installed ( I mean compatibility) or the type of robot.txt someone has set up?
    
    As I don’t know much about this stuff I want to be sure I won’t screw my site even more lol. A girl put that AMP plugin on my website saying it would help with my ranking and it was worse! all the tables on my website look completely wrong.
    
    Thanks Gulshan!
    Reply
    - Gulshan Kumar
      
      Nov 19, 2017 at 1:42 AM
      
      Hi dear,
      
      Just for removing AMP from Google, kindly note – Following above tutorial is not required, as I said in my last article
      https://www.gulshankumar.net/remove-amp/. Above mentioned step is completely optional. Please check my last article if you have missed reading it.
      
      Thanks
      Reply
Lily Olson

Nov 19, 2017 at 3:32 AM

Sorry I was referring to the plugin Real-Time Find and Replace, I should’ve asked this question on the previous page. My mistake.
Reply
Joe Twumasi

Dec 23, 2017 at 11:58 PM

If you are using Yoast Plugin, just enter the fix provided here in the advanced redirect section of Yoast and it works like charm
Reply
techtexa

Jan 11, 2018 at 2:44 PM

thank you very much for such a wonderfull information, sir
this is 100% working solution

# Redirect from AMP to non-AMP path
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (.+)/amp(.*)$
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/wp-content/(.*)$
RewriteRule ^ %1/ [R=301,L]

how many days this code need to be place there
as i am not using AMP further
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Jan 11, 2018 at 2:46 PM
  
  As long, you want to redirect AMP visitor to normal pages, to avoid 404.
  Reply
Biju John

Jan 29, 2018 at 9:58 PM

Thanks a lot, Gulshan. You have helped me a lot. Thanks
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Jan 29, 2018 at 10:00 PM
  
  Hello dear,
  
  I am so glad it was helpful. Thanks a lot for your comment.
  Reply
TjM

Feb 3, 2018 at 9:16 PM

Hi, I love this except when I test links to my site from SERPS it still takes me to the AMP version of the page. i.e. the URL is actually pointing to a Google server such as https://google.com/amp/s/mypagepath. Is this just because I need to wait until Google de-indexes the AMP version and restores the versions of my pages that point to my server?
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Feb 5, 2018 at 6:36 PM
  
  It seems you accidentally deactivated plugin, you shouldn’t. Please read my post again.
  Reply
Pete

Sep 13, 2018 at 1:29 AM

Hello Sir,
I have just deactivated amp plugin but I got trouble
How to solve this
I’d like to redirect domain.com/posting/?nonamp=1 to domain.com/posting/
Thanks
Reply
Pankaj Kumar

Dec 19, 2018 at 1:23 PM

Hi,

Your code is working fine for posts AMP URLs but not for home page. When I am going to https://example.com/amp, it’s redirecting to https://example.com/amp/

However, if post AMP URL is https://example.com/post-name/amp then it’s properly redirecting to https://example.com/post-name.

How do I fix the home page redirect issue?
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Dec 27, 2018 at 2:40 AM
  
  Please try this code.
  
  RewriteRule ^amp/$ /? [L,R=301]
  
  Thanks
  Reply
Arvind

Dec 28, 2018 at 6:10 PM

If i use Redirection plugin, then i have to select regex option too ?
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Jan 11, 2019 at 3:12 AM
  
  Hello Arvind, Yes, it’s required in that case.
  Reply
  - John
    
    Jan 17, 2019 at 4:43 AM
    
    Hey Gulshan,
    
    I have already redirected all amp errors via the yoast redirect plugin. I heard that redirecting the 404 errors to my homepage is not the best idea but I have already done it. Should I do the .htaccess method as well? Should I also delete the redirects if I do the .htaccess option? What do you recommend I do?
    Reply
    - Gulshan Kumar
      
      Jan 17, 2019 at 12:08 PM
      
      Using above redirection rule, You should redirect AMP to non-AMP pages, not every URLs to homepage.
      Reply
      - John
        
        Jan 18, 2019 at 1:41 AM
        
        Will using the .htaccess be enough to get rid of the amp errors? I did that and deleted the redirects. Is that okay to do or will the errors come back?
Milind Kumar

Mar 15, 2019 at 3:51 PM

Hey, gulshan thanks for this informative article. Iam having problem with 404 after disabling amp plugin. I have Followed each and every steps carefully but still having lots of 404 errors on webmaster. Plz help
Reply
Pratik Bhatt

Apr 23, 2020 at 6:23 PM

Hi, gulshan

I wish, I got your good piece of article before. But unfortunately, I deactivated the amp for wp plugin without disabling/noindexing AMP properly. Now what i can do about the amp pages that shows 404. Should I do redirection or google will take them out after some time.

Thanks.
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Apr 24, 2020 at 1:24 AM
  
  If your AMP pages are still present in Google SERPS, then install AMP for WP first and noindex it properly. Then, after few weeks when all AMP pages goes from SERPs, then set redirect.
  Reply
Nirmal Kumar

May 14, 2020 at 10:49 PM

Hey Gulshan,

How are you? It’s been a long time.

I have a quick question. I am using AMP on my website. In that case, should I optimize my default mobile pages also for speed? Will there be any impact?
Reply
Sandy Sen

Dec 9, 2020 at 1:25 PM

Hi Bro,
Actually, I have done everything with your method, within some time error gone from the AdSense. Yesterday I disabled Find and Replace plugin.
Today, when I open my adsense, account its showing. I tried to open my home page like http://www.jiofiber.in/amp ist showing.
But if i open my post with amp version, then my all post are opening. What is the issue can you tell me, please.
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Dec 9, 2020 at 5:19 PM
  
  Currently, I am not able to open AMP version of this site.
  Reply
Andrew Richard

Jan 22, 2021 at 7:09 PM

Hai Gulshan I need your suggestion.
Now my amp posts are not showing up in google.com when checked using this format with my blog /*/amp/ , but in google search console it shows I valid post.

Can I deactivate the ampforwp plugin and delete it.

As far as for setting up redirect to avoid 404 errors I can add this code to my rank math plugin .htacess editor right.

# Redirect from AMP to non-AMP path RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (.+)/amp(.*)$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/wp-content/(.*)$ RewriteRule ^ %1/ [R=301,L]

But I don’t know whether my server is Nginx or not , I am using sitegrounds managed wordpress gogeek hosting plan. So please help me out now I am seeing lots of 404 redirections in wp admin. Thank You for your time.
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Jan 22, 2021 at 10:03 PM
  
  You can set redirect now.
  Reply
Kathrin

Jan 24, 2021 at 4:53 AM

Dear Gulshan, I read your post and tried to redirect my amp urls to my normal url with your information but it doesn’t work

I have an AMP URL that looks like this: https://www.mydomain/mypost?amp and for that the regex rule: /(.*)\/amp –> https://www.yourdomain.com/$1 doesn’t work 🙁 I also have tried redirect ?amp pages –> source: ^/(.*?)/\?amp=.* –> Target: /$1/ but here the redirection tool tells me that $ for target is wrong. What should I do?

Thanks for your help.
Greetings Kathrin
Reply
- Kathrin
  
  Jan 24, 2021 at 10:03 PM
  
  I’ve tried this Regex Rule: Source /(.*)\/?amp and Target https://www.mysite.com/$1 and it seems that it is working. What do you mean?
  
  Greetings Kathrin
  Reply
sai ram

Feb 14, 2021 at 7:34 AM

Hello

Apke batai hui method pe Mein AMP ko delete kiya or uske baad meri Google Search Console account mein or ek error ayya “Reference Amp url is not an Amp” (https:/eample.com/url/to/amp/document.html) ye error arrahihe Gulshan bhai please bataye eshe kaise solve karun.

Google mein aphi ese mile jisne AMP remove karneka solution essay method se bataya
Thank you
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Feb 14, 2021 at 12:32 PM
  
  1. First, noindex AMP pages
  2. Then after few weeks you shall do redirect.
  Reply
Kartik Singh

Aug 31, 2021 at 2:11 PM

Sir, if amp pages are removed from search results after no indexing, will they be redirected to non-amp pages or will non-amp pages be ranked separately?
Reply
- Kartik Singh
  
  Aug 31, 2021 at 2:15 PM
  
  *after no indexing or redirection process, as mentioned in your article.
  Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Sep 13, 2021 at 2:24 PM
  
  Once AMP pages are no-indexed completely, OPTIONALLY you can make a choice to redirect from AMP to Non-AMP pages to avoid 404. I have provided snippet for it in the article.
  Reply
  - Vyom Manikya
    
    Sep 27, 2021 at 2:25 PM
    
    My AMP pages are now properly deindexed. But, my non-amp pages are also deindexed by Google, all of my pages in search results are now disappearing. Should I wait for some time for reindexing of non-amp pages or is this an error? I have followed all the steps correctly according to your article.
    Reply
    - Gulshan Kumar
      
      Oct 6, 2021 at 8:25 PM
      
      Please make sure you have followed this step where I have said removing rel="amphtml" apart from setting noindex of AMP pages.
      Reply
      - Vyom Manikya
        
        Oct 7, 2021 at 2:20 AM
        
        Yes, I have followed this step by enabling the dev mode in ampforwp plugin as you said in your article.
      - Arif Wibowo
        
        Dec 23, 2021 at 2:04 AM
        
        hello sir… i have an error in the page url domain.com/page/19/?amp?nonamp=1&amp
        
        on my wordpress page, and I want to redirect it to the main domain, how do I put the code in htaccess?
    - Arif Wibowo
      
      Dec 23, 2021 at 2:05 AM
      
      sample /page/19/?amp?nonamp=1&amp and I want to redirect it via htaccess
      Reply
S.S

Mar 17, 2022 at 10:48 PM

Sir 🙏

1. ek sawal hai sir real time find replace ka plugin kya sare process k baad deactivate kar sakte hai.
2. Redirection wala process kya 5 -7 din baad karna hai jab sare pages de index ho jye. Ya real time, SEO aur redirect
Ke 3 step ek sath karne hai.

Please please reply 😭
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Mar 18, 2022 at 12:04 AM
  
  1. Sabse pehle aapko AMP pages ko noindex karna hai jiske liye maine pichle article mein do method bataya hai. Jismein ki Real Time Find and Replace method (as old method) jikra kiya hai. Ek baar AMP noindex ho jaaye fir aap iss Real Time Find and Replace plugin aur apne AMP plugin dono ko hata sakte hain. I repeat jab tak noindex AMP pages na ho tab tak mat hataana. Koi confusion ho to aap fir se sawaal puch sakte hain.
  
  2. Jab aap pehle step noindex wala complete kar lete hain (approximately in a week), tab jaa kar aapko redirect man ho to set kar lena. Ye jaruri nahin hai but optional agar aap AMP related permalink pe 404 nahin chaahte ho to. So agar Redirect kar lete hain to koi harz nahin hai, in fact behtar hi hoga.
  
  Agar koi aur questions ho to please contact me.
  Reply
  - S.S
    
    Mar 18, 2022 at 12:19 PM
    
    Thanks sir
    apne Mera cufusion door Kiya. Kyu ki maine kafi experts se ye sawal pucha tha lekin kisi ne mere comments ka reply nahi diya
    
    thanks🙏
    
    Sir ek sawal aur htaccess method ya redirection plugin accha hai.
    Reply
    - Gulshan Kumar
      
      Mar 18, 2022 at 2:05 PM
      
      You’re welcome!
      .htaccess is better in terms of performance than plugin method.
      Reply
S.S

Apr 24, 2022 at 1:57 PM

Hello 🙏 bhai rank Math plugin ki htaccess file me kya same to same ye hi code paste karna hai aur save changes par click karna hai sirf yeh hi ek step karna ke baad kya sabhi amp pages non amp me redirect ho jayege kyu ki bhai mujhe inn files ki knowledge nah ke brabar hai.

Question (2) bhai htaccess file ke process me ya redirection plugin ke process dono me Amp disable is process ko karne k bad karna hai ya pehle karne hai.

Please Reply 🙏
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Apr 24, 2022 at 8:49 PM
  
  Please take a complete back-up of your site.
  
  Then yes you can safely edit the .htaccess via Rankmath and add it on the first line.
  Reply
S.S

Apr 24, 2022 at 10:11 PM

Bhai ek aur doubt 🧐

is process ko karne ke baad AMP Disable karna hai ye pehle amp disable karna hai uske baad redirection wala process karna hai.
Reply
- Gulshan Kumar
  
  Apr 24, 2022 at 10:53 PM
  
  Pehle AMP ko disable karna hai, jab Google par page noindex ho jaaye fir redirect. Maine ye sara cheez article mein likha hai, aap please first line padhiye. 😅
  Reply
kirry

Dec 8, 2022 at 7:21 AM

working.. thank you. love this tutorial
Reply