What are Custom Pages for Errors?
When your website generates an error, such as a 404, it produces an error page to let the visitor know what issue has occurred. If you would like a list of errors which may be generated as well as more information about what they mean, please check the article below:
- Error Page Codes
On shared hosting these are branded with SeiMaxim branding by default, and on a VPS or Dedicated server they are generally blank white error messages. However, you can design these pages to have your own branding or special information to help assist visitors who are experiencing errors.
How do I Create Custom Pages for Errors?
We offer a comprehensive video tutorial for users to make their own branded pages for errors generated by their site. For text information, please continue reading.
To create a custom page for your errors generated by your account, please login to cPanel and click Error Pages, under Advanced. Select the domain or subdomain you want and click the page you want to edit. Insert your own custom page code (in HTML or SHTML). The changes will be applied after you click Save.
But I don't know any HTML
Never fear. If you use a design program like Weeby Website Builder, simply publish a page which you would want to use. Next, visit your website online and pull up that new page you want. At the top of your browser, go to View and choose "Source" or "Page Source". Copy everything from the pop-up window (right click, Select All, right click, Copy) and now you can paste where the HTML code belongs.
Afterward, you may want to remove that extra page from your site builder program.
Common problems
If you are still seeing the SeiMaxim branded pages, try refreshing your browser (ctrl + F5). If you still see the SeiMaxim pages, please add this code to your .htaccess file in the public_html directory:
ErrorDocument 403 /403.shtml
ErrorDocument 404 /404.shtml
ErrorDocument 500 /500.shtml
For detailed instructions on how to edit your .htaccess file, please check the following article:
- How to Edit Your .htaccess File
You can even use existing pages as the resulting page. Say you don't want any visitors seeing 404 errors on your site. You can make your home page the result, like so:
ErrorDocument 404 /index.html
If Internet Explorer is not displaying the custom page, it is likely because the page must be larger than 1 kilobyte.
There are many error which you may define pages for. For a list of errors you may wish to create pages for, please check out the following article:
- Error Page Codes
How can I revert back to the default error pages?
Simply delete the page from the public_html folder:404.shtml
403.shtml
500.shtml
