Websites use HTTP status codes to let browsers and search engines know what’s happening behind the scenes. These codes are important for managing how users and search engines interact with your site.
One of the lesser-known codes is 410 Gone. It’s not as common as the well-known 404 Not Found, but it serves a very specific purpose. In this post, we’ll explain what the 410 status code means and when it makes sense to use it.
Let’s get started!
What is the 410 Gone Status Code?
A 410 Gone status code means that a web page or file was on the server before, but it has been permanently deleted now. It’s not coming back, and the website owner wants everyone to know that.
In simpler words, this status tells browsers and search engines: “This content no longer exists.”
What are the key Characteristics of a 410 Response?
- It means permanent removal. The resource is gone and won’t return.
- No redirection happens. Users don’t get sent to a new page.
- Search engines like Google will quickly remove the page from their index after seeing a 410.
- It’s a clear message: this is not a mistake; the content is intentionally gone.
What is the 401 Status Code Often Confused With?
The 401 and 403 status codes are often confused because both indicate access is denied. However, they have different meanings. The 401 and 403 errors both mean you can’t access something, but for different reasons. A 401 Unauthorized error means you’re either not logged in or your login didn’t work. A 403 Forbidden error means you are logged in, but you don’t have permission to see the page or file.
The 410 status code is also sometimes confused with 301 or 302 redirects. However, unlike redirects, a 410 means the page is permanently gone and won’t return, while 301 and 302 indicate permanent or temporary moves, respectively. For more details, see our guide on 301 vs 302 Redirects.
When Should You Use a 410 Status Code?
Here are a few examples of when using a 410 is a good idea:
- You deleted a product or article that you never plan to bring back.
- You removed content because it was outdated or irrelevant.
- You took down a page for legal or copyright reasons.
- You want search engines to stop showing the old page in results.
In short, use 410 when you’re sure the content is gone forever, like we said earlier.
When Not to Use a 410 Status Code?
Don’t use a 410 in these situations:
- The content is only temporarily removed. In that case, a 404 or 503 might be better.
- You’re not sure if the page might return later.
- You’re just handling a broken or mistyped link.
410 Status Code Example
Let’s consider an example to gain a simpler understanding of how the 410 status code works.
Imagine you run a website that once had a page about a product you no longer sell, and you have decided to permanently remove that page.
Instead of letting visitors or search engines keep finding it (which might cause confusion), you configure your server to respond with a 410 Gone status code for that page. This tells browsers and search engines that the page is gone forever and should be removed from indexes.
Here is how you can do it on Apache (.htaccess):
Redirected gone /old-product-page.html
This means if someone visits yourwebsite.com/old-product-page.html, they will get a 410 status and know the page no longer exists permanently.
Can a 410 Status Code Affect SEO?
Yes, a 410 status code can affect SEO, especially your On-page SEO. When search engines like Google see a 410, they understand that the page has been permanently removed. This usually leads to the page being removed from search results faster than if it returned a 404.
This is useful if you want to make sure old or unwanted pages are no longer shown in search. Just be sure to use 410 only when the content is not coming back. It helps keep your site more focused and better organized in search. Suppose you misuse it (use it for a temporary purpose but signal Google that it’s gone forever) or overuse it; it can cause problems with the site’s architecture and content quality.
Using a 410 incorrectly can harm your SEO. Learn how to avoid common SEO mistakes and how to fix them.
How To Fix a 410 Status Code?
If you encounter an unintentional 410 status code, then you must take these steps:
1. Confirm the 410 status
First, you need to make sure the page is actually returning a 410 Gone status.
And for this, you can use tools like:
- curl -I https://yourdomain.com/page
- httpstatus.io
- Browser Developer Tools
2. Check for server rules
Look for rules that might be returning 410:
- Apache: Check .htaccess for Redirect gone /…
- Nginx: Check location blocks with return 410;
- CMS Plugins: Some CMS tools (like WordPress SEO plugins) can set custom status codes.
3. Decide what you actually want
Ask yourself, what’s your intention? Like:
- Do you want to restore the content?
- Do you want to redirect it to another page?
- Should it really be removed permanently?
4. Apply the correct fix
Then, based on what you wanted to do, you can choose to do the following
- Restore the page → Upload the content or republish it.
- Redirect it → Use a 301 redirect to send traffic to a new location.
- Leave it as 410 → If the removal is permanent and intentional, no fix is needed.
5. Clear cache
Some systems or CDN services (like Cloudflare) cache 410 responses. Clear your site cache, browser cache, and CDN cache if needed.
6. Retest the URL
Once changes are made, test the URL again using the tools from step 1 to make sure it’s returning the correct status code.
Conclusion
In technical SEO, 410 status codes are very useful when you want to permanently remove a page from your website and make sure search engines stop indexing it. You can use it for managing content that is deleted permanently. But make sure to use it carefully so as to avoid negative SEO impacts. To make sure you have done it correctly, you can verify if it is applied appropriately. So, that’s it. The key to getting this right is just to remember when working with the 410 status code to use it only for content that is permanently removed and will not return.
