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A YOURLS short URL that displays 404 Not Found is usually failing before YOURLS can perform the redirect. Check the web server’s rewrite configuration, the YOURLS loader path, override permissions, filesystem permissions, and server logs. On Apache, that means mod_rewrite, a YOURLS-only .htaccess, and AllowOverride All. On Nginx, it means a try_files fallback to yourls-loader.php and a working PHP-FPM handoff.
The correct fix depends on whether YOURLS is installed at the domain root or in a subdirectory, which server is handling the request, and whether another application or proxy is intercepting it. Use the sequence below to identify the failing layer instead of changing rewrite rules at random.
What a YOURLS 404 means
Open a known-good short URL directly, without an admin session or dashboard link. If the browser returns a 404 page instead of redirecting to the long URL, treat the symptom as a routing or server-configuration failure. YOURLS Contributors state in the official Frequent issues documentation: “If you experience ‘404 not found’ instead of a redirection when you follow a short URL, this is not a bug. It’s a configuration problem on your end.”
The practical implication is that the request is not being sent through the rewrite rule that hands an unknown path to YOURLS. A working admin area does not prove that public short-link routing works: the admin URL can be a real PHP file, while a short code depends on the web server forwarding a non-file request to the YOURLS loader.
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First, identify which component produced the 404
- Visit the short URL in a private browser window and note the exact status page, title, and server branding.
- Open browser developer tools, select the failed document request, and inspect its status, response headers, and response body. A web-server-generated page, an upstream proxy page, and a YOURLS/application response point to different fixes.
- Request a URL that should definitely exist, such as the YOURLS login page or another known file. If real files load but short codes fail, focus on rewriting. If every URL fails, check the virtual host, document root, DNS, TLS termination, or upstream service first.
- Check the web-server error log at the time of the request. Record the host name, requested path, selected virtual host, and any rewrite, permission, or upstream-PHP message.
- Test again after each single configuration change. Changing several layers at once makes it impossible to tell which setting solved or introduced the problem.
Apache: repair the rewrite path
Apache installations rely on per-directory rewrite rules. Four conditions must be true at the same time: the rewrite module is active, the correct YOURLS .htaccess file is being read, Apache permits overrides, and the rewrite points to the loader at the correct path.
1. Confirm mod_rewrite
YOURLS requires Apache’s mod_rewrite. Ask the server administrator or inspect the loaded-module list in the hosting control panel. If the module is disabled, Apache will serve the requested short-code path as an ordinary file or directory lookup and commonly return 404. Enabling it is a server-level operation; the exact command varies by operating system and hosting platform, so use the platform’s documented method and reload Apache afterward.
2. Make sure the YOURLS .htaccess is present and readable
The file must be in the directory that Apache uses as the YOURLS document root. Check its name, capitalization, ownership, and permissions. A failed automatic file-creation step can leave the application installed but without the rewrite file it needs. The web-server account must be able to read the file, while the directory itself must also be searchable by that account.
Do not replace the YOURLS file with a generic CMS snippet. It should contain YOURLS directives and the loader path that matches your installation. Keep a backup before editing, and validate Apache’s configuration before reloading so a syntax error does not take the entire virtual host offline.
3. Use the root-domain paths when YOURLS is installed at the root
For a site such as https://short.example/abc12, the rewrite base is / and the front controller is /yourls-loader.php. The essential pattern is:
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RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^.*$ /yourls-loader.php [L]The conditions preserve requests for actual files and directories. A request that is neither is sent to the YOURLS loader, which can resolve the short code and issue the redirect. Keep the rest of the YOURLS-generated directives intact if your installation includes additional rules.
4. Use a different base and loader for a subdirectory install
For an installation at https://example.com/somedir/, the base must include that directory and the fallback must point into it:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /somedir/
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^.*$ /somedir/yourls-loader.php [L]A root-style rule in this layout sends the request to the wrong location. Conversely, a subdirectory path in a root install creates a path that does not exist. Treat the public URL prefix and the loader path as a pair; both must change together.
5. Permit .htaccess overrides
Apache ignores per-directory rewrite directives when the virtual-host or directory block forbids overrides. The YOURLS FAQ specifically calls for AllowOverride All. Verify the setting in the virtual-host configuration for the directory that actually serves YOURLS, not in an unrelated host definition. Reload Apache after changing it and check the error log for configuration errors.
6. Keep the YOURLS root separate from other rewrite applications
YOURLS Contributors state in the official server-configuration documentation: “YOURLS cannot share its root directory with another .htaccess rewrite rules driven app such as WordPress. The .htaccess file should contain YOURLS directives and no other rewrite rule.” A second application can intercept a short code, rewrite it elsewhere, or replace the YOURLS rules during deployment.
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The reliable layouts are a dedicated domain or a dedicated short subdirectory with its own matching rewrite base. If another application must remain on the same server, isolate it in a separate virtual host or directory boundary rather than combining unrelated rewrite blocks in one root file.
Nginx: send unknown paths to the YOURLS loader
Nginx does not read Apache .htaccess files. Its equivalent routing decision belongs in the server configuration, normally inside the relevant location / block. The documented root-install pattern is:
location / {
try_files $uri $uri/ /yourls-loader.php$is_args$args;
}$uri and $uri/ allow existing files and directories to load normally. Everything else falls back to yourls-loader.php, preserving query-string arguments through $is_args$args.
Subdirectory Nginx configuration
If YOURLS is under /subdir/, change the fallback to the corresponding path:
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try_files $uri $uri/ /subdir/yourls-loader.php$is_args$args;
}The location prefix and fallback must reflect the public subdirectory. A fallback to /yourls-loader.php when the file actually lives under /subdir/ produces a server-level 404 even though the loader exists.
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Pass PHP requests to PHP-FPM
The fallback only works if Nginx passes PHP files to a functioning PHP-FPM upstream. Confirm that the active server block has a PHP location or included configuration that reaches the intended PHP-FPM socket or port, and that the service is running. A missing or incorrect upstream usually appears in the Nginx error log as an upstream or connection error rather than a normal YOURLS response.
Nginx configuration is server-specific. YOURLS documentation notes that the server configuration can differ between installations and that administrators must adapt the configuration to their needs. Do not paste an Apache file into Nginx or copy a root-domain fallback into a subdirectory installation.
Root installation versus subdirectory installation
Use this map before editing any rule. The URL shape, rewrite base, and loader destination must agree.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Apache at domain root | https://short.example/abc12 |
RewriteBase / |
/yourls-loader.php |
| Apache in a subdirectory | https://example.com/somedir/abc12 |
RewriteBase /somedir/ |
/somedir/yourls-loader.php |
| Nginx at domain root | https://short.example/abc12 |
location / |
/yourls-loader.php$is_args$args |
| Nginx in a subdirectory | https://example.com/subdir/abc12 |
location /subdir/ |
/subdir/yourls-loader.php$is_args$args |
Check for layout and rewrite conflicts
Separate document roots
Verify the active virtual host’s document root points to the directory that contains YOURLS. It is possible to edit a correct-looking .htaccess while the domain is served by a different virtual host, a staging directory, or a proxy’s upstream. The response headers and server logs help identify which host handled the request.
Do not mix root rules
Remove unrelated rewrite rules from the YOURLS root file. If a CMS, framework, or front-end application needs its own routing, place it in another virtual host or a separate directory with an explicit boundary. Ordering matters when multiple rules exist: a preceding catch-all can prevent the request from reaching YOURLS at all.
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Check filesystem permissions
If YOURLS could not create its .htaccess automatically, inspect directory and file ownership and permissions. The account used by the web server needs read access to the file and traversal access to every parent directory. Correct the ownership or permissions using your hosting provider’s procedure, then regenerate or restore the YOURLS file.
Use logs and the response to locate the fault
Logs are the fastest way to distinguish a routing failure from an application or upstream failure. Check the access and error logs for the exact timestamp and short-code path.
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|---|---|
| Static files load, but every short code returns the web server’s 404 page | Inspect rewrite module status, .htaccess or try_files, and the root/subdirectory loader path. |
| Apache logs show that overrides are disabled or rules are ignored | Review the active directory or virtual-host block and set AllowOverride All where YOURLS is served. |
| Nginx logs show an upstream or PHP-FPM connection error | Verify the PHP-FPM service, socket or port, and the PHP location used by the active server block. |
| The response is generated by a proxy or gateway rather than the origin | Check the proxy’s route to the correct virtual host and confirm that it forwards the requested path unchanged. |
| The admin page works but public URLs fail | Compare the admin file path with the short-code path; focus on front-controller routing rather than database login settings. |
Developer tools can reveal whether the request was redirected before the 404, which host supplied the response, and whether query parameters survived. Preserve the original response when contacting a host or administrator; screenshots that omit the URL, status, and headers remove the clues needed to diagnose the problem.
A controlled recovery procedure
- Back up the current configuration. Save the existing
.htaccess, Apache virtual-host block, or Nginx server block before editing. - Write down the deployment shape. Record the exact public prefix, such as the root domain or
/somedir/, and the filesystem location ofyourls-loader.php. - Choose the server path. On Apache, verify
mod_rewrite, the YOURLS-only.htaccess, andAllowOverride All. On Nginx, place the matchingtry_filesrule in the active location and verify PHP-FPM. - Remove collisions. Ensure another rewrite-driven application does not share the YOURLS root file or intercept the same URL prefix.
- Check permissions. Confirm that the server account can read the rewrite file and traverse the directories leading to the loader.
- Validate and reload. Use the server’s configuration-test facility, correct any syntax error, and reload the service through the provider’s supported method.
- Retest in layers. Open a static file, the admin page, and then a known-good short URL. Capture the response and corresponding log entry for each.
- Escalate with evidence. If the 404 remains, provide the hosting administrator with the URL shape, server type, active virtual-host or location block, response headers, and matching log lines. The exact faulty line depends on that installation’s configuration.
Choosing an environment that can support YOURLS routing
When moving YOURLS to a new server, evaluate the controls that determine whether you can implement and verify the rewrite path. The choice is less about a particular brand and more about administrative access.
| Decision axis | Apache environment | Nginx environment |
|---|---|---|
| Rewrite model | mod_rewrite plus a YOURLS .htaccess |
try_files in the server or location configuration |
| Root versus subdirectory | Change RewriteBase and loader path together |
Change the location prefix and fallback path together |
| Configuration control | Need readable .htaccess and an override policy such as AllowOverride All |
Need permission to edit the active server block or an administrator who can do so |
| PHP execution | Apache must hand the loader to the configured PHP runtime | Nginx must pass the loader to PHP-FPM |
| Diagnostics | Access to Apache access and error logs | Access to Nginx and PHP-FPM logs |
A managed plan can work if the provider exposes these settings or applies them for you. If you cannot edit overrides, server blocks, permissions, or logs, ask support to confirm each item explicitly rather than reporting only that a short URL is broken.
Common mistakes that preserve the 404
- Editing the wrong file: The domain may use a different virtual host or document root than the directory you inspected.
- Using the wrong prefix: A root rule does not work unchanged under
/somedir/, and a subdirectory loader path does not belong in a root install. - Leaving a competing catch-all rule: Another application can consume the request before YOURLS sees it.
- Assuming the admin test is sufficient: A functioning dashboard proves PHP access, not public rewrite routing.
- Ignoring permissions: An automatically generated file may be absent or unreadable even though the YOURLS files are present.
- Changing application settings first: A web-server 404 occurs before a short code can be looked up, so database or slug settings are not the first diagnostic target.
- Testing through a cache or proxy only: Verify the origin response when a gateway may be generating the 404.
When documentation cannot identify the exact faulty line
YOURLS can describe the required routing model, but it cannot determine the final cause without the affected server’s virtual-host configuration, file permissions, proxy arrangement, and logs. Two installations can use the same YOURLS version and still need different rules because one is at the domain root, the other is under a subdirectory, and their web servers handle overrides differently.
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Once you have the exact response and matching log entry, the problem is usually narrowed to one of four boundaries: the request never reached the intended virtual host; the server ignored or misapplied the rewrite rule; the loader path is wrong; or PHP-FPM/application execution failed after the fallback. Share those facts with the person who controls the server rather than applying unrelated snippets from another deployment.
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