If the WordPress homepage loads but posts or pages return 404, the domain is already reaching the website. That narrows the problem: permalink/rewrite configuration, a missing URL, or a plugin/theme rule is more likely than basic DNS.
1. Confirm the exact scope
Test the homepage, one page and two posts. If only one URL fails, verify its slug and publication status before changing global settings.
2. Re-save permalinks
In WordPress go to Settings → Permalinks, confirm the intended structure and save. This refreshes rewrite rules and is safer than immediately editing .htaccess.
3. Purge cache and retest
Test in a private browser window. If you use LiteSpeed/Hostinger caching, purge the relevant cache after refreshing permalinks.
4. Check plugins and custom redirects
If the problem began after a plugin or redirect change, isolate that change. Do not disable security controls permanently just to make a URL work.
5. Inspect rewrite configuration only when necessary
Take a backup before editing .htaccess or server configuration. Hostinger’s current 404 guidance lists broken WordPress permalinks and .htaccess redirects among WordPress-specific causes.
How to confirm the fix
Retest the original public URL while logged out and verify other pages still work. Then check internal links and your sitemap for obsolete URLs.
Related: 404 after connecting a domain and clear WordPress and Hostinger cache.
