WordPress keeps a list of address rules that tells it which page belongs to which address. The plugin adds rules for your funnel addresses and your Showcase page. If those rules get out of date, funnel pages can show a 404 page. Flush Rewrite Rules rebuilds the list in one click.
Where to find it:
Free List Building, then the Settings tab. Scroll down to Advanced, above the Debug Log. The button reads Flush Rewrite Rules, with the note "Click if funnel URLs are returning 404 errors."
When the plugin does it for you:
- When you change the URL Prefix and save Settings.
- When you save the Showcase settings.
- When you switch Use as Homepage on or off on the Showcase tab.
- After a plugin update, on your next admin page load.
When to click it yourself:
- A funnel or the Showcase page shows a 404 page and the funnel is switched on.
- You moved the site to a new host or a new domain.
- Another plugin that changes addresses was installed or removed.
Step by step:
- Open Settings and scroll to Advanced.
- Click Flush Rewrite Rules.
- A message says "Rewrite rules flushed!". Click OK.
- Open the funnel address again in a new tab.
The WordPress way:
Saving your permalinks does the same job. Go to WordPress Settings, Permalinks, make sure Post name is selected, and click Save Changes. Funnel pages need Post name (or any setting other than Plain).
A real example:
Sam moves yoursite.com to a new host. The checklist funnel shows a 404 page. Sam clicks Flush Rewrite Rules, sees "Rewrite rules flushed!", and the funnel opens again.
Tips:
- If a page still shows 404, check that the funnel is switched on (a switched off funnel shows a 404 page on purpose) and that Permalinks is not set to Plain.
- Clear your caching plugin after flushing so visitors get the fresh page.
- See "404 Error on Funnel Pages" for the full checklist.