HTTP 304 Not Modified: What Causes It & How to Fix It

Have you ever accessed a website, but instead of getting to see the page you needed on the display, you saw that the web page displayed the words "304 Not Modified"? Yes, this is what is called HTTP 304 Not Modified.

This error code has the potential to become a big problem for those of you who run a business using a website. Why? Because HTTP 304 can make you lose a lot of users and traffic.

So, what is 304 Not Modified? Check out the full explanation below.

What is HTTP 304 Not Modified?

HTTP 304, also known as 304 Not Modified, is a code that conveys that the requested resource has not been modified since it was last accessed.

When you click on a page, the browser will request access from the web server. If there have been no changes since the last time the page was accessed, the web server sends back a 304 HTTP status code that tells the browser to use the cached version of the web page.

In general, you will only see this error code when using a search engine because search engines have the ability to index and store data from the web.

If the browser accepts this code, it will try to display the stored version of the page. However, this can prevent you from accessing the URL because the page is considered to be "out of date".

As a website owner, you will potentially lose a lot of traffic if users can't view your website.

What Causes HTTP 304 Not Modified

After knowing what 304 Not Modified is, now is the time for you to find out what causes this error code to appear. You can find out the explanation below.

1. Recently Installed or Uninstalled Software

The first reason HTTP 304 occurs is that you recently installed or removed software on your device. If you recently installed or removed software, it can damage the existing registry on your computer. In fact, this condition also has a negative impact on the communication and caching functions of the browser. 

2. Corrupted Files

Even though it sounds simple, in fact the existence of corrupted files is also one of the causes of the HTTP error code 304 appearing in your browser.

If you have corrupt files in your browser, it will affect the browser's ability to update information and save web pages.

3. Virus

A browser damaged by a virus or malware can affect its ability to communicate with the web server, and in return, fail when storing web pages.

Having a virus on your device can cause a lot of unexpected damage. If you have a virus or malware on your computer, it is very likely that your browser will also crash.

How to Fix HTTP 304 Not Modified

Broadly speaking, the causes for the HTTP error code 304 to appear are mostly things that are unaccounted for. However, this can be an annoying case if not fixed immediately.

So, how do you fix the 304 Not Modified code? Check out the following explanation:

1. Scan Malware

The first cause is a damaged browser due to a virus or malware infection.

These malware or virus threats can interfere with the health of the system. To identify and remove virus or malware threats, run a scan using some software adapted to your browser.

If you use Google Chrome, use the built-in virus scanner and malware cleaner tools. Apart from that, you can also download several antivirus tools to identify viruses and malware on your device.

2. Disable Browser Extension

Who would have thought that browser extensions could be one of the causes of the error code? You should check to see if any of your browser extensions are causing issues.

If such a case occurs, an extension may be corrupted, which affects the browser's ability to receive information. Try disabling the extension to see if the file is the problem.

If this doesn't work, try to fix it technically by consulting a web developer to identify the HTTP 304 error code problem on your system. 

3. Clean Browser Cache

Clearing the browser cache is one way that can save you from HTTP error code 304.

Clearing browser cache will delete all data in temporary storage. By cleaning it, you will save a lot of storage space and your browser will work more optimally.

Expired resources in cache can also stop you from viewing updated website content. Therefore, clearing cache allows you to obtain new copies of information from that web server.

4. Flush DNS

Similar to browsers, operating systems also store cache files in the form of the Domain Name System, or DNS. DNS contains information about your browsing data, including your IP address and hostname.

DNS caching can help load web pages faster as well as reduce the load on the DNS server when traffic is high.

Basically, cache files have a validity period that is determined by the Time to Live, or TTL value. A valid DNS cache is indeed able to answer any request without going through the DNS server. However, this can create security issues if they expire.

Perform regular DNS flushes to improve operating system security and resolve technical issues such as HTTP error code 304. In addition, DNS flushes also prevent search history tracking and make it more difficult for hackers to predict your browsing history.

5. Check Redirect Instructions in “.htaccess”

If none of the previous methods have worked to fix HTTP 304 on your system, try identifying the problem in the server configuration file. The trick is to check the ".htaccess" redirect.

In order to check the server configuration file, you need to know if the server is running on Nginx or Apache.

If you are using Nginx, you do not have access to the ".htaccess" file. Check the error logs to see what you need to fix.

If you are using Apache, check for the ".htaccess" file in your site's root directory. Enter your hosting account's File Manager, then enter the "public_html" folder.

Next, disable ".htaccess" by renaming it to ".htaccess_disabled". Check site availability and error code 304 Not Modified when ".htaccess" is disabled. If you want to enable it again, rename it back to ".htaccess".

Thus, the discussion regarding error code 304 Not Modified that you need to know. This error code can cause big problems if you don't fix it right away. This error code will cause your website to lose a lot of traffic at once.

Use SEO services to help you optimize your website's performance. So, the marketing strategy that has been prepared will work well without the risk of losing traffic that has the potential to reduce the credibility of your website.