Actuator endpoint 404 Not Found

Q: Expose endpoints in application.properties

When to use: Use this when you have the dependency installed but the URL returns 404.. For security reasons, Spring Boot only exposes /actuator/health over HTTP by default. You must explicitly allow others.

Q: Add the Actuator dependency

When to use: Use this if hitting /actuator gives a 404 for the base path itself.. If the dependency isn't in your pom.xml, the endpoints don't exist at all.

Q: Change the base path

When to use: Use this if you want the endpoints under a different URL (e.g., /manage/health).. If you configured a custom base path, you must use that instead of /actuator.

🔴 The Error You're Seeing

Confirm this matches your console output. If it does, you're in the right place.

ERROR LOG

2026-02-14 11:45:30.500  WARN 8842 --- [nio-8080-exec-3] o.s.web.servlet.PageNotFound             : No mapping for GET /actuator/health

⚡ Quick Fix Works 80% of the time

Expose the endpoints in application.properties.

management.endpoints.web.exposure.include=health,info,metrics

🛠️ Solutions (3 Ways to Fix)

Solution 1✓ Most common cause

Expose endpoints in application.properties

👉 Use this when you have the dependency installed but the URL returns 404.

For security reasons, Spring Boot only exposes /actuator/health over HTTP by default. You must explicitly allow others.

# application.properties
management.endpoints.web.exposure.include=*
# OR specific ones:
management.endpoints.web.exposure.include=health,info,metrics,prometheus

Solution 2

Add the Actuator dependency

👉 Use this if hitting /actuator gives a 404 for the base path itself.

If the dependency isn't in your pom.xml, the endpoints don't exist at all.

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-actuator</artifactId>
</dependency>

Solution 3

Change the base path

👉 Use this if you want the endpoints under a different URL (e.g., /manage/health).

If you configured a custom base path, you must use that instead of /actuator.

# application.properties
management.endpoints.web.base-path=/manage
// Now the URL is: http://localhost:8080/manage/health

📋 Version Notes

Spring Boot 2.x

Default base path is /actuator. /health is exposed by default.

Spring Boot 3.x

Default base path is /actuator. /health is exposed, but without details unless show-details=always is set.

🧠 Why this Happens

Tap to expand the deep technical explanation

You are trying to access a Spring Boot Actuator endpoint, but either the Actuator dependency is missing, or the specific endpoint (like /metrics or /env) is not explicitly exposed over HTTP in your configuration.

The HITEC City Parking Spot Analogy:

It is like looking for a specific room in a building, but the hallway leading to it is locked. The room exists, but the architect (Spring Boot) locked the hallway for security reasons. You need the key (exposure.include) to open it.

🛡️ How to Prevent This Next Time

Standardize your Actuator configuration across all microservices early in the project setup.