Broken Link Checker
Scan one page, crawl up to 100 pages of a site, or paste HTML, and find every broken link. See which links return 404 or server errors, which redirect, which can't be verified, and exactly which page and anchor text each one is on.
- One page or up to 100 pages
- 404s, redirects and server errors
- Shows where each bad link lives
Fixing redirects too? Use the Redirect Checker, and map the site's link structure with the Internal Link Analyzer.
Every kind of link problem, with where to fix it
A broken link frustrates visitors, wastes crawl budget and weakens the page that holds it. The report tells you what is wrong and where.
Broken links
Links that return 404, 410 or another client error. The most common problem and the quickest to fix.
Server errors
Links that return 500, 502 or 503. They may be temporary, but repeated server errors are worth investigating.
Redirects
Links that work but only after a redirect. Updating them to the final URL saves a hop and avoids chains.
Can't verify
Links where the site refused the check (401, 403, 429, 999). They often work in a browser, so confirm them by hand.
Broken anchors
Links like #pricing that point at an id that isn't on the page, so the visitor lands at the top instead.
http on https
Links that still use http:// on a secure page, which cost a redirect and can trigger warnings.
What each result means and what to do
A status code is the server's answer. Here is how to read each group.
| Result | Status codes | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| OK | 200 | The link works. | Nothing. |
| Redirect | 301, 302, 307, 308 then 200 | The link works after one or more redirects. | Update the link to the final URL, especially for chains. |
| Broken | 404, 410, 400 | The page doesn't exist. | Fix the URL, remove the link or redirect the old page. |
| Server error | 500, 502, 503, 504 | The server failed to answer properly. | Re-check later. If it persists, remove or replace the link. |
| Can't verify | 401, 403, 429, 999 | The site blocks automated checks or needs a login. | Open the link in a browser to confirm it. |
| Unreachable | No response, timeout | The domain is down, gone or too slow. | Remove the link or replace it with a live source. |
How to find and fix broken links
A routine that takes minutes.
Choose the scope
Check one page, crawl your site up to 100 pages, or paste a page's HTML.
Run the check
Every unique link is tested once, and links that appear on many pages are grouped.
Fix by priority
Start with broken internal links, then broken external links on important pages, then redirected links.
Re-check
Run it again after fixing. Repeat monthly, because external pages disappear over time.
How to keep a site free of broken links
Links rot over time. A few habits keep it under control.
Fix internal links first
They are fully under your control, they hurt crawling most and they are the quickest to fix.
Check regularly
External sites change. A monthly check on important pages catches dead sources early.
Link to the final URL
Update redirected links so visitors and crawlers don't pay for a redirect on every click.
Don't leave dead ends
For a removed page, redirect to the closest equivalent or return 410. Avoid sending everything to the home page.
Check the 404 page
A helpful 404 page with search and key links keeps visitors who do hit a broken link.
Watch Search Console
Crawl errors and 404s in Google Search Console show links Google actually found.
What a broken link checker finds and why dead links matter
A broken link is a link whose target no longer works. The page may have been deleted or renamed, the address may contain a typo, or the other site may be down. When someone clicks it, they land on an error page, and a crawler following the same link meets a dead end.
The harm depends on the link. A broken internal link wastes the visitor's time and one of the few paths a crawler has into your content. Google's guidance on links says every page you care about should be linked from at least one other page, and a link to a missing page does nothing for the page it should have helped. A broken external link is less urgent, but it makes a source or a recommendation look out of date. In Search Console, Google says a 404 is fine for a page removed on purpose with no replacement, while a page that moved should get a 301. So a 404 only becomes a problem when your own links or sitemap still lead to it.
A checker reads a page, or crawls your site, and tests each link it finds. You get the broken target, the page it sits on and the anchor text. That last detail is what makes fixing quick. Links rot over time, even on sites nobody touches, so the check is worth repeating, not running once.
When to check for broken links
Run it after any change that moves content, and on a regular schedule for pages that cite other sites.
After a redesign or migration
Internal links often still point at old URLs. A crawl lists those that now 404 and those that only work through a redirect, so you can update them.
Before deleting or merging pages
Check which pages link to the one you plan to remove, so you can update them instead of leaving dead ends behind.
On older blog posts
Articles that cite outside sources collect dead links over the years. A check on your most-read posts is a cheap way to keep them credible.
On a draft or template
Paste a page's HTML to test its links before publishing, or to check a template without waiting for it to be live.
To clear Search Console 404s
When a report shows pages Google found by following links, a link check tells you which of your own pages still point to them.
For a client audit
A list of broken links with the page and anchor text for each is a concrete, quick-to-fix finding that is easy to hand to a developer.
Broken link mistakes and how to fix them
Fixing the link is almost always better than hiding the error.
Redirecting every 404 to the home page
What goes wrong: It clears the error but sends visitors to a page they did not ask for. Google advises against redirecting many old URLs to one irrelevant destination.
The fix: Update the link to the right page, redirect the old URL only if a close replacement exists, and otherwise remove the link.
Leaving redirected links as they are
What goes wrong: A link that works only after a redirect costs a hop on every click. Over several rule changes it can become a chain.
The fix: Edit the link to the final URL. The tool lists redirected links separately so you can fix the ones that matter most.
Treating "can't verify" as broken
What goes wrong: Some sites answer automated checks with 401, 403, 429 or 999 even though the page loads for people. Deleting those links removes good sources.
The fix: Open them in a browser. Remove a link only when the page is truly gone, and keep the ones that work.
Fixing one post when the cause is the template
What goes wrong: A broken link in the menu, footer or sidebar appears on every page, so the report lists it hundreds of times.
The fix: Group results by target URL. Edit the template or menu once instead of changing each page.
Skipping image and anchor links
What goes wrong: A link around an image with no alt text gives Google no anchor text, and an in-page link such as #pricing jumps nowhere when no element has that id.
The fix: Give linked images descriptive alt text, which Google uses as the anchor text, and make sure each #fragment matches a real id.
Using http:// links on a secure site
What goes wrong: Links that still use http:// may cost a redirect to HTTPS on every click, and some may lead to an insecure or outdated version of the page.
The fix: Change them to https:// in the content once you have confirmed the secure address works, and update stored links in the database if your CMS keeps them there.
Broken link terms explained
- Broken link
- A link whose destination returns an error, such as 404 or 410, or does not respond at all. Clicking it leads to an error page, not to the content.
- Link rot
- The gradual breaking of links as pages move, change or disappear over time. External links rot even if your own site stays unchanged.
- Internal and external link
- An internal link points to another page on the same site, and an external link points to a different site. Internal ones are fully under your control.
- Anchor text
- The visible words of a link. For an image link, Google uses the image's
alttext as the anchor text. - Broken anchor
- A link to
#sectionwhere no element has thatid, so the visitor stays at the top of the page. It is not a server error. - Soft 404
- A missing page that returns a 200 status. A link checker may see it as healthy, so check pages that look empty or generic.
- Can't verify
- A result for links where the site refused the check, for example with 401, 403, 429 or 999. The link may work for visitors.
- Orphaned by a broken link
- A page that loses its only internal link when that link breaks, making it hard for visitors and crawlers to reach.
Related tools, guides and services
Links tie into redirects, status codes and site structure. These cover those angles.
Internal Link Analyzer
See which pages link to each other, which are orphaned and how deep they sit.
ToolHTTP Status Code Checker
Test a list of URLs and see exactly what each one returns.
ToolRedirect Checker
Trace a redirected link to its final address and spot chains.
GuideSEO audit errors that matter
See where broken internal links sit among the issues that deserve priority.
ServiceTechnical SEO service
Get crawl errors, broken links and site structure reviewed and fixed.
ServiceSEO audit service
Receive a prioritised audit that includes link and crawl problems.
Built by
Madhav Kushwaha
SEO, AEO, GEO & Digital Marketing Consultant in Kathmandu, Nepal, and trainer at ODcrU Academy and TechAxis Institute. I built this checker because broken links are the cheapest SEO fix on most sites and the hardest to find without a crawler. The report here is the one I want from an audit: the broken URL, the page it is on and the words people click, so the fix takes seconds.
Broken Link Checker: Frequently Asked Questions
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