Broken Links Checker - Find Dead Links Instantly

Scan your webpage for broken links (404 errors) to improve user experience and SEO rankings.

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Enter your webpage URL below to check for broken links and improve your SEO

Why Check for Broken Links?

Broken links damage your website's credibility, user experience, and SEO performance. Our free broken link checker helps you identify and fix dead links before they hurt your rankings.

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User Experience

Dead links frustrate users. When visitors click a link and see a 404 error, they lose trust in your site and are likely to leave immediately, increasing your bounce rate and reducing conversions.

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SEO Impact

Search engines like Google view broken links as a sign of a neglected website. Too many dead links can negatively affect your crawl budget, page authority, and overall search rankings.

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Site Maintenance

Regular link checking helps maintain a professional website. Identify outdated content, removed pages, and external links that have changed or disappeared over time.

What is a Broken Link Checker?

A broken link checker (also known as a dead link checker or link validator) is an essential SEO tool that scans your web pages to identify links that no longer work. These broken links typically return HTTP error codes like 404 (Not Found), 410 (Gone), or 500 (Server Error).

How Does It Work?

Our broken link checker tool works in three simple steps:

  1. Extraction: We crawl your specified webpage and extract all hyperlinks (both internal and external)
  2. Validation: Each link is checked sequentially by sending HTTP requests to verify its status
  3. Reporting: Results are displayed in real-time with color-coded status indicators and exportable CSV reports

💡 Pro Tip: Run this checker regularly (monthly or quarterly) to catch broken links before they impact your SEO. Set up a maintenance schedule to keep your website healthy!

Types of Broken Links

🔴 404 Not Found

The most common broken link error. The page existed before but has been deleted or moved without a proper redirect. This is the primary target of link checkers.

🟠 410 Gone

Similar to 404, but indicates the page was intentionally removed and won't be coming back. Search engines treat this differently than temporary 404s.

🟡 3xx Redirects

While not "broken," redirect chains (multiple redirects) slow down page load times and can dilute link equity. Our tool identifies these for optimization.

🟣 500 Server Errors

Indicates a problem with the destination server. These are often temporary but should be monitored as they create poor user experiences.

Common Causes of Broken Links

  • ❌ Typos in URLs: Misspelled links during content creation or migration
  • ❌ Deleted pages: Content removed without setting up 301 redirects
  • ❌ Website restructuring: URL structure changes during redesigns
  • ❌ External link rot: Third-party websites removing or moving their content
  • ❌ Domain expiration: Linked websites going offline permanently
  • ❌ Protocol changes: HTTP to HTTPS migrations without proper redirects

Best Practices for Link Management

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Regular Audits

Schedule monthly or quarterly link checks to catch issues early. Set calendar reminders for consistent maintenance.

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Use 301 Redirects

When moving or deleting pages, always implement proper 301 redirects to preserve link equity and user experience.

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Monitor External Links

Check external links more frequently as you have no control over third-party websites changing their content.

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Document Changes

Keep a log of broken links found and fixed to track patterns and prevent recurring issues.

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Quality Over Quantity

Focus on linking to authoritative, stable sources. Avoid linking to low-quality sites that frequently change.

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Automate When Possible

Use tools and scripts to automatically check critical pages regularly and alert you to issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I check for broken links?
For most websites, checking for broken links monthly is sufficient. High-traffic sites or e-commerce platforms should check weekly. After major website updates, redesigns, or migrations, run an immediate check. Set up a regular schedule and stick to it!
Do broken links hurt my SEO rankings?
Yes, but indirectly. Google has stated that a few broken links won't directly harm rankings. However, many broken links signal poor site maintenance, which can:
  • Increase bounce rates (a ranking factor)
  • Waste crawl budget on error pages
  • Reduce user trust and engagement
  • Break internal linking structure
What's the difference between internal and external broken links?
Internal broken links point to pages on your own domain and are fully under your control. These should be fixed immediately with redirects or updated links. External broken links point to other websites. You can't fix these directly, but you should either update them to working alternatives or remove them if no suitable replacement exists.
Can I check broken links for my entire website?
This tool checks one page at a time to provide fast, focused results. For full-site audits, you would need to check each important page individually or use enterprise SEO crawling tools. We recommend starting with your most important pages: homepage, top landing pages, and high-traffic content.
What should I do when I find broken links?
Follow this priority order:
  1. Internal links: Set up 301 redirects to the new URL or update the link directly
  2. External links: Find an alternative working page or use archive.org to find the old content
  3. If no alternative: Remove the link and update surrounding content to maintain flow
  4. Document everything: Keep a log for future reference and pattern analysis