Broken Link Checker
Scan a domain for broken links and fix bad URLs before they cost traffic.
Link Checker Tool
A broken link checker scans a domain for dead URLs, error responses, and links that need review. Enter a website address, run the scan, and use the results to find broken internal links, outdated external links, and redirects that should be cleaned up. This is useful for routine maintenance, redesigns, migrations, and pre-launch quality checks.
How To Check a Website for Broken Links
- Enter the domain URL you want to scan.
- Click Get Broken Links.
What To Do After a Broken Link Scan
A broken link report only becomes valuable when it leads to the right fix. Start with pages that affect navigation, conversions, and high-traffic content, then work outward to older articles and lower-priority sections.
Fix internal broken links first
Menus, breadcrumbs, related content modules, and in-body internal links should point to live destinations. Internal errors are fully under your control, so they are usually the fastest wins for usability and crawl efficiency.
Decide whether to update, redirect, or restore
If the destination moved permanently, update the link and keep a clean permanent redirect where needed. If the page still deserves to exist, restore it. If there is no relevant replacement, remove the link instead of forcing visitors into an error page.
Review external links with context
Not every outbound issue needs the same response. Replace dead references, remove links to abandoned resources, and check redirected destinations before keeping them in live content. This keeps research pages, guides, and product content more trustworthy.
How To Read Broken Link Results
When you check broken links, the main goal is to separate urgent errors from URLs that simply need cleanup. Focus first on hard failures, then look at redirects and other responses that may still create friction for users or crawlers.
404 and missing-page errors
A 404 usually means the target page is gone or the link points to the wrong address. Update the source link, restore the missing page, or redirect the old URL to the closest relevant destination.
301 and 302 redirects
Redirects are not automatically a problem, but they often reveal outdated internal links. If an internal link goes through a redirect, point it directly to the final destination whenever possible.
403 and 500-level issues
These responses can point to access, permissions, or server problems rather than simple link typos. Confirm whether the destination should be public, then test the page before making permanent site changes.
When a Website Broken Link Checker Is Worth Using
Use a dead link checker after URL structure changes, CMS migrations, content pruning, navigation updates, or large publishing sprints. It is also a smart recurring task for sites with many landing pages, blog posts, category pages, or resource libraries where manual checking is too slow and too easy to miss.
Worked example
Your team moves a guide from an old blog folder to a new resource center during a redesign. The website broken link checker reveals that category pages, older articles, and footer links still point to the retired URL, while a few external references now pass through a redirect. The right fix is to update internal links to the final destination, keep a relevant redirect for legacy traffic, and replace any external links that no longer lead to the intended content. The result is cleaner navigation, fewer wasted crawl hops, and fewer chances for visitors to hit a dead page.
Common Broken Link Fixing Mistakes
Leaving internal links on old redirects
A redirect may save the visit, but it still adds unnecessary steps. Internal links should usually point straight to the live URL, not to an older path that redirects.
Sending every bad URL to the home page
This hides the real issue and often frustrates users. Redirect only when there is a close replacement. Otherwise, update the source link or remove it.
Ignoring repeat checks
Broken links return after content edits, product removals, platform changes, and third-party site updates. A recurring broken link check helps catch new issues before they spread across templates or high-value pages.
Broken Link Checker FAQs
What is a website broken link checker?
It is a tool that scans a starting website address and returns links that need attention, such as dead pages, error responses, or URLs that redirect unexpectedly.
How do I check a website for broken links?
Enter the website address, run the scan, and review the results. Start by fixing internal navigation links and important pages, then move to external references.
Should I fix redirects as well as 404 errors?
Yes. Hard errors need immediate action, and redirects deserve review because old internal links should usually be updated to the final destination.
How often should I run a broken link check?
Run one after migrations, structural URL changes, large content updates, or navigation edits. For active sites, regular maintenance checks help catch new link issues early.
Are external broken links worth fixing?
Yes, especially on pages that support conversions, trust, or research. Replacing dead outbound links keeps content useful and reduces the chance that visitors leave on a bad experience.