The Ultimate Guide to Broken Links: How to Find, Fix, and Prevent Them
Introduction
Broken links are hyperlinks that no longer work due to various reasons such as deleted pages, incorrect URLs, or changes in website structure. These links create a poor user experience and negatively impact SEO by wasting crawl budget and reducing search engine rankings.
Imagine visiting an online store to buy your favorite shoes, only to click on a product link and see a “404 Page Not Found” error. Frustrating, right? This is exactly why fixing broken links is crucial for any website.
Why Do Broken Links Matter?
Broken links impact websites in two major ways:
- SEO Impact: Search engines like Google devalue pages with too many broken links, leading to lower rankings.
- User Experience: Visitors encountering dead links may leave the site quickly, increasing bounce rates and reducing credibility.
Quick Stats on Broken Links
- 88% of online users are less likely to return to a website after encountering broken links.
- Google penalizes websites with excessive broken links by reducing their visibility in search results.
- Regular site audits can help reduce broken links by up to 60%, improving website performance and user trust.
Table of Contents
- What Are Broken Links?
- Why Do Links Become Broken?
- What Impact Do Broken Links Have?
- Types of Broken Links
- How Broken Links Affect SEO and User Experience
- Latest Google Updates on Broken Links (2024 & 2025)
- How to Find Broken Links on Your Website
- How to Address Broken Links
- Find Broken Links on Autopilot
- Best Practices for Preventing Broken Links
- FAQs
- Conclusion
What Are Broken Links?
A broken link is a hyperlink that leads to a non-existent or inaccessible webpage. This can happen due to various reasons, including deleted pages, incorrect URLs, or expired domains.
Real-Life Example
A news website links to an external government page with essential legal updates. If the government site moves the page without a redirect, visitors from the news website will encounter a “404 Not Found” error. This leads to frustration and loss of credibility for the news website.
Why Do Links Become Broken?
Broken links occur due to several reasons, including:
- Deleting a webpage without setting up a redirect.
- Changing a URL structure without updating links.
- Linking to an external website that has moved or shut down.
- Typos or formatting errors in the URL.
What Impact Do Broken Links Have?
1. SEO Damage
Too many broken links can harm your site’s rankings on search engines.
2. Poor User Experience
Visitors encountering broken links may leave your site, increasing bounce rates.
3. Loss of Conversions
Broken links on e-commerce sites can lead to lost sales and decreased trust.
Types of Broken Links
1. 404 Errors (Page Not Found)
These occur when a user clicks on a link to a webpage that no longer exists.
- Example: An e-commerce store removes an outdated product page without setting up a redirect.
- Causes:
- Deleted or unpublished web pages
- URLs mistyped in the hyperlink
- Website restructuring without proper redirects
2. Broken Internal Links
Links within your website that point to non-existent or moved pages.
- Example: A blog post links to an old article, but the URL structure has changed.
- Causes:
- Renaming or moving a page without updating internal links
- Deleting content without setting up a redirect
- Incorrect relative or absolute link formatting
3. Broken External Links
Links pointing to another website that no longer exists or has changed URLs.
- Example: A tech blog references an online tutorial, but the tutorial website has shut down.
- Causes:
- The linked website has removed or relocated the page
- The external website has expired or been shut down
- The link format is incorrect or outdated
4. Incorrect URL Structure
Typos or formatting errors in a URL can make it unclickable.
- Example: A link formatted as https//example.com instead of https://example.com will not work.
- Causes:
- Human error when manually entering URLs
- Incomplete URLs in content management systems (CMS)
- Dynamic URL changes without updates in linked pages
Latest Google Updates on Broken Links (2024 & 2025)
- Google’s AI-powered crawling system now detects and devalues pages with excessive broken links.
- Improved indexing process allows Google to recognize intentional content removals and handle broken links more efficiently.
- Mobile-first indexing has made it crucial to check broken links in mobile versions of websites as well.
- Google Search Console updates now provide more detailed reports on broken links, helping webmasters fix them faster.
- New user experience signals in 2025 mean that broken links will impact rankings more significantly than before.
How to Find Broken Links on Your Website
1. Use SEO Tools
- Google Search Console
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Ahrefs Site Audit Tool
2. Manually Check Key Pages
Review high-traffic pages manually to ensure all links are working correctly.
How to Address Broken Links
1. Implement 301 Redirects
Redirect visitors to a relevant page using a 301 redirect.
2. Update or Remove Broken Links
Replace outdated links with working alternatives.
Find Broken Links on Autopilot
Use automation tools like:
- Broken Link Checker (for WordPress)
- SEMrush Site Audit
Best Practices for Preventing Broken Links
✅ Conduct Regular Link Audits – Use automated tools to detect broken links regularly.
✅ Use Consistent URL Structures – Avoid unnecessary URL changes.
✅ Redirect Pages Properly – Always set up 301 redirects when removing pages.
✅ Monitor External Links – Check for outdated external links and replace them.
✅ Keep Website Content Updated – Ensure that all linked resources remain accessible.
FAQs
1. Why do broken links occur?
Broken links happen due to deleted pages, changed URLs, or external site updates.
2. How often should I check for broken links?
It’s best to conduct a link audit at least once a month, especially for high-traffic sites.
3. Do broken links hurt my Google rankings?
Yes, excessive broken links negatively impact SEO and user experience.
4. Can I use plugins to fix broken links?
Yes, plugins like Broken Link Checker (for WordPress) automate link monitoring.
5. What’s the best way to fix a broken external link?
Find an alternative working link or remove the broken reference.
6. Are broken links a security risk?
Not directly, but they can be exploited for phishing if redirected improperly.
7. Can I ignore broken links on my website?
No, they create a poor user experience and hurt your website’s credibility.
8. What is a 301 redirect?
A 301 redirect permanently redirects an old URL to a new one, preserving SEO value.
9. How do I check for broken links on mobile?
Use mobile-friendly testing tools like Google’s Mobile Usability report.
10. How can I prevent broken links in the future?
Regularly audit your website, use automated tools, and always set up redirects for deleted pages.
Conclusion
Broken links are a common issue but can be effectively managed with regular audits and best practices. Ensuring a seamless user experience not only enhances engagement but also strengthens your SEO strategy.
Pro Tip: Use a combination of automated tools and manual checks to keep your site free from broken links and maintain a strong online presence!