How to Find and Fix Broken Links in WordPress?

Broken links are one of the most common issues website owners face. They not only frustrate users but also harm your SEO by creating a poor user experience and wasting crawl budget. Fortunately, finding and fixing broken links in WordPress is relatively straightforward. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to identify and resolve broken links on your site.

What Are Broken Links?

Broken links are links that lead to pages or resources that no longer exist. When a user clicks on a broken link, they’re typically met with a 404 error page. Broken links can occur for various reasons, such as:

• Deleting or moving a page without setting up a redirect.
• Typing an incorrect URL.
• Linking to external content that has been removed or moved.

Why Fix Broken Links?

1. Improve User Experience:
   Broken links frustrate users and can lead to higher bounce rates.
2. Boost SEO:
   Search engines like Google consider user experience when ranking sites. Broken links can negatively impact your rankings.
3. Preserve Crawl Budget:
   Search engines have a limited crawl budget. Broken links waste this budget, potentially preventing important pages from being crawled.

How to Find Broken Links in WordPress

1. Use a Plugin (Recommended)

Plugins are the easiest way to find broken links in WordPress. Here are two popular options:

• Broken Link Checker:
  This free plugin scans your site for broken links and missing images. It also monitors your links in the background and notifies you of any issues.Steps to Use:
  1. Install and activate the Broken Link Checker plugin.
  2. Go to Settings > Link Checker to configure the plugin.
  3. The plugin will automatically scan your site and display broken links under Tools > Broken Links.
• WP Broken Link Status Checker:
  Another lightweight plugin that checks for broken links and missing images.

2. Use Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free tool that helps you monitor your site’s health, including broken links.

Steps to Use:

1. Log in to your Google Search Console account.
2. Navigate to Coverage under the Index section.
3. Look for errors labeled “404” or “Submitted URL not found.”
4. Click on the error to see a list of broken links.

3. Use Online Tools

If you prefer not to use a plugin, you can use online tools to scan your site for broken links. Some popular options include:

• Dead Link Checker
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider (desktop tool)
• Ahrefs Broken Link Checker

How to Fix Broken Links in WordPress

1. Update or Correct the Link

If the link is broken due to a typo or incorrect URL, simply edit the link to point to the correct destination.

Steps to Fix:

1. Go to the page or post containing the broken link.
2. Edit the link and update it with the correct URL.
3. Save your changes.

2. Set Up a 301 Redirect

If the page has been moved or deleted, set up a 301 redirect to point users and search engines to the new URL.

Steps to Fix:

1. Install and activate a redirection plugin like Redirection or Rank Math.
2. Go to the plugin’s settings and add a new redirect.
3. Enter the broken URL as the source and the new URL as the target.
4. Save the redirect.

3. Remove the Link

If the linked content no longer exists and there’s no suitable replacement, simply remove the link.

Steps to Fix:

1. Edit the page or post containing the broken link.
2. Delete the link or replace it with plain text.
3. Save your changes.

4. Fix External Links

If the broken link points to an external resource, you have a few options:

• Contact the Website Owner:
  Politely inform them about the broken link and ask if they’ve moved the content.
• Find an Alternative Source:
  Look for another reputable source to link to instead.
• Remove the Link:
  If no alternative exists, remove the link entirely.

Preventing Broken Links in the Future

1. Regularly Audit Your Site:
   Schedule monthly or quarterly checks for broken links using a plugin or tool.
2. Use Permalinks Carefully:
   Avoid changing URLs unnecessarily. If you must change a URL, set up a 301 redirect.
3. Monitor External Links:
   Periodically check external links to ensure they’re still active.
4. Test Before Publishing:
   Always test links before publishing new content.

Best Plugins for Managing Broken Links

1. Broken Link Checker:
   Monitors your site for broken links and missing images.
2. Redirection:
   Helps you manage 301 redirects and track 404 errors.
3. Rank Math:
   Includes a built-in link checker and redirection manager.
4. WP 404 Logger:
   Logs 404 errors and helps you identify broken links.

Final Thoughts

Broken links are an inevitable part of managing a website, but they don’t have to be a headache. By regularly auditing your site and using the right tools, you can quickly find and fix broken links, ensuring a smooth experience for your users and maintaining your SEO health.

Have you encountered broken links on your WordPress site? How did you handle them? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below! If you have any questions, feel free to ask—we’re here to help!