Broken Link Checker & 404 Error Scanner
Scan your website for broken links, 404 errors, dead URLs, and redirect issues. Identify pages that hurt user experience, waste crawl budget, and impact SEO performance with actionable recommendations.
New to broken link auditing? Start with our Technical SEO Checklist for step-by-step guidance.
Scan Your Website for Broken Links
Enter your website URL below and we'll scan for broken links, 404 errors, and dead pages.
Learn More About Broken Links
Deepen your understanding of broken links and how they affect your website's SEO performance:
How to Fix Crawl Errors
Diagnose and resolve crawl errors in Google Search Console.
Crawl Budget Guide
Optimize how Google allocates crawling resources to your site.
Technical SEO Checklist
Step-by-step checklist for maintaining a healthy website.
XML Sitemap Guide
Help search engines discover your updated and working pages.
Robots.txt Guide
Learn how robots.txt works and how to configure it correctly.
Internal Linking Checklist
Build a strong internal linking structure with working links.
Website SEO Checker
Complete technical SEO audit including broken link detection.
Indexability Checker
Check if Google can crawl and index your pages.
After Fixing Broken Links
Fixing broken links is one step in maintaining a healthy website. After resolving link issues, complete these steps to maximize your search visibility.
Use this Broken Link Checker to scan your website for dead links and 404 errors.
Create a fresh XML sitemap to help search engines discover your working pages. Sitemap guide →
Create or update your robots.txt file to control crawler access. Robots.txt guide →
Use the Indexability Checker and Crawlability Checklist.
Follow the internal linking checklist or use Internal Link Suggestions.
Complete a technical website audit to find all SEO issues.
See how your pages appear in search results with the SERP Preview Tool.
Check Google Search Console for crawl errors and indexing status. Fix crawl errors →
Why Broken Links Matter for SEO
Broken links create a poor user experience and make it harder for search engines to crawl your website efficiently. When visitors click dead links and encounter 404 errors, they may leave your website immediately — increasing bounce rates and reducing engagement.
Search engines like Google also waste valuable crawl budget trying to access pages that no longer exist. This means fewer resources are available to crawl and index your important content. Over time, broken links can negatively impact your search rankings and overall site authority.
Regularly checking and fixing broken links helps maintain website quality, improve crawl efficiency, and keep important pages accessible to both users and search engines. A clean link profile signals professionalism and attention to detail — both of which matter for SEO.
Internal vs External Broken Links
- Internal broken links — Point to pages within your own domain (e.g., /old-blog-post). These affect your site structure and crawlability. Internal linking checklist →
- External broken links — Point to pages on other websites that no longer exist. These can hurt user trust and perceived quality.
- Why both matter — Internal broken links waste crawl budget; external broken links hurt user experience and credibility.
Common Causes of Broken Links
- Deleted pages — Content was removed without setting up redirects. Migration checklist →
- Changed URLs — Page slugs or permalinks were updated
- Typographical errors — Manual link entry mistakes
- Expired external pages — Linked websites removed or moved content
- Website migration issues — Poorly executed domain or platform changes
Related: After fixing broken links, use our Website SEO Checker to identify additional technical issues, or generate an XML Sitemap to help search engines discover your updated URLs. For managing crawler access, review your robots.txt configuration.
How to Fix Broken Links
Update the URL
Replace with the correct working address.
Remove the Link
Delete it if the content no longer exists.
Find an Alternative
Link to a similar page that works. Find relevant pages →
Set Up a Redirect
Send visitors to a new location automatically (301 redirect). Migration guide →
SEO Impact
Broken links waste crawl budget and can indirectly affect rankings. Crawl budget guide →
User Experience
Dead links frustrate visitors and increase bounce rates. Technical SEO checklist →
Crawl Efficiency
Search bots waste time on links that go nowhere. Crawlability checklist →
Site Credibility
Broken links make your site look outdated or neglected. Run an SEO audit →
Related Tools: After fixing broken links, run a full SEO audit to check other technical issues. Use Robots.txt Generator to control crawler access and Sitemap Generator to help search engines find your updated pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about broken link checking
What is a broken link?
A broken link is a hyperlink that points to a page that no longer exists. When clicked, visitors see a 404 error page instead of the content they expected. Learn to fix crawl errors →
Do broken links hurt SEO?
Yes. Broken links waste crawl budget and can indirectly hurt your rankings. Google wants to send users to working pages, not error pages. Crawl budget guide → | Run SEO audit →
How often should I check for broken links?
Check once a month for small sites. Larger sites with frequent updates should check weekly or use automated monitoring. Technical SEO checklist →
Does this tool check external links too?
Yes. It checks both internal links (pages on your own site) and external links (links to other websites). Internal linking checklist →
What's the difference between a 404 error and a broken link?
A 404 error is the HTTP status code returned when a page isn't found. A broken link is any link that leads to a 404 error or other non-working page. Fix crawl errors →
Will fixing broken links improve my rankings?
Fixing broken links improves user experience and crawl efficiency, which can positively impact SEO over time. It's a best practice that supports overall site health. Technical SEO checklist →
Related SEO Tools
Complete your website maintenance toolkit
Use Website SEO Checker for a complete website audit, Sitemap Generator to help search engines find your pages, and Robots.txt Generator to control crawler access.