By the Seovoro Team · Last updated October 6, 2026
Key takeaways
- A broken link points to a page that does not load, usually a 404 error. It frustrates visitors and wastes their time.
- Google says 404 errors are a normal part of the web, but you should still fix broken links that visitors can reach.
- Fix each broken link by updating it, redirecting to the closest matching page, or removing it.
- Do not redirect everything to the home page. Send people to the most relevant page.
Every website collects broken links over time: a page is renamed, a product is removed or another site closes. This guide explains what broken links are, how serious they are, how to find them for free and the right way to fix them.
In this guide
- What is a broken link?
- Do broken links hurt SEO?
- How to find broken links
- How to fix them
- How to prevent them
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
What is a broken link?
A broken link is a link that leads to a page that cannot be loaded. The most common cause is a 404 Not Found error, where the page no longer exists at that address. Other causes include server errors (5xx), a domain that has expired and links that point to a page that has moved without a redirect.
| Type | Example | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Internal broken link | A menu or blog link to a deleted page on your site | Update the link or redirect the old URL |
| External broken link | A link to another website that no longer exists | Replace it with a working source or remove it |
| Redirect chain | A link that goes through several redirects | Link straight to the final page |
| Server error | A page that returns a 5xx error | Fix the server problem, then recheck |
Do broken links hurt SEO?
Google says 404 errors are a normal part of the web and do not by themselves harm your site's search performance. The real cost is to people. Someone who clicks a broken link on your site may leave, and a broken link on an important page, such as a menu or a service page, looks careless. Fix broken links that visitors can actually reach, especially internal ones. Google explains how it treats these responses in its guide to HTTP status codes.
How to find broken links
- Run a page through our free Broken Link Checker to find broken links on that page.
- In Google Search Console, open the Pages report and look at "Not found (404)" to see which URLs Google could not load.
- For a whole site, use a crawler. Our Broken Link Scanner Bot is built for scanning many pages at once.
- Check your most important pages first: the home page, menus, service pages and your best articles.
How to fix them
- Update the link if the page still exists at a new address.
- Redirect the old URL with a 301 redirect to the closest matching page if the page moved or was replaced. Google describes this in its guide to redirects and Google Search.
- Restore the page if it was removed by mistake and still has value.
- Remove the link if there is no good replacement.
- Replace external links that no longer work with a current, relevant source.
One common mistake is to redirect every removed page to the home page. That confuses visitors and can be treated as a soft 404. Send people to the most relevant page instead.
How to prevent them
- Check links after a redesign, migration or big content change.
- Keep URLs stable, and redirect any URL you change.
- Review important pages every few months.
- Use our Site Audit for a quick on-page check, or request a full technical SEO audit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fix every 404?
No. A 404 for a page that should not exist is fine. Fix the ones that visitors reach through links on your site, or that have real traffic or backlinks.
Is a 301 or a 302 better?
Use a 301 for a permanent move. Use a 302 only for a temporary change.
Should I remove external links to dead sites?
Yes. Replace them with a working source, or remove them.
How often should I check?
After any major change, and at least every few months for important pages.
Will fixing broken links raise my rankings?
It improves the visitor experience and keeps your site tidy, but it is not a ranking boost on its own.
Can Seovoro scan my whole site?
Yes. Our technical SEO audit covers broken links, redirects, crawling and indexing.
Sources
- Google Search Central: HTTP status codes, network and DNS errors
- Google Search Central: Redirects and Google Search
Check a page now with the free Broken Link Checker.
Written by Seovoro SEO Team
SEO, AEO & AI Search specialists at Seovoro. View author profile