How to Find and Fix Broken Links in WordPress

How to Find and Fix Broken Links in WordPress

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Broken links tend to show up quietly. A page gets updated, a URL changes, or a plugin is removed—and suddenly visitors are clicking links that go nowhere. You often don’t notice it until you test the site yourself or see a drop in engagement.

In most sites I build or review, broken links are one of the most common issues after launch. They don’t just affect usability—they also weaken your internal linking structure and make it harder for search engines to properly crawl your site.

If you’re actively adding content, updating pages, or restructuring URLs, broken links are something you’ll need to check regularly.

Quick Answer / Summary

To find and fix broken links in WordPress, you can use tools like Google Search Console, SEO plugins, or dedicated broken link checkers. Once identified, you should either update the link, remove it, or redirect it to a relevant page using a 301 redirect.

Why This Matters

Broken links affect both users and SEO.

From a user perspective, they create frustration. Visitors expect links to work, and when they don’t, it reduces trust and increases bounce rate.

From an SEO perspective, broken links:

  • Disrupt internal linking structure
  • Waste crawl budget
  • Signal poor site maintenance

When I audit WordPress sites, fixing broken links is often one of the quickest ways to improve overall site quality without creating new content.

1. Check Google Search Console

If your site is connected to Google Search Console, this should be your starting point.

Go to:

  • Indexing → Pages
  • Look for errors like “Not Found (404)”

This shows URLs Google tried to crawl but couldn’t access.

Why this matters:
These are real issues affecting how your site appears in search results.

For WordPress-specific scanning, plugins can automatically detect broken links.

Popular options:

  • Broken Link Checker
  • AIOSEO Link Assistant
  • Rank Math (Pro feature)

After installing:

  • Run a scan
  • Review flagged links
  • Edit or unlink directly from the dashboard

In my experience, plugins are useful during cleanup, but I usually don’t leave them running permanently because they can slow down your site.

3. Use an External Tool

External crawlers often give a more complete overview.

Common tools:

  • Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • Ahrefs Site Audit
  • SEMrush Site Audit

These tools scan your entire site and show:

  • Broken internal links
  • Broken external links
  • Redirect chains

Why this matters:
They catch issues that WordPress plugins sometimes miss, especially on larger sites.

4. Manually Check Key Pages

Even with tools, it’s worth manually checking:

  • Homepage
  • Navigation menu links
  • Footer links
  • High-traffic posts

These are the links users interact with most often.

Once you’ve found broken links, you have three main options.

If the correct page still exists but the URL changed:

  • Edit the post or page
  • Replace the broken URL with the correct one

This is the best option when possible because it keeps the link relevant.

If the linked page no longer exists and there’s no replacement:

  • Remove the hyperlink
  • Keep or rewrite the text if needed

I usually do this when the link no longer adds value.

Option 3: Add a 301 Redirect

If the old URL has a suitable replacement:

  • Set up a 301 redirect
  • Point the old URL to the new one

You can do this using:

  • A plugin (like Redirection or Rank Math)
  • Your hosting control panel

This is especially important if:

  • The broken URL has backlinks
  • It was previously indexed by Google

Practical Tips and Observations

  • Check links after changing permalinks
    If you ever modify your URL structure, expect broken links.
  • Watch out for deleted pages
    Removing pages without redirects is one of the most common causes.
  • Review external links occasionally
    Other websites change or disappear, which creates broken outbound links.
  • Fix internal links first
    These have the biggest impact on SEO and user experience.
  • Schedule periodic checks
    On most sites, checking once every 1–3 months is enough.

When I maintain WordPress sites, I usually include broken link checks as part of a regular maintenance routine rather than treating it as a one-time fix.

Common Mistakes

1. Ignoring broken links after launch
Many site owners only focus on setup, but links break over time.

2. Redirecting everything to the homepage
This creates a poor user experience and can confuse search engines.

3. Leaving broken internal links in place
These weaken your site structure and waste crawl budget.

4. Running heavy plugins permanently
Broken link checker plugins can slow down your site if left active.

5. Not updating internal links after redirects
Even if a redirect works, it’s better to update the original link.

When to Use This vs Alternatives

  • Use link updates when the correct page exists
  • Use 301 redirects when content has moved or been replaced
  • Use link removal when no relevant destination exists

For larger sites or ongoing SEO work:

  • External audit tools are more scalable
  • Plugins are better for quick fixes inside WordPress

Conclusion

Broken links are a normal part of managing a WordPress site, especially as it grows and changes. The key is to catch them early and fix them properly—either by updating, removing, or redirecting the link.

If you check your site regularly and treat link maintenance as part of your workflow, you can avoid most of the common issues and keep your site clean for both users and search engines.