How to find website broken links for better SEO and user experience

Broken links are one of the most common technical problems websites face, yet they are often ignored until they start affecting traffic and rankings. If you care about SEO performance, user experience, and long-term website health, learning how to find website broken links should be a core part of your optimization process.

Whether you manage a small business website, a personal blog, or a large-scale enterprise platform, broken links can quietly damage your website’s credibility. They frustrate users, interrupt navigation, and make search engines question the quality of your site. The good news is that broken links are easy to detect and fix once you understand where they come from and how to handle them properly.

In this guide, you’ll learn what broken links are, why they matter for SEO and user experience, how to find website broken links using different methods, and how to fix and prevent them effectively.

What are broken links?

Broken links, sometimes called dead links, are hyperlinks that no longer lead to the intended destination. Instead of opening useful content, they return error messages such as 404 Page, 410 Gone, or server-related errors.

Broken links can exist in two main forms. Internal broken links point to pages within your own website that no longer exist or have moved. External broken links lead to pages on other websites that are no longer available. Both types create problems, but internal broken links are usually more harmful because they directly affect your site structure.

From a user’s point of view, clicking a link that leads to an error page breaks trust. It feels like hitting a dead end, so naturally, they would not stay on the site since it doesn’t provide them with valuable information. From a search engine’s perspective, broken links signal poor maintenance and can interrupt crawling and indexing, a telltale sign of a subpar user experience and website management.

This is why knowing how to find website broken links is essential for keeping your site healthy and reliable, in the eyes of both search engines and users.

 

What are broken links?

Why broken links are a problem for websites

At first glance, broken links may seem like a small technical issue. In reality, they can cause long-term damage if left unchecked.

The most immediate impact is on user experience. Visitors expect links to guide them smoothly from one piece of content to another. When a link fails, it disrupts that journey. Users may feel frustrated, lose confidence in your site, and leave without exploring further. Over time, this leads to higher bounce rates and lower engagement.

Broken links also affect SEO performance. Search engines rely on links to discover content and understand how pages relate to one another. When crawlers encounter broken internal links, they waste crawl budgets and may fail to index important pages. This weakens the overall link structure and reduces the flow of authority across your site.

There is also a credibility issue. A website filled with broken links looks outdated and neglected. For businesses, this can translate into lost leads and lower conversion rates. For content-focused sites, it can mean fewer returning visitors and less trust from readers. Also, if your structure is riddled by broken links, it’s also difficult for users to navigate through your pages, so you will lose out on precious traffic across the board.

 

Why broken links are a problem for websites

Common causes of broken links on websites

To effectively find website broken links, it helps to understand why they appear in the first place. In most cases, broken links result from common website changes rather than random errors.

• Deleting or moving pages without redirects: When content is removed or URLs change, any links pointing to the old address break immediately unless a proper redirect is in place.
• Incorrect or outdated URLs: Links copied manually, mistyped, or taken from old sources can easily become broken, even due to minor errors.
• Website redesigns or structural updates: Changes made for branding or improved site structure often alter URLs. If internal links aren’t updated, large sections of a site may lead to non-existent pages.
• External websites changing or disappearing: Third-party sites may remove content, change domains, or shut down entirely, causing external links to break over time.

This is why broken links are not a one-time issue but an ongoing maintenance task that every website needs to manage. The reason is because the number of pages will keep increasing and there are bound to be issues like multiple pages addressing the same search intent (keyword cannibalization), technical errors, or changes to the overall website structure. Constant checking and optimization is always the key.

 

Common causes of broken links on websites

How to find website broken links

Finding broken links does not require advanced technical skills. With the right tools and a clear process, you can find website broken links quickly and efficiently, even on larger or more complex websites.

Use an online broken link checker

One of the easiest ways to find website broken links is by using an online broken link checker. These tools crawl your site automatically and identify links that return error codes such as 404 or 500.

This method works especially well for small to medium-sized websites. You simply enter your website URL, start the scan, and wait for the results. The tool will provide a list of broken internal and external links, often along with the pages where they appear.

Online broken link checkers are ideal for routine audits and for website owners who want quick insights without setting up complex software. While they may not offer deep SEO analysis, they are highly effective for basic link maintenance. Some of the best options include Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, and Sitechecker.

 

Use an online broken link checker

Find 404 links with Google Search Console

Google Search Console is one of the most reliable ways to find 404 links on website pages based on real crawling data. In the Pages report under the Indexing section, Google lists URLs that return “Not found (404)” errors during its crawl process.

This data is especially valuable because it reflects how Google actually interacts with your site. If Google encounters broken internal links, it means search engines are wasting time crawling pages that no longer exist.

By reviewing these reports, you can quickly identify which URLs are causing problems and trace them back to the pages linking to them. Fixing these issues helps improve crawl efficiency and ensures your important pages remain accessible and indexable.

 

Find 404 links with Google Search Console

Use SEO audit tools to find broken links on site

For larger websites, manual checks and basic tools may not be enough. This is where professional SEO audit tools come in. Platforms like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or SEMrush can crawl thousands of pages and help you find broken links on site at scale.

These tools provide detailed reports showing broken URLs, error types, and the exact locations where the links appear. This context allows you to prioritize fixes based on importance and impact.

SEO audit tools are especially useful for content-heavy websites, ecommerce stores, and platforms with complex internal linking structures. They turn broken link detection into a manageable, ongoing process rather than a one-time task.

 

Use SEO audit tools to find broken links on site

How to fix broken links on your website

Once you find website broken links, the next step is choosing the right fix. Not every broken link requires the same solution, and the best approach depends on the situation.

• Update or replace broken URLs: If the linked content still exists under a new URL, updating the link is the simplest and most effective solution. For external broken links, replacing them with relevant and reliable alternatives helps maintain content quality and user trust.
• Set up 301 redirects: When a page has been permanently moved or removed, implementing a 301 redirect ensures users and search engines are guided to the correct destination. Redirects help preserve link equity and prevent SEO losses, especially after redesigns, URL changes, or domain migrations.
• Remove outdated or unnecessary links: In cases where a broken link no longer adds value, removing it can simplify the page and improve clarity. This is useful for outdated references, expired promotions, or content that no longer aligns with your audience’s needs.
• Create or optimize a custom 404 page: Even with proper maintenance, some users may still land on broken URLs. A well-designed 404 page explains the issue clearly and guides users back to useful content through navigation links, a search bar, or popular resources.

 

How to fix broken links on your website

Best practices to prevent broken links in the future

Fixing broken links is important, but preventing them is a more effective long-term approach. Being proactive helps save time while maintaining stable SEO performance and a smooth user experience as your website grows.

Before publishing new content, link testing should become a routine habit. Every internal and external link needs to be checked to ensure it leads to a valid page. Using descriptive and stable URLs also reduces the risk of links breaking during future updates or redesigns.

Redirect management plays a key role in prevention. When pages are moved or removed, implementing 301 redirects ensures users and search engines are guided to the correct destination. This is especially critical during site updates, rebranding, or domain changes, where careful planning helps avoid widespread 404 errors.

Regular monitoring is just as essential. Ongoing site audits with tools like Google Search Console or SEO crawlers help detect issues early and make it easier to find website broken links before they impact SEO or user experience.

Finally, preventing broken links is a shared responsibility. With clear guidelines, documentation, and regular monitoring, teams can reduce the need to frequently find website broken links while maintaining a strong SEO and user experience.

 

Best practices to prevent broken links in the future

FAQs about How to Find Website Broken Links

How often should I check my website for broken links?

Most websites should run checks monthly or quarterly, while high-traffic or frequently updated sites should scan more often, especially after major content or structural changes.

Do broken links directly hurt SEO rankings?

Broken links are not a direct ranking factor, but they harm SEO by creating poor user experiences, wasting crawl budget, and disrupting link equity across your site.

Are broken external links as harmful as internal ones?

Both are harmful, but internal broken links directly impact crawlability and site structure, while external broken links mainly reduce user trust and content credibility.

Can broken links affect conversions and revenue?

Yes, broken links interrupt the user journey, erode trust, and can directly block sales or lead generation, resulting in lost revenue and wasted marketing efforts.

Conclusion

Broken links may seem like a small technical issue, but their impact on SEO, user experience, and overall website credibility is far greater than many site owners realize. When left unchecked, they can quietly weaken site structure, frustrate users, and limit your website’s ability to perform well in search results.

Through this guide, On Digitals hopes you now have a clear understanding of what broken links are, why they matter, and how to find website broken links using practical tools and proven methods. From detection and fixes to long-term prevention, broken link management plays an important role in maintaining a healthy and trustworthy website. On Digitals’ SEO service can help businesses refine their website structure to attract more traffic.

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