How to Remove Broken Links in a WordPress Website

Broken links can hurt SEO, user experience, and credibility. If visitors click a link and land on a 404 error page, they might leave your site. Fixing broken links keeps your WordPress site healthy and search engine-friendly.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding and removing broken links in WordPress.

1. Check for Broken Links Using a Plugin

WordPress doesn’t have a built-in tool to check for broken links, but you can use a plugin to find them easily.

Recommended Plugin: Broken Link Checker

1. Go to WordPress dashboard > Plugins > Add New.

2. Search for Broken Link Checker.

3. Click Install Now, then Activate.

4. Go to Tools > Broken Links to see a list of broken links.

5. Choose one of the options: Edit, Unlink, or Fix the link.

This plugin scans your entire website and helps fix broken links without manually searching each page.

2. Manually Find Broken Links with Google Search Console

If you don’t want to use a plugin, Google Search Console can help find broken links.

Steps:

1. Visit Google Search Console and log in.

2. Select your website and go to Coverage Report.

3. Look for pages with 404 errors under “Excluded.”

4. Click on an error to see the broken link causing it.

5. Edit the page in WordPress and update or remove the broken link.

This method ensures Google sees your site as error-free and well-maintained.

3. Fix Broken Links by Updating or Redirecting Them

Once you find broken links, you can fix them in three ways:

A. Update the Link

• If the page moved to a new URL, replace the broken link with the correct one.

• Edit the page or post in WordPress > Posts/Pages > Edit and update the link.

B. Remove the Link

• If the content is no longer available, delete the link completely.

• Edit the post and unlink the broken text.

C. Redirect the Link (Using a Plugin)

If the old link still gets traffic, you can redirect it to a relevant page.

Use the “Redirection” Plugin

1. Install the Redirection plugin from the WordPress plugin directory.

2. Go to Tools > Redirection.

3. Add the old broken URL in the “Source URL” box.

4. Enter the new working URL in the “Target URL” box.

5. Click Add Redirect.

Now, visitors trying to access the broken page will be redirected to a working one.

4. Remove Broken Links in WordPress Menus & Widgets

Broken links can also be in menus or widgets. Here’s how to remove them:

A. Fix Broken Links in Menus

1. Go to Appearance > Menus.

2. Check the links under “Custom Links.”

3. Remove or update any broken URLs.

4. Click Save Menu.

B. Fix Broken Links in Widgets

1. Go to Appearance > Widgets.

2. Look for Text or Custom HTML widgets containing broken links.

3. Remove or update the link.

4. Click Save.

5. Regularly Check for Broken Links

Broken links can appear over time as pages change or external sites go offline. To prevent future issues:

• Run a monthly scan using Broken Link Checker or Google Search Console.

• Redirect 404 error pages to relevant content.

• Regularly update old posts and links.

Final Thoughts

Removing broken links improves SEO, keeps visitors engaged, and enhances user experience. Whether you use a plugin or check manually, fixing broken links should be part of your website maintenance.