How to fix nofollow internal links for SEO without overthinking it
If you’ve got nofollow tags on internal links, chances are you didn’t put them there on purpose. They usually sneak in through themes, plugins, or something that seemed like a good idea years ago.
The short version. Internal links with nofollow don’t make much sense. You’re basically telling Google, “Ignore this page,” while still linking to it. Not ideal.
What nofollow internal links actually do to your site
A nofollow tag tells Google not to pass value through that link. That’s fine for certain external links. Sponsored stuff. User-generated content. Places you don’t fully trust.
Inside your own site though, it’s a problem.
Internal links are meant to help Google understand your structure. Which pages matter. How everything connects. Nofollow breaks that flow. Pages end up weaker than they should be, even if the content is solid.
How nofollow internal links usually end up on a site
This is where most people sigh.
Common causes:
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Old SEO plugins with default settings
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Themes that add nofollow to menu links
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Copying rules meant for external links and applying them site-wide
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Developers trying to be “safe” and overdoing it
None of these are rare. I see them all the time.
How to check if you have nofollow internal links
You don’t need fancy tools to start.
Right-click on a link on your site and inspect it. Look for rel="nofollow" in the code. If you see it on links pointing to your own pages, that’s your issue.
SEO audit tools can speed this up if the site is big, but even a manual check on menus, footers, and main content goes a long way.
How to fix nofollow internal links properly
Once you find them, the fix is usually simple.
If the nofollow is added by a plugin, check the settings. Many SEO plugins have options that affect all links without making it obvious.
If it’s in your theme, you might need a small tweak. Sometimes it’s one line of code controlling every menu link.
If it’s been added manually in content, remove it. Internal links don’t need special treatment. They just need to exist and work.
When nofollow might still make sense internally
There are rare cases.
Login pages.
Cart pages.
Admin areas.
Pages you don’t want indexed or treated as part of your content structure. Even then, noindex is often clearer than nofollow.
For normal pages, services, blogs, categories, nofollow usually causes more harm than good.
Why fixing nofollow internal links often leads to quick improvements
This is one of those fixes that doesn’t require rewriting content or building links.
Once Google can properly follow your internal links again, it understands your site better. Pages support each other. Important pages stand out.
I’ve seen rankings lift just from cleaning this up. No magic. Just removing friction.
How to avoid this problem going forward
Keep things simple.
Use normal links internally unless you have a very clear reason not to. Be cautious with plugins that promise to “optimise” links automatically. They often create more issues than they solve.
If you wouldn’t explain the reason for a nofollow link to a friend without hesitating, you probably don’t need it.
The honest way to think about internal links
Internal links are for people first. They guide someone through your site naturally.
Good website design uses internal links to improve navigation, usability, and content flow not just SEO.
If they make sense to a human, they usually make sense to Google. Nofollow gets in the way of that. Fix it, and let your pages support each other the way they’re supposed to.
