How to Fix Broken Links in WordPress: A Comprehensive Guide

If you’ve ever wondered how to fix broken links in WordPress, you’re in the right place. As someone who’s been in the trenches with WordPress for years, I know that broken links can be a real pain.

They not only ruin the user experience but also harm your website’s SEO ranking and credibility.

In this quick guide, we’ll dive into the various aspects of fixing broken links in WordPress, so your website stays healthy and your users remain happy.

Understanding Broken Links

What are Broken Links and Their Types?

Broken links are essentially URLs that don’t lead to the intended content. There are three main types of broken links:

• Internal broken links are those that point to pages or content within your own site that no longer exist or have been moved.
• External broken links refer to links that direct users to other websites or resources that are either unavailable or have changed.
• Broken media links include missing or inaccessible images, videos, or audio files.

Why Do Broken Links Happen?

Broken links can occur for various reasons, such as:

• Deleted or moved content: When you delete a page or post, or move it to a new URL, any existing links to that content become broken.
• Incorrect or incomplete URLs: Typos or wrong formatting in URLs can lead to broken links.
• Third-party website changes: If a website you link to changes its domain or moves its content, your links to that site break.
• Domain migration or name changes: If you change your own domain or site structure, you might end up with broken links.

The Impact of Broken Links

Broken links can negatively affect your website in several ways:

• User experience: Users may become frustrated or lose trust in your site when they encounter broken links.
• SEO ranking: Search engines like Google may lower your site’s ranking if they find too many broken links.
• Credibility: Broken links can make your site look unprofessional and poorly maintained.

Identifying Broken Links

Manual Checking: Pros and Cons

Manually checking your website for broken links is one way to identify them, but it can be time-consuming and error-prone. If you decide to go this route, here are some tips for effective manual checking:

• Use your browser’s “Inspect Element” feature to view the URL of a link.
• Check links in your main navigation menus, sidebars, and footer.
• Pay attention to image and media file URLs.

Automated Tools and Plugins: The Better Way

Using automated tools and plugins to identify broken links is much more efficient and accurate. There are several popular tools for WordPress, such as Broken Link Checker and WP Link Status. To choose the right tool, consider factors like ease of use, integration with your site, and customization options.

Fixing Internal Broken Links

Edit Links within Posts and Pages Using the WordPress Dashboard

To fix internal broken links within your posts and pages, you can use the WordPress dashboard:

1. Go to Posts or Pages and select the post or page containing the broken link.
2. Click on the link and edit the URL in the link editor.
3. Update the post or page to save your changes.

Update Menu and Widget Links

Similarly, you can fix broken links in your menus and widgets:

1. Go to Appearance > Menus to update menu links.
2. Locate the menu item with the broken link and click the dropdown arrow to edit the URL.
3. Save your changes by clicking “Save Menu.”

For widget links, navigate to Appearance > Widgets and update the URL within the appropriate widget.

Bulk Editing with Plugins

If you have numerous broken links to fix, using plugins that allow bulk editing can save you time and effort. Some recommended plugins for this purpose include Velvet Blues Update URLs and Better Search Replace. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using these plugins:

1. Install and activate the plugin of your choice.
2. Locate the plugin’s settings page, usually under Tools or Settings.
3. Enter the old URL and the new URL you want to replace it with.
4. Choose the specific areas of your site you want the plugin to update (e.g., posts, pages, or media).
5. Run the plugin to update the broken links.

Handling Permalink Changes

Common permalink issues, such as changing your permalink structure or updating slugs, can cause broken links. To fix permalink-related broken links, follow these steps:

1. Update your permalink settings in Settings > Permalinks.
2. Use a plugin like Redirection or Simple 301 Redirects to create redirects from the old URLs to the new ones.
3. Test the redirects to ensure they are working correctly.

Fixing External Broken Links

Updating Links to External Websites

To fix broken links to external websites, first verify the external content. If the content still exists but has moved, update your link to the new URL.

If the content no longer exists, consider replacing the broken link with a new, relevant resource or removing the link altogether.

Managing Affiliate Links

Affiliate links can become broken when products are discontinued or URLs change. To manage your affiliate links effectively:

1. Keep track of your affiliate relationships and links.
2. Regularly check your affiliate links for changes or broken URLs.
3. Update or remove broken affiliate links as needed.

Handling Expired Domains and Moved Content

When an external website’s domain expires or the content moves, your links to that site will break. In such cases:

1. Try contacting the website owner to inquire about the new URL or if the content has moved.
2. Search for alternative resources to link to if the original content is no longer available.

Fixing Broken Media Links

Identifying Broken Media Links

Broken media links can result in missing or inaccessible images, videos, or audio files. To identify these broken links:

1. Look for broken image icons or error messages on your site.
2. Use media link-checking features available in some broken link checker plugins.

Re-uploading Missing Media Files

If media files are missing from your site, re-upload them using the WordPress Media Library or external storage solutions like Amazon S3.

Updating Media File URLs

If media file URLs are incorrect or incomplete, you can update them manually within your posts and pages or use bulk update plugins, as discussed earlier in the “Fixing Internal Broken Links” section.

Preventing Future Broken Links

Regularly Audit Your Website

Scheduling regular audits of your website is crucial for identifying broken links and other issues. You can use automated tools and plugins to perform these audits or hire a professional service if needed.

Implement a Proper Content Management Strategy

A well-organized content management strategy can help prevent broken links. Some best practices include:

1. Documenting content changes and updates.
2. Coordinating with team members when making changes that could affect links.
3. Creating and maintaining a content inventory.

Setting Up Proper Redirects

Implementing redirects can prevent broken links when you delete, move or rename content. There are several types of redirects, but the most common one is the 301 redirect, which is used for permanent URL changes. You can set up redirects in WordPress using plugins like Redirection or Simple 301 Redirects. Follow these steps:

1. Install and activate the redirect plugin of your choice.
2. Navigate to the plugin’s settings page, usually under Tools or Settings.
3. Add the old URL and the new URL you want to redirect to.
4. Save your changes and test the redirect to ensure it’s working correctly.