SITEMAPS & CRAWLING
External Link Status Checker
Links to other sites break over time as those sites move or close. A page full of dead outbound links looks neglected to readers and to search engines. This checker reads the links on one page and checks each one.
- Checks the live page
- Public addresses only
- Free, no sign-up
- CheckLinks answering 404 or 410
- CheckLinks answering server errors
- CheckLinks that redirect, and where they end up
- CheckDomains that no longer resolve
Free
no sign-up
Live
fetched when you run the check
4 checks
what the tool looks at
30 a minute
checks per visitor, to keep it free
Loading the tool…
HOW IT WORKS
How to use the External Link Status Checker
One public page URL.
Enter the page to check, such as an old blog post or a resources page.
Replace or remove links marked broken.
Open links marked as refused to see whether they still work.
WHAT IT CHECKS
What it looks at, and how to read it.
Every external link checked (up to 25) with its status, where it ends up, and a CSV export.
What it checks
- Links answering 404 or 410
- Links answering server errors
- Links that redirect, and where they end up
- Domains that no longer resolve
How to read the results
- A redirect to the site’s homepage often means the page you linked to was removed.
- Server errors can be temporary; check again later before removing the link.
The concepts behind it, in the SEO glossary: HTTP status codes, 404 error.
GOOD TO KNOW
Common mistakes, an example and the limits.
Common mistakes
- Treating a 403 as broken: many large sites block automated checks.
A worked example
An old guide links to 18 sources; three answer 404 and two now redirect to unrelated pages, so five links need replacing.
Limitations
- Checks the first 25 external links in the page’s HTML.
- Some sites refuse automated requests (401, 403, 429); those are marked as refused, not broken, so open them to confirm.
FAQ
Questions about the External Link Status Checker
Straight answers about what it does and where its limits are.
Does it check internal links too?
No. Use the Broken Internal Link Checker for links within your site.
Need this for a whole website, over time?
The NdovuSEOLabs platform connects your own Search Console, analytics and server logs, and audits every page on a schedule.