A Comprehensive Manual for Using the Broken Link Checker Tool

A Comprehensive Manual for Using the Broken Link Checker Tool

By Christin Joseph  |  Posted on April 28, 2026

Making sure that your website works well is more important than ever in today's digital world. Checking for and fixing broken links is an important part of keeping a website up to date. Links that go to pages that don't exist or can't be reached are called "broken links." They can make the user experience worse, lower your search engine ranking, and hurt your website's credibility. The good news is that the Broken Link Checker Tool can help you keep your website running smoothly by finding and fixing these problems.

This article is a step-by-step guide on how to use the Broken Link Checker tool correctly. This guide will show you everything you need to know, whether you're using it for the first time or want to improve your process.

1. Understanding Broken Links

It's important to know what broken links are and why they matter before you start using the tool. A broken link, also called a dead link, is a hyperlink that goes to a page that is no longer there or is not available. These links can either take you to a 404 error page (which means the page can't be found) or send you to the wrong place.

Why Broken Links Are Important

  • User Experience: Visitors get angry when links don't work, which makes for a bad user experience.
  • SEO Effect: When ranking websites, search engines like Google take user experience into account. Search engines may lower the ranking of a site with a lot of broken links.
  • Credibility: Users and potential customers may not trust a website that has a lot of broken links.

2. What is the Broken Link Checker Tool?

The Broken Link Checker Tool is an online tool that checks your website for any links that don't work. When the scan is done, the tool gives you a full report that lists all the URLs on your site that go to pages that don't exist or can't be reached.

This tool is very helpful for big websites or blogs with a lot of pages because it would take a long time to check each link by hand.

3. How to Use the Broken Link Checker Tool

Here is a step-by-step guide to using the Broken Link Checker Tool from BuddyToolsOnline:

Step 1: Access the Tool

Visit the BuddyToolsOnline website and navigate to the Broken Link Checker tool page.Broken Link Checker

Step 2: Enter Your Website URL

Once on the tool’s page, you will see a text field asking for your website's URL. Enter the URL of the website you want to scan for broken links. For example, if you’re checking the homepage of your blog, enter the full URL (e.g., https://www.example.com).

Step 3: Start the Scan

After entering your URL, click the "Generate/Process" button. The tool will begin scanning your website for broken links.

Step 4: Wait for the Results

The tool will automatically start the scanning process. This may take some time depending on the size of your website. For large websites with many pages, the process may take a few minutes.

Step 5: Review the Results

Once the scan is complete, the tool will present a list of broken links. These will be clearly marked, and you'll be able to see:

  • The URL of the page with the broken link.
  • The specific link that is broken.
  • The error status (e.g., 404 error, redirect, etc.).

Step 6: Fixing the Broken Links

The next step is to fix the broken links. Depending on the situation, you can:

  • Update the URL: If the link should lead to another page, update the link with the correct URL.
  • Remove the link: If the linked content no longer exists and there’s no alternative, simply remove the link.
  • Redirect the link: In some cases, you may want to set up a 301 redirect to point the broken link to a valid page on your site.

Step 7: Re-scan Your Website

After making the necessary updates, it’s a good idea to re-scan your website to ensure that all broken links have been fixed.

4. Key Features of the Broken Link Checker Tool

The Broken Link Checker Tool is packed with features that make it easy for users to identify and fix broken links on their websites:

  • Fast and Accurate Scanning: The tool scans your whole website to find broken links and gives you a full and accurate report.
  • Detailed Reports: You get a full report that shows the broken links' URLs, error codes, and where the link is on your website.
  • Free to Use: Anyone who runs a website or manages content can use this tool for free.
  • Simple to Use: The tool's user-friendly interface makes it easy for anyone, even those who aren't very tech-savvy, to use.
  • No need to install software: You can use the Broken Link Checker Tool right from your browser. You don't need to download or install anything.

5. Best Practices for Maintaining a Link-Free Website

After you fix the broken links, it's important to keep your website healthy and have as few link problems as possible. Here are some tips to make sure that your visitors keep having a good time:

  • Check Your Website Often: Even if you've just fixed broken links, new ones may show up over time. If you run the Broken Link Checker tool on a regular basis, you'll be able to keep track of any problems.
  • Use anchor text that describes what it is: Make sure that the anchor text (the clickable text in a link) is descriptive and related to the content it points to when you add links. This is good for both SEO and the user experience.
  • Set Up Redirects for Pages That Have Moved: Always set up a 301 redirect if you've moved a page or changed its URL. This will make sure that both visitors and search engines go to the new page automatically.
  • Keep an eye on external links: Links that are broken can sometimes come from outside sources, like a link from another website. Check for these kinds of broken links often and ask the site owners to fix them.

Conclusion

Anyone who wants to keep their website healthy and usable should use the Broken Link Checker Tool. If you run a blog, a small business, or a website, this tool can help you find and fix broken links quickly, which will keep your site's user experience and SEO ranking from going down.

This guide will show you how to use the tool easily and make sure your website stays free of errors and works perfectly. Using the Broken Link Checker on a regular basis will help keep your website in good shape, making it easy for both visitors and search engines to browse.

Make it a point to check your site often, fix any broken links, and keep an eye on how well your website is doing.