WordPress Broken Links and missing permalinks can lead to 404 errors, impacting both user experience and SEO performance. These issues typically arise when the permalink structure is broken due to theme or plugin updates, incorrect configurations, or migration problems.
What Causes Broken links WordPress or Missing Permalinks?
- Permalink settings issues: Incorrect permalink structure in WordPress.
- Broken internal links: Links to pages that no longer exist.
- Changes after migration: URLs not updated correctly after moving your site.
- Plugin conflicts: Certain plugins may overwrite or break permalinks.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fix Broken Links and Permalinks
Step 1: Update Permalink Settings
One quick way to fix missing permalinks is by resetting your permalink settings.
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Settings > Permalinks.
- Without making any changes, click Save Changes. This will regenerate the permalinks.
- Visit your website and check if the broken links are fixed.
Step 2: Use a Redirection Plugin
If you have moved or deleted pages and links are broken, a redirection plugin can help.
- Install and activate the Redirection plugin.
- Go to Tools > Redirection and add new redirects.
- For each broken link, enter the old URL and redirect it to the new, valid URL.
Step 3: Check for Broken Internal Links
Use a plugin like Broken Link Checker to scan your website for broken links.
- Install and activate the Broken Link Checker plugin.
- The plugin will scan for broken links and display them in the dashboard.
- Edit each link manually or delete the broken links.
Conclusion
Broken links and missing permalinks are common issues that can damage SEO and user experience. By updating permalink settings and using a redirection plugin, you can easily fix these problems and keep your site running smoothly. Contact Craftwebx for website design, development, Website SEO, and monthly support.
