Broken Link Checker
This broken link checker tests your app's links, a list of URLs or bookmarks exported from your browser and shows you which ones are broken, redirect elsewhere or have a certificate problem. Public links are checked and internal addresses are skipped.
What does the link checker check?
For each link the checker sends a HEAD request and, if the server doesn't support it, a GET request without downloading the page. It follows up to 5 redirects and reports the final result: working, redirected, broken (404 or 410), server error (5xx), no response within 10 seconds, a missing domain or an invalid HTTPS certificate.
Some results aren't errors. Pages that require a sign-in return 401 or 403 and sites with bot protection often respond the same way. GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket return 404 for private repositories. Addresses in private networks and localhost aren't checked, because they can't be reached from the internet.
How to export your browser bookmarks
Every major browser can export bookmarks to an HTML file. The checker reads its folders, so you can check only the folder with your project's links, for example.
- Chrome: open the bookmark manager (Ctrl+Shift+O), click ⋮ and choose Export bookmarks. In Edge, open Favorites (Ctrl+Shift+O), click … and choose Export favorites.
- Firefox: open the Library (Ctrl+Shift+O), choose Import and Backup and then Export Bookmarks to HTML.
- Safari: choose File → Export → Bookmarks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find broken links?
Paste the URLs, enter your app's AboutTheApp alias or upload your browser bookmarks export and click Check links. Broken links are listed first, with the HTTP status code and the address they redirect to.
Why does a working link show as Restricted?
The server returned 401 or 403. That happens on pages that require a sign-in and on sites that block automated requests. Such a link can't be verified automatically, so check it by hand in your browser.
Can I check my browser bookmarks for broken links?
Yes, but the tool can't access your browser's bookmarks directly. To check the links, export them to an HTML file, upload it to this tool and pick the folder you want to check. The file is read in your browser and requests go out only to the addresses being checked.
Does the link checker follow redirects?
Yes, it follows up to 5 redirects. A link that works after a redirect is marked Redirects, so you can update it to the actual final address.
Can I check internal links, such as staging or an intranet?
No. The check runs from our app's server on the public internet and doesn't connect to private networks or localhost. Such links are marked Internal address and aren't counted as broken.
How do I check all links of my app?
In AboutTheApp, open the product's link check in the dashboard and click Check links. It checks every link of the app, including private links and links for individual customers, and the product card shows how many are broken.
Add your app to AboutTheApp
Create a free account and add your app. AboutTheApp keeps its links in categories, shares them with your team and customers and checks whether they still work.
Create a free account