Awe CheckHow to check a website for broken links and 404 errors online
Broken links and 404 pages cost visitors and rankings. How to find them free, what to fix first and how not to create new ones.
Checked against sources: 8 October 2026
- 404the “no such page” server response
- 301the redirect that keeps link weight
- 1 minfree link check
The short answer
A broken link points to a page that does not exist: the visitor sees a 404 and search engines see a neglected site. You find such links by running a robot through the site: it opens every link and records the response. Awe Check checks links and shows the page where each broken one was found, so you know where to edit.
Why it matters
- A visitor who lands on a 404 leaves more often than they keep looking.
- Search engines spend time on dead addresses instead of your new pages.
- External links to a deleted page lose their weight if the page redirects nowhere.
What to fix first
- Menu and footer links: everyone sees them on every page.
- Pages that other sites link to: set up a 301 redirect to a similar page.
- Links inside fresh articles and cards: the easiest to miss during a migration.
- A 404 page with search and links to the main sections instead of a blank apology.
How not to create new ones
When you change a page address, add a redirect from the old one at once. When you delete a page, decide where its visitors go. After a move or an engine change, run the check again.
What Awe Check shows
Your site’s 404 page, broken links from the home page, redirect chains that slow the robot and the sitemap. A speed and protection score comes alongside: one pass.
Frequently asked
How do I check a site for broken links for free?
Enter the address in Awe Check: it follows links and shows which lead to an error. For large sites also read the Pages report in Search Console.
What does a 404 error mean?
The server works but there is no such page. It is normal for a mistyped address and bad for a link you placed on the site yourself.
Do I need to fix every 404?
No. What matters are the ones your own links and outside sites point to. Pages that really do not exist should simply answer 404.
301 or 302?
301 for a page moved for good: its weight is passed on. 302 for a temporary hop.
