Web pages move, change, or disappear over time. When links on your site point to pages that no longer exist, visitors encounter broken links and your site’s credibility and SEO suffer. This phenomenon, called link rot, affects every corner of the internet. If you run a WordPress site, manually checking hundreds or thousands of links isn’t realistic — but you can automate the process and help preserve the open web.
What is link rot and why prevent it?
“Link rot” occurs when a URL you’ve linked to stops resolving — for example, returning a 404 error or redirecting to unrelated content. Broken links undermine user experience, damage SEO, and make content feel outdated. Archiving linked pages helps preserve references and supports a more reliable web. The Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) is a free nonprofit that snapshots pages over time. With a WordPress plugin, you can replace broken outbound links with archived copies from the Wayback Machine automatically.
Step 1 — Install the Wayback Machine Link Fixer plugin
Install the free Internet Archive Wayback Machine Link Fixer plugin from the WordPress plugin directory. It detects broken links and replaces them with archived versions when available. If you need help installing plugins, follow any standard WordPress plugin installation guide. Once activated, proceed to configuration.
Step 2 — Configure the plugin
The plugin provides two main features:
– Link Fixer: finds and repairs existing broken links.
– Auto Archiver: proactively archives external links when you publish or update content.
Run the setup wizard from the banner in your dashboard or go to Link Fixer » Settings. The wizard guides you through entering API keys (optional), choosing which post types to scan, and enabling automatic archiving.
Entering API keys
Archive.org imposes a default daily limit on archiving requests. If your site will archive more than ~4,000 links per day (typical only for large publishers or automated feeds), create a free Archive.org account and generate API Access and Secret keys on archive.org/account/s3.php, then paste them into the plugin settings to raise the limit. Most small and medium sites won’t need these keys.
Configuring Link Fixer settings
Enable Link Fixer, choose which post types to scan (Posts, Pages, or custom post types), and decide whether to scan existing content. Scanning older posts may take time on large sites. Leave “Action for Broken Links” set to the default Replace Link (No Notification) to allow automatic replacement with archived versions. Finish the wizard to save settings.
Configuring the Auto Archiver
Enable Auto Archiver to automatically save copies of external links when you publish or update posts. Optionally enable scheduled archiving to periodically archive links on a set schedule. This ensures links are preserved while they’re still live, increasing the chance of an archived copy if the target disappears later.
Step 3 — Monitor and manage links
After setup, use Link Fixer » Dashboard to view recent link checks and the latest links archived. The Links page lists each tracked URL, archive status, link health, times checked, and last check date. A side statistics panel summarizes totals: saved links, archived links, ineligible links, broken links, and checks in progress. Regularly review these pages to spot issues and take manual action if needed.
Alternative: Find and fix broken links manually
If you prefer to find broken links and fix them manually, Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO is a solid option. It scans internal and external links and presents broken links at Broken Links in your dashboard. From there you can edit the URL or remove the link. The plugin scans automatically every few days to catch new issues.
Frequently asked questions
1. How does a broken link checker detect broken links?
It regularly requests each link and checks the HTTP response. Errors like 404 indicate broken links.
2. What if a broken link has no archived version?
If no archive exists, the Wayback Link Fixer can’t restore it retroactively. That’s why Auto Archiver is important: it proactively saves snapshots while pages are live.
3. Can I run manual scans for specific posts?
Yes. The plugin allows manual scanning of individual posts or pages from the dashboard.
4. How else can I fix broken links?
The plugin can automatically replace broken links with archived versions. Alternatively, you can point the link to a new resource or remove it manually.
5. Are Wayback Machine snapshots public?
Yes. Archived URLs become part of the public archive on the Wayback Machine.
6. Will the plugin slow my site?
The plugin runs checks as scheduled background tasks to minimize performance impact.
7. Does fixing broken links help SEO?
Yes. Reducing broken links improves user experience and signals better site maintenance to search engines, which can favorably influence rankings.
8. How is Wayback Link Fixer different from Broken Link Checker?
Broken Link Checker finds broken links and requires manual fixes. Wayback Link Fixer can automatically replace broken outbound links with archived versions, preserving the original reference without manual edits.
Additional resources
– How to add a link in WordPress — basic guide for adding links correctly.
– How to find and fix broken links in WordPress — step-by-step manual methods.
– How to track outbound links in WordPress — monitor external links.
– How to add nofollow links in WordPress — learn when to use nofollow.
– How to open external links in a new tab — improve user experience.
Conclusion
Link rot is inevitable, but you can mitigate its impact and help preserve web content. Installing and configuring the Wayback Machine Link Fixer plugin protects existing content and archives new outbound links automatically. For manual repair and discovery, Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO is a useful complement. By proactively archiving and monitoring links, you improve UX, protect SEO, and contribute to a more reliable open web.