# How to monitor and fix broken short links? **URL:** \ **Category:** Links\ **Tags:** short-link, broken-links\ **Created:** [March 8, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://discussions.linko.me/t/how-to-monitor-and-fix-broken-short-links/232 "2025-03-08T01:59:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![linko](https://discussions.linko.me/user_avatar/discussions.linko.me/linko/32/337_2.png) [@linko](https://discussions.linko.me/u/linko)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://discussions.linko.me/t/how-to-monitor-and-fix-broken-short-links/232/1 "2025-03-08T01:59:00Z")
## What is a Short Broken Link? A short broken link is a URL that no longer directs visitors to its intended destination. Typically, these links return a _ **404 error** _, indicating that the page cannot be found. * * * ## Why You Need to Monitor and Check Your Short Links Monitoring your short links helps to: - **Maintain User Experience:** Avoid frustrating visitors with dead ends. - **Improve SEO:** Search engines favor working links over broken ones. - **Track Performance:** Identify which links need updating or removal to maximize click-through rates. * * * ## How Do I Check If I Have Broken Short Links? Follow these steps to perform a broken link check in your Linko account: > **Note:** Broken link management is available on [Business and Agency Plans](https://linko.me/pricing). 1. [Log in to your Linko account](https://linko.me/user/login). 2. Navigate to the left sidebar and scroll down. 3. Hover over the “ **Link** ” icon. 4. Select “ **Broken Links** ” from the list. 5. Click the “ **Manually Check Links** ” button. 6. **Wait** for the system to scan and list any broken links. This process quickly identifies which **short links are failing** so you can take action. * * * ## How Do I Fix If I See a Broken Short Link? Before making any changes, check the **Status** of your link on the dashboard: - **404 Status:** Indicates the link is broken. - **Other HTTP Codes:** May signal a different issue (e.g., redirection or server error). _(Mostly they are non-critical)_ If a link shows a 404 status, you have two options: - **Delete** the short link if it isn’t receiving **many clicks** or is no longer needed. - **Edit** the short link and [update its destination URL](https://discussions.linko.me/t/how-to-edit-the-destination-of-my-short-link/44) to the correct address. * * * ## Common HTTP Status Codes Below is a list of popular **HTTP status codes** grouped by their response class, each with a one‐line explanation of what it means and whether it’s considered critical. * * * ### 1xx: Informational - **100 Continue** – The server has received the initial part of the request and the client should continue sending the rest; generally not critical. - **101 Switching Protocols** – The server is switching to the protocol the client requested; non-critical and rarely seen in everyday use. > **Non-critical - ignore it.** * * * ### 2xx: Success - **200 OK** – The request succeeded and the server returned the requested data; standard and not critical. - **201 Created** – The request has been fulfilled and resulted in a new resource being created; a positive outcome and non-critical. - **202 Accepted** – The request has been accepted for processing but is not completed yet; generally informational and not immediately critical. - **204 No Content** – The server processed the request successfully but returned no content; normal for some operations and not critical. > **Non-critical - ignore it.** * * * ### 3xx: Redirection - **301 Moved Permanently** – The resource has been permanently moved to a new URL; important for SEO and caching but not a server error. - **302 Found** – The resource is temporarily located at a different URL; common for temporary redirects and not critical. - **303 See Other** – Directs the client to retrieve the resource via a GET request at another URL; non-critical and used for redirection after a POST. - **304 Not Modified** – Indicates that the resource has not changed since the last request, allowing cached versions to be used; not critical. - **307 Temporary Redirect** – Similar to 302, this code tells the client to repeat the request at a different URL while preserving the request method; non-critical. - **308 Permanent Redirect** – Like 301, but keeps the original HTTP method; important for maintaining request consistency, yet non-critical. > **Non-critical - ignore it.** * * * ### 4xx: Client Error - **400 Bad Request** – The request is malformed or contains invalid parameters; critical if persistent as it blocks proper communication. - **401 Unauthorized** – Authentication is required and either missing or incorrect; critical for access control. - **403 Forbidden** – The server understands the request but refuses to authorize it; critical when access is denied. - **404 Not Found** – The requested resource could not be found on the server; common and usually non-critical but can affect user experience. - **405 Method Not Allowed** – The HTTP method used is not supported by the resource; indicates a misconfigured request and is moderately critical. - **408 Request Timeout** – The server timed out waiting for the request; can be critical if it happens frequently, affecting performance. - **429 Too Many Requests** – The client has sent too many requests in a given timeframe; critical in protecting the server from abuse. > **In case of short links, only 404 is critical.** * * * ### 5xx: Server Error - **500 Internal Server Error** – A generic error when the server encounters an unexpected condition; highly critical as it disrupts service. - **501 Not Implemented** – The server does not support the functionality required to fulfill the request; critical as it indicates missing features. - **502 Bad Gateway** – The server received an invalid response from an upstream server; critical when it disrupts client access. - **503 Service Unavailable** – The server is temporarily unable to handle the request, often due to overload or maintenance; critical when persistent. - **504 Gateway Timeout** – The server did not receive a timely response from an upstream server; critical as it indicates network or server issues. - **505 HTTP Version Not Supported** – The server does not support the HTTP version used in the request; generally non-critical and rarely encountered. > **Non-critical - ignore it.** * * * ## FAQs ### How often should I check my broken links? Regularly, such as once a week, to ensure a smooth user experience and optimal SEO. ### Can a link show an error other than 404 and still be fixed? Yes. Links showing codes like 403 or 503 are not critical and you can ignore them. ### What happens if I delete a broken short link? The link is removed permanently, so ensure it isn’t generating significant traffic before deletion. ### Can I edit a broken short link to fix it? Absolutely. Editing the link to update the destination URL will fix the broken link, provided the new URL is valid.