How to Fix Broken Links in Google Search Console (Complete Practical Guide)
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Secondary Keywords: fix GSC broken links, broken links SEO, Google Search Console Ghana
Introduction
Broken links can hurt your website’s SEO, user experience, and ranking potential. Fortunately, Google Search Console (GSC) makes it easy to identify and fix broken links before they affect your traffic.
Whether you’re a Blogger user in Ghana or managing a global website, learning how to fix broken links in Google Search Console is a crucial step for keeping your site healthy and SEO-friendly.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to identify, diagnose, and fix broken links, plus practical tips for preventing them in the future.
Step 1: Identify Broken Links in Google Search Console
Log in to Google Search Console
Go to the Coverage report on the left menu
Look for pages marked with Error or Not Found (404)
Common broken link errors include:
404 Not Found – the page no longer exists
Soft 404 – Google thinks the page is empty or irrelevant
Redirect errors – redirects pointing to non-existent pages
Tip: You can filter the report by “Excluded” to see pages Google tried to crawl but could not.
Step 2: Inspect Each Broken Link
Click on the URL in the Coverage report
Use the URL Inspection Tool to see why Google flagged it
Note whether the page:
Was deleted
Was moved without a proper redirect
Has a typo in internal linking
This step helps you diagnose the root cause before attempting a fix.
Step 3: Fix Broken Internal Links
Internal broken links are links within your own website that point to non-existent pages.
Edit your posts or pages to update the URL
Replace outdated links with the correct page
Remove links to pages that no longer exist
For Blogger users, double-check links in widgets, menus, and older posts.
Step 4: Fix Broken External Links
External broken links are links from other websites pointing to your site or links from your site pointing to removed external resources.
Use 301 redirects for removed pages (if applicable)
Update or remove links pointing to dead external URLs
Contact the linking website (optional) to update links
Redirects are crucial if the removed page was driving traffic or backlinks.
Step 5: Request Indexing After Fixes
Once you fix broken links:
Go to the URL Inspection Tool
Enter the fixed URL
Click Request Indexing
This ensures Google re-crawls the updated page and removes the broken link from error reports.
Step 6: Prevent Broken Links in the Future
Regularly check the Coverage report in GSC
Avoid deleting pages without proper redirects
Use consistent URLs and avoid typos in internal linking
Monitor backlinks for errors using the Links report
Prevention is easier than fixing — especially for new sites targeting local Ghana traffic.
Tips for Ghana + Global Website Owners
Many Ghanaian bloggers rely on mobile devices — ensure broken links don’t exist on mobile pages
Use descriptive anchor text for internal links to reduce mistakes
Keep track of your Blogger site structure as it grows to avoid accidental broken links
Conclusion
Broken links can silently damage your SEO and user experience, but Google Search Console makes it straightforward to fix them. By following this step-by-step guide, you can:
Identify broken links
Fix internal and external errors
Prevent future problems
Maintain a healthy, high-performing website
