About Broken Link Recovery
A simple utility to check dead links and find archived snapshots from public web archives.
Overview
Broken Link Recovery is a web-based utility for checking URL availability and finding archived versions of unreachable web pages.
Links frequently break when websites restructure URLs, remove pages, or shut down servers. This tool queries public web archive indexes to help you find and view preserved captures of that content.
Common Causes of Broken Links
When a link stops working, it is usually due to one of a few common issues:
- 404 Not Found: The web server is online, but the requested page or path was deleted or moved without a redirect.
- Domain Expiration & DNS Failures: The domain registration expired or DNS records were changed, making the address unreachable.
- Server Errors (5xx): The destination server is offline, misconfigured, or experiencing technical outages.
When live pages become unavailable, web archives often retain previous snapshots from when the link was still active.
How It Works
When you enter a URL, the tool checks its current HTTP status to see if the live page responds normally.
If the page is unavailable or you need past versions, it queries the Wayback Machine CDX index to retrieve archived captures sorted by date.
Reader Mode
Older archived pages often suffer from broken stylesheets, missing scripts, or missing assets. Reader Mode parses the raw HTML snapshot to extract the readable text and core article layout.
Feedback & Inquiries
If you have questions, encounter an issue, or have suggestions for improvements, feel free to get in touch.