> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.scayla.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How broken link tracking works

> Broken link tracking automatically detects when visitors land on 404 error pages and records those visits so you can create redirects to fix them.

## What is broken link tracking?

When a visitor accesses a URL that doesn't exist on your store, they see a 404 error page. Redirect Pro tracks these visits and records:

* The broken URL they tried to access
* When it was accessed
* How many times it's been accessed
* Whether it's been fixed with a redirect

This helps you identify which broken links need attention and create redirects to fix them.

## Why broken link tracking matters

**SEO impact:** Broken links harm your search rankings. Fixing these 404 with redirects transfers search engine link equity from the old URL to the new one and maintains your store's SEO health.

**Customer experience:** Visitors get frustrated by broken links, leading to lost sales and poor brand impression. When product or collection links don't work, customers leave instead of making purchases.

<Info>
  Broken link tracking helps you find problems -
  [redirects](/redirect-pro/guides/managing-301-redirects/create-301-redirect) and [redirect
  rules](/redirect-pro/guides/working-with-redirect-rules/redirect-rules-overview) fix them.
</Info>

## How it works

<Steps>
  <Step title="Visitor accesses broken URL">
    A customer clicks a link or enters a URL that doesn't exist on your store
    (e.g., `/products/deleted-item`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="404 page loads">
    Your store shows a 404 error page because the URL doesn't exist.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Redirect Pro tracks the visit">
    The app records the broken URL, timestamp, and increments the visit count if
    it's been seen before.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You review and fix">
    View your tracked broken links and create redirects to send visitors to the
    right pages.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What gets tracked

Broken link tracking captures **actual customer visits to 404 error pages**. This means it only tracks broken links when visitors access them - it doesn't crawl your site or analyze internal links like Google Search Console.

**Why this approach matters:**

* **Minimizes noise** - you only see broken links that are actually disrupting customer journeys
* **Focuses on real impact** - prioritizes URLs customers are trying to access, not hypothetical broken links
* **Reduces quota usage** - only counts genuine visitor activity

**Tracked:**

* ✓ Visits to deleted products, collections, pages, or blog posts
* ✓ Broken URLs from old marketing campaigns or email links
* ✓ Mistyped URLs

**Not tracked:**

* ✗ Internal broken links on your site (until a customer visits them)
* ✗ URLs already covered by 301 redirects (they redirect successfully)
* ✗ URLs covered by redirect rules (these appear in [rule matches](/redirect-pro/guides/working-with-redirect-rules/view-manage-rule-matches) for Enterprise plan users instead)
* ✗ URLs that lead to active pages (no 404 error)
* ✗ Server errors (500 errors, technical issues)

<Note>
  **Table may be empty initially**: The broken links table populates only as
  customers visit 404 pages. If you've just set up the app or haven't had broken
  link visits yet, the table will be empty. You can test by visiting a
  non-existent URL on your store to verify tracking is working.
</Note>

## Quota usage

Each broken link visit counts toward your monthly **tracked visits quota**. This includes:

* 404 page visits (broken links)
* Redirect rule activations

**Does NOT count:**

* 301 redirect visits (unlimited on all plans)

See [Understanding usage quotas](/redirect-pro/guides/account-and-settings/usage-quotas) for details on quota limits.

<Tip>
  Once you create a 301 redirect for a broken link, future visits to that URL
  won't count toward your quota anymore - they become unlimited 301 visits.
</Tip>

## Requirements

Broken link tracking requires the **app embed to be activated** in your theme.

### Check if app embed is active

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to your Shopify admin">
    From your Shopify admin, navigate to **Online Store → Themes**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Customize on your live theme">
    Click the **Customize** button next to your active theme.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open App embeds">
    In the theme editor, click the **App embeds** icon in the left sidebar (puzzle piece icon).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find Redirect Pro">
    Look for **Redirect Pro** in the list of app embeds.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ensure it's enabled">
    Make sure the toggle next to **Redirect Pro** is turned **ON** (green).

    <Warning>
      If the toggle is OFF, broken link tracking won't work. Turn it on and save your theme.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save your theme">
    Click **Save** in the top right corner of the theme editor.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Redirect Pro also has a helpful 'App status' card on the homepage which will
  show you whether the app embed is on or off.
</Tip>

## Most common issues

If broken link tracking isn't working, check these three things:

**1. App embed not activated:** The app embed must be turned on in your theme editor (see steps above). This is the most common reason tracking doesn't work.

**2. Usage quota reached:** If you've hit your monthly tracked visits limit, broken link tracking pauses until your quota resets or you upgrade. You can check your usage on the Settings page.

**3. No visits yet:** The broken links table only populates when customers visit 404 pages. If you haven't had any broken link visits, the table will be empty.

**Test it:** Visit a non-existent URL on your store (e.g., `yourstore.com/test-404`) and check if it appears in the broken links table after a few minutes.

For detailed troubleshooting, see [Broken link tracking not working](/redirect-pro/help/broken-link-issues/broken-link-tracking-not-working).

## Best practices

<Accordion title="Review broken links weekly">
  Check your broken links regularly (weekly or bi-weekly) to catch issues early
  before they impact too many visitors.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Prioritize by visit count">
  Fix broken links with the highest visit counts first - these are affecting the
  most customers.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Create redirects promptly">
  Don't let broken links accumulate. Create redirects as soon as you identify
  important broken URLs.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Use redirect rules for patterns">
  If you see many similar broken links (e.g., `/old-products/...`), create a
  redirect rule instead of individual redirects.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Monitor after major changes">
  After deleting products, changing URL structures, or updating collections,
  watch for new broken links that need fixing.
</Accordion>

## What happens when quota is reached

If you reach your monthly tracked visits quota:

* **Broken link tracking pauses** - new 404 visits aren't recorded
* **Existing data remains** - you can still view and redirect previously tracked broken links
* **Redirects still work** - 301 redirects continue functioning (unlimited)
* **Redirect rules pause** - pattern-based redirects stop until quota resets

Options when quota is reached:

* Wait until next month when quota resets
* [Upgrade your plan](/redirect-pro/guides/account-and-settings/manage-subscription) for more tracked visits

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Manage broken links" icon="wrench" href="/redirect-pro/guides/tracking-broken-links/managing-broken-links">
    View, fix, and organize your broken links
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create redirects" icon="arrow-right" href="/redirect-pro/guides/managing-301-redirects/create-301-redirect">
    Fix broken links with 301 redirects
  </Card>

  <Card title="Understanding quotas" icon="gauge" href="/redirect-pro/guides/account-and-settings/usage-quotas">
    Learn about tracked visits limits
  </Card>

  <Card title="Redirect rules" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="/redirect-pro/guides/working-with-redirect-rules/redirect-rules-overview">
    Fix multiple similar broken links at once
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Related guides

* [Manage broken links](/redirect-pro/guides/tracking-broken-links/managing-broken-links) - View and fix your 404 errors
* [Create a redirect](/redirect-pro/guides/managing-301-redirects/create-301-redirect) - Set up 301 redirects
* [Understanding redirect rules](/redirect-pro/guides/working-with-redirect-rules/redirect-rules-overview) - Fix pattern-based broken links
* [Understanding usage quotas](/redirect-pro/guides/account-and-settings/usage-quotas) - Learn about quota limits

## Need help?

If broken link tracking isn't working:

* [Broken link tracking not working](/redirect-pro/help/broken-link-issues/broken-link-tracking-not-working) - Troubleshooting guide
* [Contact support](/redirect-pro/help/support/contact-support) - Get personalized help