September 12, 2024
How to Fix Broken Links After Migration?
Mihai, our Technical Team leader advised:
At WPRiders, we have extensive experience in migrating websites, particularly those built on WordPress. One common issue we encounter during migrations is broken links. These occur because URLs within the site’s content still point to the old domain, leading to 404 errors and broken navigation. To ensure a smooth migration and proper functioning of the site, fixing these broken links is very important. Here’s the systematic approach we follow at WPRiders:
Search and Replace in the Database
One of the most effective methods we use to fix broken links is to perform a search and replace directly in the database. For this, we rely on the Search Replace DB tool, which is highly popular for PHP and MySQL-based websites. This tool allows us to scan the entire database for instances of the old domain (e.g., https://olddomain.com) and replace them with the new domain (e.g., https://newdomain.com).
- Why We Use It: This tool is extremely versatile and works across different content management systems (CMSes), not just WordPress. It ensures that all links in the database are updated, including those in post content, meta fields, and widgets, helping us avoid broken links across the entire site.
- How It Helps: By systematically replacing all old domain references, we prevent broken internal links, image paths, and other resources that might still be pointing to the old domain.
Using WP-CLI
For WordPress websites, we leverage WP-CLI, the command-line interface for WordPress. WP-CLI provides a faster and more efficient way to manage databases without having to open a database management tool. The wp search-replace command is a powerful function that allows us to search for outdated URLs in the database and replace them with the correct new URLs.
- Efficiency and Speed: WP-CLI is faster than manually editing the database or using a plugin. It helps in replacing links in all parts of the database, ensuring that no old domain references remain.
- Why It’s Our Go-To: Since WP-CLI works directly via the command line, it avoids the potential overhead of using a plugin or third-party tool. It’s particularly helpful when working on large websites or dealing with time-sensitive migrations.
Resaving Permalinks
If the WordPress admin panel (wp-admin) is functional after the migration, we often perform a quick permalink resave. This simple action can sometimes resolve issues with broken links on the front end of the website. By navigating to the Settings > Permalinks section and clicking “Save Changes,” WordPress refreshes its permalink structure, which can correct URLs for pages and posts.
- When This Works: This method is most effective for fixing broken permalinks and ensuring that pages and posts display correctly. However, it’s important to note that this approach only updates the permalink structure and won’t fix broken links within the content, widgets, or other areas of the site where URLs are hardcoded.
- Limitations: While resaving permalinks is a quick fix, it doesn’t replace all instances of old URLs throughout the site. That’s why we complement this step with a comprehensive search and replace.
Thorough Testing Post-Migration
At WPRiders, we also emphasize testing after the migration is complete. This includes checking for broken links manually and with automated tools to ensure that everything works as expected. We typically:
- Check internal links: Ensure that all internal links, including menus, in-post links, and navigation, point to the correct domain.
- Check media files: Verify that images, videos, and other media assets load correctly and don’t have broken paths pointing to the old domain.
- Monitor 404 errors: Use tools like Google Search Console to identify and resolve any broken links that may have been missed during the search and replace process.
In Conclusion…
Broken links after a website migration can lead to a poor user experience and even affect SEO rankings. At WPRiders, we rely on a combination of tools and methods, including database search and replace, WP-CLI commands, and permalink resaving, to ensure that all links are updated correctly. By following these best practices, we help our clients maintain a seamless browsing experience post-migration, ensuring that all content is accessible and no links are left broken.
This is our tried-and-tested approach to fixing broken links and ensuring a smooth migration process for WordPress and other CMS platforms.
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