How To Find Broken Images On The Website: A Step-by-Step Guide

A big number of null references may eventually lead to a major drop in search result rankings, not even to mention the users' frustration.
So quickly identifying broken images on the website, and fixing the issues as soon as possible, is absolutely essential.
What is a broken image?

Why do you need to fix broken images?
As you know, the broken image icon looks unpleasant to users, provokes rejection, and degrades conversion. And that stands to reason, why would they trust a website, filled with missing images?
Search engines don't approve of these kinds of images either.
If robots detect many broken graphics and links, they will consider the resource abandoned and untrustworthy, and decrease its positions in the search results.
How to detect broken images on your website
Find broken images on your website with Serpstat

Find the URLs of pages with broken images
In addition, a nonexistent links check can also be carried out by desktop programs: Xenu, Netpeak Spider. To get the required report, you need to type a website address in any of these services and click the button:

For WordPress sites, there is a special plugin for identifying null links and images - Broken Link Checker. Add it to the administration panel and detect all nonexistent links found on the website.

1. Executing periodic scanning for timely detection of broken links.
2. Sending notifications about null references to your email.
3. Automatic formatting of the identified broken links.
4. Defining alternative options for the non-functioning links.

Main reasons why images are not working
2. Wrong path to file location. To download an image, a browser follows the pass that is indicated in HTML code. In case the code contains misprints or a wrong location path - the image will not be displayed on the webpage.
3. Modified file name. The slightest change or a misprint in an image name leads to 404 errors. To avoid confusion, type the name using lower case.
4. Removing files from the server. Site relocation may cause image replacement and removal. Check their accessibility on the server.
5. SSL certificate implication. Images that could be accessed by http links are transferred to HTTPS after certificate implementation. Check if the links that lead to pictures belong to the new SSL certificate.
6. Server unavailability. If the server gives no response, then the images will fail to appear on the site.
7. CMS renewal. It may modify the path change the name of the folder that contains the image.
How to manage broken images
- correcting file names and formats;
- identifying the right path leading to the image;
- indicating relevant extension;
- restoring server access;
- carrying out back up to the previous site version.
The last variant can be used in case you have access to hosting provider settings. To back up the site to its previous state, you should address the support team. If image absence is due to the wrong path to the catalog, you can reload the image folder onto the server using a file manager and indicate the right path.
Having noticed a broken image on the website, check them out one by one in your browser. Hover over the required image, right-click and select "Explore element."
This is how it is displayed in Google:

Conclusion
Image restoration is time-consuming as it requires defining the root reason for download failure and managing it. For example, it can be a wrong path to the image location, server unavailability, site relocation, format, or extension irrelevance.
To upgrade project ranging, it is essential to regularly detect and correct all nonexistent links on the site, including images. Otherwise, search bots will consider the resource non-functioning and decrease its positions in search results.
FAQ
How to track the appearance of broken images on the site?
There are plenty of ways to find broken images on your website. The easiest and quickest way would be to use dedicated services, as in Broken Link Checker, Free Link Checker, Xenu, Netpeak Spider, etc. You could also do an extensive SEO Site audit with Serpstat’s Tool and its alternatives.
How to quickly fix broken images?
Use special services like Broken Link Checker, Free Link Checker, Xenu, Netpeak Spider, etc.
Will the traffic on the page drop if there is a broken image on it?
Yes, it most likely is going to happen. When search engines come across a big number of broken images, they assume that the website is either abandoned or of poor quality.
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