How to Check Toxic Backlinks: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
To check toxic backlinks, export your links from Google Search Console, upload the file to a checker, review the risk score and reason for each domain, and decide which links to keep. This page shows how to check toxic backlinks with ToxicBacklink in four steps, and what each result does and does not mean.
Scores are suggestions. You make the final decision.
Export your links
Download a CSV from Google Search Console
Upload the CSV
Add your file to the Toxic Backlink Checker
Review risk scores
Check each domain and read the reason
Build the file
Download a disavow.txt for Google
Step 1: Export your backlinks from Google Search Console
Start by downloading the list of sites that link to you from the Links report in Google Search Console. You need access to your site in Search Console, and the export is free.
- Open Search Console and choose your site.
- Click Links in the left menu.
- Find the external links section, then use the export button to download your links.
- Choose a CSV file.
Our step-by-step export guide shows the exact clicks, and Google describes the report on its Links report help page. Google's screens change from time to time, so button names may differ slightly.
Keep in mind that this list is a sample from Google, not every link that exists. The audit can only be as complete as the data you give it.
External links
Sample data| Domain | Total Links |
|---|---|
| example-site-1.example | 1,234 |
| example-site-2.example | 567 |
| example-site-3.example | 321 |
| example-site-4.example | 217 |
| example-site-5.example | 164 |
Step 2: Upload the CSV to the checker
Next, upload the file to the Toxic Backlink Checker. It reads each linking domain from your file and checks it against a set of written rules.
- Choose the file: drag it into the upload zone, or click to pick it. The file must be a .csv, up to 5 MB.
- Check the columns: The file needs one column with the linking domains or URLs. The tool suggests that column, and you can change it.
- Wait a moment: a progress bar shows the steps as they run.
- Run your audit: a free account includes 5 site audits each month, and a plan adds more.
If something goes wrong, the tool tells you what and how to fix it, for example a wrong file type, an empty file or a file that is too large. See the pricing page for the limits on each plan.
Step 3: Review the risk score and reason for each domain
Each domain gets a low, medium or high risk level and a short reason. Treat the level as a sign of how closely to look, then check the site yourself.
When you open a flagged domain, ask these questions (neutral bullets):
- Does it look like a real site? Real pages, real topics and a way to contact the owner are good signs.
- Is the link relevant? A link from a site that has nothing to do with your topic is worth a second look.
- What does the link text say? Odd or repeated wording that does not fit your page is a warning sign.
- How many links come from this site? A long run of links from one place can mean a sitewide or automated link.
- Did you ask for or pay for it? If so, that matters more than any score.
Mark each domain Keep, Disavow or Undecided. Our guide on how to find toxic backlinks by hand goes deeper on these signs, and what toxic backlinks are explains the background.
Scores are suggestions. Review each link before you disavow.
| Domain | Risk | Reason | Links | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sample-domain-1.example | High | Unusual domain ending and spam-style link text | 124 |
Undecided
|
| sample-domain-2.example | High | Many links from one domain | 89 |
Undecided
|
| sample-domain-3.example | Medium | Same link text repeated | 42 |
Undecided
|
| sample-domain-4.example | Medium | Random-looking domain name | 18 |
Undecided
|
| sample-domain-5.example | Low | No warning signs found | 12 |
Undecided
|
| sample-domain-6.example | Low | No warning signs found | 8 |
Undecided
|
Step 4: Decide, then build a disavow file if you need one
You may not need a disavow file at all, so decide before you build one. Google says to try to remove unwanted links first, by asking the other site, and to disavow only if you cannot. Its disavow help page also notes that the tool does not support Domain properties. Our guide on whether to disavow backlinks helps you weigh it.
- Download the disavow file from your report, or paste your chosen domains into the Disavow File Generator.
- Keep a backup of any disavow file you already have.
- Upload the new file yourself in Google's tool. See how to submit a disavow file.
ToxicBacklink never sends anything to Google for you.
How does the risk scoring work?
Backlink risk scoring here means counting written warning signs for each domain, and showing you which ones it found. The signs include unusual domain endings, link text that does not fit, the same wording repeated, many links from one site and random-looking domain names. The full list is on the Toxic Backlink Checker page.
Two things to remember. First, one sign proves nothing, because a real site can show one and a harmful link can show none. Second, the rules work from your file, not from Google's own view of the link, so the score is a suggestion. ToxicBacklink works only from the information in your file and from its own written rules. It does not use a link database, traffic data or any other data from Google beyond what is in your export. The lists of unusual domain endings and spam-style words that it uses are lists we maintain.
Can you check toxic backlinks with other tools?
Yes, many backlink tools show their own "toxicity" score, and each one defines the word in its own way. That is why two tools can disagree about the same link.
The Google Search Console route on this page is free and uses the links Google itself reports for your site. If you already have an export from another backlink tool, you can still use our Disavow File Generator with its column of domains. The checker is built for the Search Console export. For an export from another backlink tool, use the Disavow File Generator with its column of domains. A crawler-based tool can also show links to sites you do not own, which this one does not. You can compare options on the tools page.
Whichever tool you use, apply the same habit: look at the site, read the reason, and decide for yourself.
How to check toxic backlinks: common questions
How do I check toxic backlinks for free?
Create a free account, export your links from Google Search Console, which is free, and upload the file to the Toxic Backlink Checker. Your free allowance covers 5 site audits each month.
How do I find spammy backlinks in Google Search Console?
Search Console shows you which sites link to yours. You then review them yourself, or with a checker that gives each domain a risk level and a reason.
How often should I check my backlinks?
There is no fixed rule. A check a few times a year, or when you notice something odd in your Links report, is a sensible habit.
What makes a backlink toxic?
No single feature does. Warning signs include irrelevant sites, odd or repeated link text and many links from one source. Read what toxic backlinks are for more.
Do I have to remove or disavow every toxic backlink?
No. Google says to try removing links first and to disavow only if that fails. See should you disavow backlinks.
What if my site has thousands of links?
Google's report is a sample, and each audit has a row limit. See the pricing page, or ask about a custom plan on the contact page.
Start with your Search Console export
Start with your Search Console export and the Toxic Backlink Checker, or see all of our free tools on the tools page. You can read more on the blog, learn about us on the About page, or go back to the ToxicBacklink home page.