Hreflang Checker
An hreflang checker looks at the hreflang tags of a group of pages and finds the mistakes that make Google ignore them. Paste each page's URL and its tags, or a CSV of page, code and alternate URL, and this free tool reports missing return links, missing self-references, invalid codes and relative URLs.
Detected Problems
| Page URL | Hreflang / Target | Problem Type | Explanation & Fix |
|---|
Hreflang Matrix (Pages × Codes)
What is a hreflang checker and when should you use it?
Hreflang works only when every version of a page points to every other version, including itself. On large sites one missing tag breaks the pair, and Google ignores tags that are not confirmed from both sides. This checker compares all the pages you paste and shows exactly which link is missing. Build a correct set with the Hreflang Tag Generator, and keep your preferred URLs consistent with the Canonical Tag Generator.
How do you use it?
- Choose CSV mode or HTML mode.
- Paste the data for every version of the page.
- Press Check.
- Fix each problem in the table.
- Check again until no problems remain.
Working on a comprehensive technical audit? Browse all free SEO tools to discover the next step in your workflow, or contact our technical support team if you require a specialized custom utility.
Result interpretation & practical applications
When evaluating the output of the hreflang checker, review the parsed metrics against your specific site architecture. Outputs are formatted for direct implementation into your HTML source, web server configuration, or Google Search Console audit files.
Always inspect generated values for contextual nuance. Automated tools highlight structural patterns, but manual verification confirms that technical directives align with your overarching SEO strategy.
Technical rules and limitations
- Each version must list itself and all other versions with full URLs.
- If two pages do not point to each other, the tags are ignored.
- Codes use ISO 639-1 for language and an optional ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 region; a region alone is not valid.
- Don't combine hreflang with other attributes such as media in one link tag.
These rules come from Google's guide to localized versions of your pages.
Common mistakes and troubleshooting
- Adding a new language page without updating the old ones.
- Pointing to a redirected or different URL from the one the page lists for itself.
- Using codes such as en-UK.
- Pasting tags for only one page.
No tool can promise how a search engine will crawl, index, or rank your pages. This tool generates and validates code against documented technical specifications; you determine where to deploy it, and you should always test changes on staging environments first. Google publishes extensive guidelines in Search Central on evaluating third-party SEO tools and advice. Learn more about our technical testing standards on our about us page, or explore full site audits on our pricing page.
Related free tools & workflows
Browse all International & Multilingual SEO Tools →Technical SEO Audit Workflows
Indexability & Crawling
Redirects & HTTP Headers
Authoritative Technical Documentation & Standards
This tool executes logic aligned with official technical documentation and search engine webmaster standards:
- Google Search Central International SEO documentation
Google Search Central: Managing Multi-Regional and Multilingual Sites
Primary engineering source and technical documentation.
- W3C Language Tags standard
W3C: Choosing Language Tags and Country Codes in HTML
Primary engineering source and technical documentation.
Hreflang Checker questions
Does it fetch my pages? ↓
No. Paste the tags or the HTML of each page.
Is a missing x-default an error? ↓
No. It is optional, so the checker shows it as information only.
Why is a return link missing? ↓
Page A lists page B, but page B does not list page A. Add the missing tag to page B.
Is this tool free? ↓
Yes. It is completely free to use and requires no registration or subscription.
Does this tool visit my website or store my files? ↓
No. It executes entirely in your local browser runtime. Your inputs and results are never stored or logged on our servers.
Ready for the next step in your audit?
ToxicBacklink – Free SEO Tools & Backlink Checker builds fast, browser-based utilities for webmasters, developers, and SEO professionals. Each tool executes locally, shows exact modifications, and follows published specifications. Read more about us, check our how it works guide, browse all tools, or return to the home page.