Automatically fixing links with the Wayback Machine

Broken links on the web are inevitable, but losing valuable context doesn’t have to be.

I’ve been working on a plugin at work, in conjunction with the Internet Archive, to help combat link rot on WordPress sites.

The plugin scans your content for outgoing links and checks the link statuses on an ongoing basis.

If a link is broken 3 times in 9 days, it gets redirected to a snapshot on the Wayback Machine if there is one.

The link continues to get checked, and if it comes back, the redirect stops.

The plugin also archives your site’s content on the Wayback Machine, future-proofing links that point to your site, too.

I consider this a “set it and forget it” plugin. One it is running, you don’t need to take any action. It works quietly behind the scenes. I’ve been running it on this site for months. Check out the links in Making Rosin and Fly Tying Wax… one of them is broken, and because it redirects to the Wayback Machine, you’ll be able to tell which one it is.

After a soft launch in October, the announcements went out today. I wrote the one for Automattic:

Fixing Links with the Wayback Machine – Automattic

Automattic is excited to collaborate with the Internet Archive to launch the Internet Archive Wayback Machine Link Fixer, a new free WordPress plugin that keeps your links alive.

automattic.com

One went out at the Internet Archive, too:

Preserving the Open Web: Inside the New Wayback Machine Plugin for WordPress | Internet Archive Blogs

blog.archive.org

Glynn Quelch is the main person building it with me, and he has been an incredible collaborator. Thank you for your help, Glynn!

If your site runs on WordPress, consider installing the plugin to protect your links.

Internet Archive Wayback Machine Link Fixer

Update: TechCrunch picked it up!

The Wayback Machine debuts a new plug-in designed to fix the internet’s broken links problem | TechCrunch

Should a linked web page go offline, the new feature will then redirect readers to the archived versions, so that there is no drop in service. The tool also archives a user’s own posts, helping to ensure their longevity.

techcrunch.com

Other coverage:

TheTechBuzz – Internet Archive launches Link Fixer to combat link rot

Beritaja – The Wayback Machine Debuts A New Plugin Designed To Fix The Internet’s Broken Links Problem

FindArticles – Wayback Machine Launches Link Fixer Plugin

Digital Trends – This new WordPress plugin uses the Wayback Machine to help you see fewer dead links

Gigazine – Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine launches new plugin to fix broken links

Dataconomy – Internet Archive and Automattic launch new tool to combat link rot

BetaNews – The Wayback Machine is looking to make deadlinks a thing of the past

iGaming – Internet Archive and WordPress Launch Tool to Fix Broken Links

Webpronews: Automattic and Internet Archive Launch Unprecedented Alliance to Combat Digital Decay

PC World – Internet Archive unveils tool to save the web from dead links

RTT News – Internet Archive And WordPress Partnership Launches Preservation Tool

Filmogaz – Wayback Machine Launches Plugin to Fix Broken Internet Links

Infobae: ¿Enlace roto o perdido? Esta es la solución rápida para volver a acceder

Ecosistema Startup: Wayback Machine lanza plugin WordPress contra enlaces rotos

WWWhatsnew: El Wayback Machine y WordPress se unen para frenar la “pobredumbre” de enlaces.

PC Magazine – Hate Dead Links? The Wayback Machine Has the WordPress Plug-In for You

RS Web Solutions – Tired of Broken Links? The Wayback Machine Offers a WordPress Plugin Just for You

Heise Online – Internet Archive’s WordPress Plugin Brings Dead Links Back to Life

TechNetBook – Wayback Machine WordPress Plugin Link Fixer Repairs Broken Links and Prevents Link Rot for Better Website SEO Rankings

ExtremeTech – Internet Archive Releases WordPress Plugin Aimed at Solving ‘Link Rot’

WP Builds podcast – This Week in WordPress #365 (the link fixer was one of the topics they covered, at 41m)

This Week in Tech podcast – Ep 1070 – “A Yacht for Your Yacht – Super Bowl LX Gets a Surge of AI Ads!”

The plugin also saw some convo in this Slashdot post.