Hreflang Live Audit
Enter a URL: the tool reads its hreflang tags (HTML and HTTP Link header), then visits up to eight alternates to confirm they respond and link back to your page.
Privacy and cost
This tool runs a live check on our servers. Free accounts get 3 live checks per day in total across all such tools. We keep your report in your account so you can delete it any time.
How it works
- The page is downloaded and its hreflang entries are extracted from the HTML and the Link header.
- Codes are validated (ISO 639-1 language, ISO 3166-1 region, x-default) and self-reference is checked.
- Up to eight alternates are opened: status, redirect, noindex, canonical and the return link to the original page.
Example
An English page declares fr and en-UK: en-UK is flagged invalid (it must be en-GB) and, if the French version does not link back to the English page, the missing return link is flagged.
What the result means
Google ignores hreflang annotations that are not reciprocal. An error means the annotation may not be honoured; a warning points to a risk of confusion. Only 8 alternates are tested per check.
Common problems this tool helps with
- Wrong codes such as en-UK, or a region without a language.
- Versions that do not reference each other.
- Alternates that are noindex, 404 or redirected.
- A page that does not list itself in its own hreflang set.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an x-default?
It is not mandatory, but Google recommends it for visitors whose language is not covered. The tool reports its absence as a notice.
Why only 8 alternates?
A check must finish in a single request of under 25 seconds. Alternates beyond eight are reported as not tested.
Are hreflang entries from the XML sitemap read?
No. The tool reads the HTML tags and the HTTP Link header of the page you enter.
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