Backlinks usually "disappear" for one of two reasons: the link was really removed or changed, or your tool simply stopped seeing it. Real causes include the linking page being deleted, redirected, or edited, or a link gaining a nofollow tag. Tool-side causes include crawl gaps and index refreshes. Work out which one you have before you start outreach.
Check it in this order
- Open the linking page yourself. Use view-source or find-in-page for your domain. If the link is there, the tool missed it, so wait and recheck.
- Check the status code. A 404 or 410 means the page is gone. A redirect means the content may have moved, and the link may or may not have gone with it.
- Look at the link itself. Was the URL changed, the anchor edited, or a nofollow/sponsored/ugc attribute added? Our explainer on dofollow vs nofollow covers what that changes.
- Check your own side. If you changed URLs, ran a migration, or deleted pages, the link may now point to a broken URL. See how to find broken backlinks.
- Compare more than one source. Tools crawl differently, so a link missing in one may show in another. A free check is a reasonable second opinion.
Common causes at a glance
| Cause | Real loss? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Linking page deleted or redirected | Usually yes | Ask for a replacement, or find a similar page |
| Link edited or removed by editor | Yes | Politely ask, and offer something useful |
| Your page moved or broke | Yes, self-inflicted | Add a 301 redirect to the best match |
| Tool recrawl or index change | Often no | Verify manually and recheck later |
| Link is new and not yet indexed | No | See how long new links take to appear |
Recommended for youHow to Check and Audit a Backlink Profile: A Step-by-Step WalkthroughTrade-offs to keep in mind
Some link loss is normal. Pages get pruned and sites get redesigned, so no profile stays static. Winning links back takes effort and is not guaranteed, so prioritize links from relevant, strong pages over every small loss. Also look at referring domains, not just raw link counts, since losing one of many links from the same site matters less than losing a unique domain.
If you want ongoing alerts rather than one-off checks, compare monitoring tools on the review page, and confirm current features and pricing on each official site.
Related
- How to Track New and Lost Backlinks and Win Back the Ones You Lose
- Backlink Monitoring & Analysis
- How to Check and Audit a Backlink Profile
- How to Report Backlink Progress to Clients and Stakeholders
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