Broken links on the web are inevitable, but losing valuable context doesn’t have to be.
At Automattic, we believe the web should be a lasting, reliable resource for everyone. Over time, however, links break. Pages move, domains don’t get renewed, sites go offline, and valuable content disappears. This is known as “link rot,” and it has been quietly eroding the web since its inception.
We’re excited to announce a collaboration with the Internet Archive to help solve this problem: the Internet Archive Wayback Machine Link Fixer, a new free WordPress plugin that keeps your links alive.
The plugin works quietly in the background of your WordPress site to protect your content and your readers’ experience. It automatically scans your posts for outbound links, checks the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine for archived versions, and creates new snapshots when none exist. When a linked page goes offline, the plugin seamlessly redirects visitors to an archived version, ensuring your content remains useful and your readers never hit a dead end. It even archives your own posts whenever they are updated, building a long-term record of your site’s history. Link checking is ongoing, so if the original link starts working again, the plugin stops redirecting to the archived version.
This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to preserving the open web. Since 1996, the Wayback Machine has been saving the digital history of the internet, and we’re honored to help bring that mission directly to WordPress sites everywhere.
Protect your links without taking your eyes off your latest post. The Internet Archive Wayback Machine Link Fixer is open source, free to use, and available now on WordPress.org.
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