Hreflang checker
Enter a page and this tool lists the hreflang tags in its HTML, checks each language and region code, and opens up to 10 of the other language versions to see whether they link back. It also checks for a self link, an x-default and codes used twice.
It’s for makers with a site in more than one language, or one language for several countries. Hreflang is easy to get almost right, and small mistakes, like a missing return link, can make Google ignore it.
Free with a ShipScroll account.
How to use the Hreflang Checker
- Enter one language version of a page, such as your English pricing page.
- Press Check. The tool reads its hreflang tags, then visits the other versions.
- Fix invalid codes first, then any version that doesn’t link back.
- Check one page from each language to be sure the whole set agrees.
The rules Google expects
- Every version lists all the versions, including itself.
- If page A points to page B, page B must point back to A. Without return links, Google may ignore the pair.
- The language code is ISO 639-1, such as en or de. A region is optional and uses ISO 3166-1 alpha-2, such as en-GB.
- x-default marks the version for everyone else, often a language picker or your main version.
- Hreflang can be set in the HTML, in HTTP headers or in a sitemap. Use one method consistently.
Codes people get wrong
| Written | Problem | Use |
|---|---|---|
| en-uk | uk isn’t a region code (it’s the Ukrainian language) | en-GB |
| english | Not a code | en |
| en_US | Underscore instead of a hyphen | en-US |
| eu | Basque, not Europe: there’s no code for a continent | A language, or x-default |
What hreflang doesn’t do
It helps Google show the right version to the right searcher. It doesn’t redirect visitors, translate anything, or make a thin translated page rank. Each version still needs real content in that language.
Questions
Do I need hreflang for a single-language site?
No. It’s only for pages that exist in more than one language, or in one language for different countries.
Why does it say a version doesn’t link back?
We opened that version and its hreflang tags don’t include the page you checked. Add the missing tag on that page, so the two point at each other.
My hreflang is in the sitemap. Can this check it?
No, it reads the HTML of the page. If your tags live in a sitemap or HTTP headers, it will report none, even though they may be set up correctly.
Can the language versions be on different domains?
Yes. Google accepts alternates on other domains, such as example.de for German. The same rules apply: each version lists all of them, and each pair links both ways.
Related tools
- Canonical URL CheckerCheck which address a page asks search engines to show, and whether it’s right.
- Meta Tags CheckerSee the title, description, canonical and share tags a page actually serves.
- On-Page SEO AuditOne report on a page’s title, headings, images, links, schema and robots.txt.