In this guide, we’ll show you how to fix broken links by regenerating permalinks in WordPress.
Why Regenerate Permalinks in WordPress?
In most cases, the URLs on your WordPress website function reliably without issue. Unfortunately, there are times when clicking a link results in a 404 error, or worse, your entire site becomes inaccessible. This can occur after migrating your site to a new host or server, the installation of a new or updated plugin, or making changes to a custom post type configuration.
Real-world example:
Some users may also encounter the error “Updating failed. The response is not a valid JSON response” when trying to update a post or page. This often happens because WordPress is unable to correctly communicate with the server due to incorrect permalink settings, a misconfigured .htaccess file, or conflicting plugins. Regenerating permalinks can often resolve this error by rebuilding the URL structure and ensuring WordPress routes requests properly.
How to Regenerate Permalinks in WordPress
Regenerating your permalinks effectively rebuilds and repairs the WordPress permalink structure. While this may sound complex, it only takes a single click, and WordPress takes care of the rest.
- Go to Settings → Permalinks in your WordPress Admin.
- Do not make any changes.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the ‘Save Changes’ button.
When the process is complete, you should see a message confirming that your Permalinks have been updated.
Test your Site Links
Before testing, be sure to clear your server and browser caches. See this document for assistance clearing your caches.
If the issue persists, you may need to reach out to technical support for further assistance.
Identifying and Monitoring Broken Links
There are several good methods available to help identify and monitor broken links.
