Free Hreflang Checker
Enter a URL to validate its hreflang tags: language codes, self-reference, x-default, duplicates, and whether the alternate pages link back.
Checks the live page · free, no sign-up
How to use the free hreflang checker
- 01
Enter one language version of the page.
- 02
Fix invalid codes and missing self-references.
- 03
Make sure every alternate links back with the same set of tags.
Getting hreflang right
Hreflang tells Google which language or regional version of a page to show each searcher, so Spanish speakers get /es/ and UK visitors get /uk/. It's notoriously easy to get wrong: invalid codes (en-UK instead of en-GB), missing self-references and missing return links all cause Google to ignore the tags.
Every version must list every version, including itself, and the tags must match on all of them.
Tips for using the hreflang checker
Check every version
Errors often hide in one language version. Run each through the checker.
Use valid codes
Language first, region second: en-GB, es-MX, pt-BR. Never en-UK.
Generate the full set
Build matching tags for all versions with the hreflang tag generator.
Keep canonicals aligned
Each version's canonical should point to itself, not to another language.
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Hreflang Checker FAQ
What is x-default?
The fallback version for visitors whose language or region isn't listed, often your main or language-picker page.
Does it check hreflang in sitemaps?
It checks the HTML tags. Use the XML sitemap validator to check the sitemap itself.
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up. Checks are limited to 60 a day per person.
What does hreflang do?
It tells Google which language or regional version of a page to show each searcher.
What are return links?
Each alternate must link back to the others. Without them, Google ignores the annotation.
Do I need hreflang for translated pages only?
Also for same-language regional versions, like separate US and UK pages.
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