The Internet Archive and Automattic have teamed up to tackle one of the web’s biggest annoyances: “link rot.” The two companies have released a new WordPress plugin called Link Fixer that automatically redirects broken links to archived versions so readers never hit a dead page.
Link rot happens when URLs in older posts stop working because the linked pages are deleted, moved, or otherwise dissapear over time. Research shows that nearly 40% of links from just over a decade ago no longer lead anywhere, leaving old posts full of dead ends. To address this, Link Fixer scans WordPress posts for outbound links and checks The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine to see if archived versions exist.
If a linked page isn’t already archived, the plugin automatically creates a snapshot. Later, if the original page goes offline, visitors are redirected to the archived version so they can still access the content. This ensures that old posts and references remain useful even years after they were first published.
Keeping links alive and accessible with the Wayback Machine
According to TechCrunch, Link Fixer also protects the site’s own content by creating backups in the Wayback Machine. It scans links regularly and, if a previously broken link comes back online, the plugin automatically switches visitors back to the live page. WordPress users can customize the scanning frequency and other settings to fit their site’s needs.
Automattic says the goal is to make the web more reliable and reduce the number of dead links that disrupt research, journalism, and everyday browsing. By connecting WordPress sites to the Wayback Machine, Link Fixer helps preserve content and keep it accessible. The plugin is free and open source, and WordPress users can install it right away to start protecting their links and keeping their sites more dependable for readers.