Overview
Check links in saved content from the WordPress editor and use the results to decide which destinations need attention.
This guide explains how to install WPSDDC Broken Scanner, set up its options and use it in your everyday WordPress workflow.
Requirements and Compatibility
- WordPress 6.0 or later.
- PHP 8.1 or later.
- An account with permission to install and activate plugins. Site settings require administrator permissions.
It works independently: WP StudioDDC HQ and other collection plugins are not required to register its administration screen.
Installation
- Obtain the installable WPSDDC Broken Scanner ZIP package and keep a current site backup before installation.
- In the dashboard, open Plugins → Add New Plugin → Upload Plugin.
- Select the ZIP file, choose Install Now and then Activate Plugin.
- Open WPSDDC → Broken Scanner to access its controls and usage information.
For manual installation, copy the wpsddc-broken-scanner folder into wp-content/plugins/ and activate the plugin from Plugins. The package entry file is wpsddc-broken-scanner.php.
Configuration and Options
Checks are manual. Save the content first so the scanner can read its stored body and excerpt.
How to Use the Plugin
- Save the post, page or supported content item before starting a check. Unsaved editor text is not the scan source.
- Open the Link Scanner panel in the native editor and start the manual check.
- Read the reported URL and HTTP result. Distinguish an unavailable destination from a redirect or a temporary timeout.
- Open a destination independently when you need to confirm its state, then correct the source link in the editor.
- Save the corrected content and run another manual check. Repeat this process when you update important links.
Practical Example
After changing a download address in an article, save the article and check its links again. A successful request confirms the checked destination at that moment; it does not guarantee that the remote site will remain available.
Data and Operating Limits
Manual checks send bounded HTTP requests to permitted public destinations. Private and unsafe targets are rejected. Results are not stored and no scheduled scan runs. A timeout does not prove a link is permanently broken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the scanner fix links automatically?
No. Review the result, edit the source link yourself and save the content. A timeout alone is insufficient reason to remove a useful link.
Where can I find the included help?
Open WPSDDC → Broken Scanner and expand the native Help tab at the top of the screen. Its sections explain getting started, data and limits, and version details and support links.
Troubleshooting
If a link is not listed, confirm it is in the saved body or excerpt. Links generated only by dynamic blocks, menus or third-party rendering may not be part of that stored text. A protected or slow destination can also reject automated checks.
Updates and Deactivation
- Back up the database and files before updating.
- When WordPress offers an update in Plugins, use its native update action. To update by ZIP, upload the new package and choose to replace the installed version when WordPress prompts you.
- Review the changes included with the package, keep the settings you need and check a typical workflow after updating.
To stop the feature, deactivate the plugin from Plugins. Deactivation does not delete WordPress content and does not replace a backup.
Support and Related Links
For support, include the WordPress, PHP and plugin versions, the relevant setting and the steps needed to reproduce the issue. Share only the information needed to describe it.