Hreflang Checker
Validate hreflang tags and return links
What Is the Hreflang Checker?
The Hreflang Checker reads a page's hreflang tags and checks what Google cares about: valid language and region codes, a self-referencing tag, an x-default, no conflicting URLs, and return links from each alternate back to the page. It then visits up to eight alternates to confirm they link back.
Key Features
How Hreflang Works
Hreflang tags tell Google which version of a page to show to which language or region. Each version lists all the others, including itself. Google only trusts a pair when both pages point at each other, so one missing return link can quietly break the whole set.
The Mistakes That Break It
The usual culprits are small: en-UK instead of en-GB, an underscore instead of a hyphen, a page that forgets to list itself, or alternates that redirect. Each one makes Google ignore some of your signals. The checker flags all of them on the page and confirms the return links on the alternates.
Common Use Cases
- Auditing a multilingual or multi-country site
- Checking hreflang after a CMS migration
- Finding why Google shows the wrong country's page
- Validating hreflang added by a plugin
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Hreflang Checker free?
Yes. It's free with a ProxyHorizon account, and every account gets 25 runs a day shared across all our data tools. You can read about the tool without signing in, but running it needs an account because each run fetches live data.
Why is en-UK flagged?
Region codes use ISO 3166, where the United Kingdom is GB. Google doesn't recognize en-UK, so use en-GB.
How many alternates are checked for return links?
Up to eight per run, fetched directly. Sites that block automated requests may show as "couldn't check".
Do I need an x-default tag?
It's optional but recommended. It tells Google which page to show visitors who don't match any language or region you list.
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