What it means for a link
The link is broken as written, often because the URL itself is malformed.
Common causes
- Invalid characters or broken encoding in the URL
- Oversized cookies or headers
- A query string the app rejects
How to fix it
Open the link and compare it with the working URL; fix the encoding (spaces as %20) or the parameters.
How Google handles it
Not indexed. A 400 on your own pages usually signals an application bug.
Check your own URLs: paste a list into the bulk HTTP status checker, trace one URL with the redirect checker, or test every link on a page with the broken link checker.
HTTP 400 questions
What does HTTP status 400 mean?
400 Bad Request: The server could not understand the request.
Is a 400 a broken link?
The link is broken as written, often because the URL itself is malformed.
How do I fix a 400?
Open the link and compare it with the working URL; fix the encoding (spaces as %20) or the parameters.
How does Google handle 400?
Not indexed. A 400 on your own pages usually signals an application bug.