What it means for a link
Broken for anyone without an account; fine for members-only links.
Common causes
- A members area or admin page
- HTTP basic auth on a staging site
How to fix it
Don’t link to login-protected pages from public content unless readers expect to sign in.
How Google handles it
Not indexed.
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 401 questions
What does HTTP status 401 mean?
401 Unauthorized: Login is required to see this resource.
Is a 401 a broken link?
Broken for anyone without an account; fine for members-only links.
How do I fix a 401?
Don’t link to login-protected pages from public content unless readers expect to sign in.
How does Google handle 401?
Not indexed.