Scan settings

Each project has a Scan settings tab that shapes every scan of that project. By the end of this page you will have set exclusions, URL parameters and the weekly scan.

Open Scan settings#

1. Open the project from the Projects page.
2. Click Scan settings in the sidebar.

The panel Scans & project holds every setting below. Changes apply from the next scan. Results you already have stay as they are.

Excluded URL patterns#

Exclusions keep known false alarms out of your results. A host that blocks every checker is the classic case.

1. Type one pattern per line in Excluded URL patterns.
2. Click Save exclusions.
3. The hint below the field shows how many patterns are active.

How patterns match#

A pattern is a plain piece of text, with no wildcards. The scan skips every page and every link whose full address contains that text.

• gtmetrix.com skips every link to that site.
• /tag/ skips the tag archive pages on your site, and every link that points to one.
• utm_source skips every address that carries that tracking parameter.

Keep patterns specific. A short pattern like blog can skip far more pages than you meant to.

You can also add a pattern straight from the results. The Exclude button on the Broken links page writes one for you.

Remove URL parameters#

The Remove URL parameters switch is on by default. With it on, the scan drops everything after the ? in a page address. So example.com/?ref=a and example.com/?ref=b both count as example.com/, one page.

Turn it off when parameters lead to different content, such as ?page=2 on a shop category. The switch also applies to SEO / AEO audits of the same project.

Images, scripts and documents#

Project scans check the links on your pages. They skip images, scripts, stylesheets and documents, and this tab has no switch for them.

To check those files, log in and start a scan from the brokenlinkchecker.io homepage. Open Advanced options first and tick Check images, Check JavaScript or Check documents.

Scheduled weekly scan#

The Scheduled weekly scan switch runs a full scan of the project every Monday. It also turns on the alert mail for new broken links.

Plan: the weekly scan needs a paid plan, and the project's domain must hold one of your Pro slots. Otherwise the switch shows a PRO badge and stays off.

Weekly scans and email alerts covers the schedule and the mail.

Public page#

The Public page row opens the tab for domain verification and your public report page. Click Open to go there.