Link points to non-existent page fragment — the fix
One or more links on this page include a fragment identifier (#section) that does not correspond to any element ID on the destination page. The link works but does not scroll to the intended section.
Where this fits: internal linking in SEO
Internal links are how authority and discoverability flow through your site. They tell crawlers which pages exist, tell ranking systems which pages you consider important, and give users paths deeper into your content. Orphan pages (no internal links pointing to them) are nearly invisible to search engines regardless of quality. A deliberate internal-linking structure is one of the highest-leverage, fully-in-your-control SEO instruments.
Why link points to non-existent page fragment hurts your rankings
Broken fragment links create a confusing user experience when clicking an anchor link does not scroll to the expected section. While fragment identifiers do not affect SEO directly, poor user experience (increased bounce, lower engagement) can indirectly impact rankings.
This is a low-severity issue: a polish item. Fix it in batches during scheduled maintenance; the win is cumulative quality, not a step change.
How to fix it
Either add the corresponding ID attribute to the target element on the destination page, or update the fragment identifier in the link to match an existing element ID. Remove fragments that no longer have corresponding targets.
Internal linking best practices
- Link every new page from at least two existing relevant pages the day it ships.
- Use descriptive anchor text — 'pricing for agencies', never 'click here'.
- Fix broken internal links weekly; every 404 wastes both crawl budget and user trust.
- Build hub pages for your main topics and spoke out to detail pages.
- Keep orphan-page count at zero — if nothing links to it, neither will Google.
The full library: SEO best practices, by category.
Frequently asked questions
What does "Link points to non-existent page fragment" mean?
One or more links on this page include a fragment identifier (#section) that does not correspond to any element ID on the destination page. The link works but does not scroll to the intended section.
Why does link points to non-existent page fragment matter for SEO?
Broken fragment links create a confusing user experience when clicking an anchor link does not scroll to the expected section. While fragment identifiers do not affect SEO directly, poor user experience (increased bounce, lower engagement) can indirectly impact rankings.
How do I fix link points to non-existent page fragment?
Either add the corresponding ID attribute to the target element on the destination page, or update the fragment identifier in the link to match an existing element ID. Remove fragments that no longer have corresponding targets.
How serious is this issue?
This is a low-severity issue: a polish item. Fix it in batches during scheduled maintenance; the win is cumulative quality, not a step change. It belongs to the internal linking family of checks.
How do I find every page affected by this on my site?
Run a free Dr Urls audit: it crawls your site, detects link points to non-existent page fragment on every affected page, shows example URLs, and generates a ready-to-use fix task. Re-scan after fixing to verify the issue is gone.
Does your site have this issue?
A free Dr Urls audit crawls your site, finds every page affected by link points to non-existent page fragment, and hands you a ready-made fix task.
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