Hreflang Validator
Enter any URL to validate its hreflang tags. Checks self-referencing, return tags, x-default, language codes, and duplicate values — everything international SEO requires.
What This Tool Validates
Self-referencing tags
Verifies the page includes itself in its hreflang set
Return tags (bidirectional)
Fetches alternate pages to verify they link back
x-default presence
Checks for a fallback/default language page
Language code validation
Ensures hreflang values use valid ISO 639-1 codes
Duplicate detection
Flags duplicate hreflang values in the same set
URL consistency
Checks that all hreflang URLs use consistent protocols and patterns
Frequently Asked Questions
What are hreflang tags?
Hreflang tags (rel='alternate' hreflang='x') tell search engines which language and regional version of a page to show to users. If you have the same page in English, Spanish, and French, hreflang tags link them together so Google serves the right version based on the user's language and location.
Why do hreflang tags matter for SEO?
Without hreflang tags, Google may show the wrong language version to users, index duplicate versions of the same content, or not know that your translated pages are related. This leads to keyword cannibalization between language versions, lower rankings in local markets, and poor user experience.
What is x-default in hreflang?
x-default is a special hreflang value that specifies the default or fallback page — the one to show when no other language/region matches the user. It's typically your English or international version. Every hreflang set should include an x-default tag.
What is a self-referencing hreflang tag?
A self-referencing hreflang tag is when a page includes itself in its own hreflang set. For example, the English page should include hreflang='en' pointing to itself. Every page in a hreflang set must reference itself — this is a common mistake that causes validation errors.
What are return tags in hreflang?
Return tags (also called confirmation links) mean that if Page A declares Page B as its Spanish alternate, Page B must also declare Page A as its English alternate. Every hreflang relationship must be bidirectional. Missing return tags is the #1 hreflang implementation error.
How do I fix hreflang errors?
The most common fixes: add self-referencing tags (each page must point to itself), add return tags (every relationship must be bidirectional), add x-default for the fallback page, use valid ISO language codes (en-US, not en_US), and remove duplicate hreflang values. This tool checks for all of these.
Validate hreflang across your entire site
CrawlRaven crawls every page and validates hreflang tags site-wide — plus 200+ other technical SEO checks — in a single audit.