Tools Central

Hreflang Generator and Checker

Create consistent multilingual annotations and check backlinks between multiple pages.

100% local processing: no URL or content is sent or crawled.

1. Define the Set of Variants

Add one line per version in the format "code | absolute URL". The current page must also be included in the list.

This URL becomes the loc of the sitemap fragment and is used for self-reference checking.
Examples: fr, en, en-GB, zh-Hant or x-default. Relative paths are not allowed.
4valid variants0 errors0 warnings0 information

3. Check back links between pages

Paste one block per page. The audit only compares the provided data: it does not perform any network crawl.

Start each block with "PAGE URL | canonical", then list its lines "code | URL".
4pages16links
0 errors0 warnings0 information
Mutual set in the provided dataEach provided page references itself and the provided targets contain a back link.

4. Publish without creating conflicting signals

Absolute URLs

Declare the full protocol and host. Variants can live on different domains.

Bidirectional returns

A target page must point back to the source, otherwise the relevant annotations may be ignored.

x-default and generic language

Plan for a fallback destination and, with multiple regions, a generic version of the language when it exists.

Local control, not a crawl

The tool checks the pasted blocks. Then check the HTTP responses, canonicals, and indexability on the published site.

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Create and Audit Consistent Hreflang Annotations

Hreflang annotations link equivalent language or regional versions of a page. The generator produces three formats, and the local audit identifies invalid codes, missing self-references, suspicious canonicals, and missing backlinks in the provided data.

Use Cases

  • Prepare a New TranslationMatch each language or region code to its absolute URL, include the current page, and choose an x-default destination for unaddressed visitors.
  • Compare Multiple Page TemplatesPaste the observed annotations from each page to find a missing backlink, a different set, or a canonical that does not point to the expected page.
  • Deploy Outside of HTMLGenerate a Link header for a non-HTML document or an xhtml:link fragment to be integrated into an existing XML sitemap.

Recommended Method

Build a set from actually equivalent pages. Each version must declare its own URL and the other variants using complete HTTP or HTTPS addresses.

Install the same set on the relevant pages and check the links in both directions. A target that does not point back to the source may render the pair unusable for Google.

Check separately that each URL responds correctly, remains indexable, displays the correct language, and uses a compatible canonical. The tool does not make any network requests.

Codes and Variants

  • The language uses a two-letter ISO 639-1 code, such as fr or en. A country code alone is not a valid targeting.
  • An ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 region may follow the language, such as en-GB. The generator normalizes its case without altering the intent.
  • An ISO 15924 script can be explicit, like zh-Hant. x-default designates the fallback page when other codes do not match.

Limits to Know

  • The audit does not visit the web. A target absent from the PAGE blocks is reported as unverifiable, without concluding that its backlink is actually missing.
  • A set difference is a warning, not always an error. Google allows certain subsets as long as important relationships remain bidirectional.
  • Hreflang helps in choosing the version in the results; it does not translate the page and does not guarantee crawling, indexing, or ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should HTML, HTTP header, and sitemap be published at the same time?
No. Google considers the three methods equivalent. A single well-maintained method reduces the risk of divergence between multiple sources.
Can two codes point to the same URL?
Yes, especially when a language version also serves as x-default. The tool indicates this as information for you to confirm this choice.
Are the entered URLs sent to Tools Central?
No. Validation, generation, comparison, and export run locally in the browser. No crawl or remote storage is triggered.

The Visible Language Remains Crucial

Google determines the language from the visible content, not just from the hreflang code or the lang attribute. Avoid pages where only the menu is translated.