How to fix: Issues with broken external JavaScript and CSS files

Issue: Broken external JavaScript or CSS files hosted on another site can prevent your webpages from rendering properly. This impacts user experience and may harm your search rankings.

Fix: Contact the owner of the external site to fix the broken file or replace it with a functional alternative.

How to Fix for Beginners

  1. Identify Broken Files: Use browser developer tools or an SEO audit to find which external JavaScript or CSS files are broken.
    • Example: https://example.com/styles.css or https://example.com/script.js is not loading.
  2. Test File Accessibility: Paste the file URL directly into a browser to see if it loads. If it doesn’t, it’s broken.
  3. Contact the File Owner: Reach out to the external website hosting the file and request a fix.
    • Example: “The JavaScript file at https://example.com/script.js is not working. Could you check and resolve the issue?”
  4. Find a Replacement: If the file is critical and can’t be fixed, search for an alternative or consider hosting a working version on your own server (if allowed).
    • Example: Download the necessary script or CSS file and host it at https://yourdomain.com/scripts.js.
  5. Test Your Site: After resolving the issue, test your site to ensure all scripts and styles work as intended.

Tip: Regularly monitor external resources to avoid disruptions and maintain your website’s functionality and SEO performance.