---
title: "Nuxt Link Checker v6.0.0"
description: "Release notes for v6.0.0 of Nuxt Link Checker."
canonical_url: "https://nuxtseo.com/docs/link-checker/releases/v6"
---

## Introduction

Nuxt Link Checker v6 supports Nuxt 4.6 and Nuxt 5. It ships in [Nuxt SEO v6](/docs/nuxt-seo/releases/v6).

This release removes Nuxt 3 and Nuxt Content v2 support. Failure messages now show the real HTTP status. The checker no longer passes when it skips links.

Check the [breaking changes](#breaking-changes) before you upgrade. For a guided migration, use the [LLM upgrade prompt](#llm-upgrade-prompt).

::note
Some features shipped in 5.x minor releases. These include the comark-content provider ([#104](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/104)) and a faster prerender scan ([#103](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/103)). This page lists only the changes after v5.3.0.
::

## 🔍 Real Failure Statuses

In v5, every failed link check except a timeout read `Should not respond with status code 404 (Not Found).`. A 500, a 410, a DNS error and a refused connection all looked the same.

v6 reports the status that the server sent. If a server rejects `HEAD` with 405 or 501, the checker retries with `GET`. If no response arrives, the message names the network error code. ([#109](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/109))

```txt
Should not respond with status code 404 (Page not found: /foo).
Could not reach the link (ECONNREFUSED).
```

## 🚦 No Silent Passes

Several paths let the checker pass while it skipped links. v6 closes them. ([#110](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/110))

- The build scan inspects `<a>`{lang="html"} elements with no `href`. The `no-missing-href` rule now fires at build.
- The build scan reads the whole document. It now includes links that `<Teleport to="body">`{lang="html"} renders.
- Page titles feed the "Did you mean" suggestions.
- A `nuxt build` with no prerendered pages logs `Nuxt Link Checker scanned no pages`.
- The Markdown report shows the pages checked and the pages with issues.
- The [ESLint](https://eslint.org) rules warn once when `.nuxt/link-checker/routes.json` is missing.
- `valid-sitemap-link` stays quiet until the sitemap URLs reach `routes.json`.

## 🧭 Nested Route Discovery

Route discovery now walks nested pages and keeps absolute child paths. The ESLint `valid-route` rule and the DevTools suggestions use the real leaf paths. ([#120](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/120))

## 📦 Typed Runtime Entries

Import app functions from `#link-checker/app`. Import server functions from `#link-checker/server`. ([#114](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/114))

```ts [app/utils/links.ts]
import { createFilter, inspect, isNonFetchableLink } from '#link-checker/app'
```

```ts [server/utils/links.ts]
import { getLinkResponse, inspect } from '#link-checker/server'
```

## 🤖 Agent Skill

The package ships an Agent Skill at `skills/nuxt-link-checker/SKILL.md`. Coding agents read it from `node_modules`. It covers the build scan scope, the config, and the traps that make the checker pass or fail by mistake. ([#107](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/107))

You can also get the Skill on [skilld.dev/gh/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker](https://skilld.dev/gh/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker).

## ⚠️ Breaking Changes

### Nuxt 4.6 and Node 22.22.3

v6 requires Nuxt `^4.6.0 || ^5.0.0`. v5 accepted Nuxt `^3.9.0 || ^4.0.0 || ^5.0.0`. ([#114](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/114))

v6 also requires Node `^22.22.3 || ^24.15.0 || >=26.0.0`.

```json [package.json]
{
  "devDependencies": {
    "nuxt": "^4.6.0"
  }
}
```

### Nuxt Content v2 Removed

The Nuxt Content integration requires `@nuxt/content` 3.6.0 or later. v5 accepted Nuxt Content v2. ([#114](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/114))

v6 deletes the `content-v2` provider and the compatibility shim for Content versions before 3.6.

```diff [package.json]
-"@nuxt/content": "^2.13.0"
+"@nuxt/content": "^3.6.0"
```

If you use Nuxt Content v2, migrate to Content v3 first. Read the [Nuxt Content v3 migration guide](https://content.nuxt.com/docs/getting-started/migration).

### Site Config v5

Nuxt Link Checker requires `nuxt-site-config` 5.0.0 or later. v5 accepted version 3.2 or later. ([#114](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/114), [#128](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/128))

The module now loads Site Config as a native Nuxt module dependency. If your `package.json` pins `nuxt-site-config`, upgrade it.

```diff [package.json]
-"nuxt-site-config": "^3.2.0"
+"nuxt-site-config": "^5.0.0"
```

Check the [Site Config v5 release notes](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-site-config/releases) for its own changes.

### Sitemap v9 and `nuxt-simple-sitemap`

The Sitemap integration requires `@nuxtjs/sitemap` 9.0.0 or later. v5 accepted version 7 or later. ([#114](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/114))

v6 no longer detects the legacy `nuxt-simple-sitemap` package.

```ts [nuxt.config.ts]
// Before
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  modules: ['nuxt-simple-sitemap', 'nuxt-link-checker'],
})

// After
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  modules: ['@nuxtjs/sitemap', 'nuxt-link-checker'],
})
```

### Failure Message Text

The `no-error-response` message now carries the real status and status text. An unreachable link reports status `0`. ([#109](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/109))

```txt
// Before: every failure except a timeout
Should not respond with status code 404 (Not Found).

// After: the server's status
Should not respond with status code 500 (Internal Server Error).

// After: no response
Could not reach the link (ENOTFOUND).
```

If a script parses the reports for `404 (Not Found)`, update it. Also handle other statuses and status `0`.

### Removed v1 Options Now Warn

v6 logs a warning for the v1 options `failOn404`, `exclude`, `siteUrl` and `trailingSlash`. The warning names the replacement. These options did nothing in v5 either. ([#110](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/110))

```ts [nuxt.config.ts]
// Before
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  linkChecker: {
    failOn404: true,
    exclude: ['/admin/**'],
    siteUrl: 'https://example.com',
  },
})

// After
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  site: { url: 'https://example.com' },
  linkChecker: {
    failOnError: true,
    excludeLinks: ['/admin/**'],
  },
})
```

### DevTools Host Package

The Link Checker DevTools tab now loads through `nuxtseo-devtools-host`. Without it, the tab shows an install button. ([#114](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/114))

```bash
pnpm add -D nuxtseo-devtools-host
```

## 🤖 LLM Upgrade Prompt

Paste this into Claude, [ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com), or any LLM to migrate your codebase.

::collapsible{name="LLM Upgrade Prompt"}
~~~markdown
# Upgrade Guide: nuxt-link-checker v5 to v6.0.0

You are helping me upgrade nuxt-link-checker from v5 to v6.0.0 in my Nuxt project.

## Breaking Changes

### 1. Nuxt and Node Versions

**What changed:** v6 requires Nuxt `^4.6.0 || ^5.0.0` and Node `^22.22.3 || ^24.15.0 || >=26.0.0`.

**Search my codebase for:** `"nuxt":` in package.json, `engines`, `.nvmrc`, `.node-version`, CI Node versions.

**Action:** Upgrade Nuxt to 4.6 or later. Use a supported Node version.

### 2. Nuxt Content v2 Removed

**What changed:** The content integration requires `@nuxt/content` 3.6.0 or later.

**Search my codebase for:** `"@nuxt/content":`

**Regex pattern:** `"@nuxt/content":\s*"[\^~]?2\.`

**Before:**
```json
{ "dependencies": { "@nuxt/content": "^2.13.0" } }
```

**After:**
```json
{ "dependencies": { "@nuxt/content": "^3.6.0" } }
```

If the project uses Content v2 APIs (`queryContent`, `<ContentDoc>`{lang="html"}, `documentDriven`), stop and tell me. Content v3 needs its own migration first.

### 3. Site Config v5

**What changed:** nuxt-link-checker requires `nuxt-site-config` 5.0.0 or later.

**Search my codebase for:** `"nuxt-site-config":`

**Regex pattern:** `"nuxt-site-config":\s*"[\^~]?[34]\.`

**Action:** If package.json pins `nuxt-site-config`, change it to `^5.0.0`.

### 4. Sitemap v9 and nuxt-simple-sitemap

**What changed:** The sitemap integration requires `@nuxtjs/sitemap` 9.0.0 or later. The module no longer detects `nuxt-simple-sitemap`.

**Search my codebase for:** `nuxt-simple-sitemap`, `"@nuxtjs/sitemap":`

**Regex pattern:** `nuxt-simple-sitemap|"@nuxtjs/sitemap":\s*"[\^~]?[78]\.`

**Before:**
```ts
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  modules: ['nuxt-simple-sitemap', 'nuxt-link-checker'],
})
```

**After:**
```ts
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  modules: ['@nuxtjs/sitemap', 'nuxt-link-checker'],
})
```

### 5. Failure Message Text

**What changed:** `no-error-response` messages carry the real status. Unreachable links report status `0` and `Could not reach the link (<code>)`.

**Search my codebase for:** `Not Found`, `link-checker-report.json`, `debug-link-responses.json`

**Regex pattern:** `404 \(Not Found\)|link-checker-report\.json`

**Action:** Update scripts that parse report text for `404 (Not Found)`. Handle any status code and status `0`.

### 6. Removed v1 Options

**What changed:** v6 warns about the v1 options `failOn404`, `exclude`, `siteUrl` and `trailingSlash`.

**Search my codebase for:** `failOn404`, `siteUrl`, `trailingSlash` and `exclude:` inside `linkChecker`.

**Regex pattern:** `failOn404|siteUrl|trailingSlash|\bexclude:`

**Before:**
```ts
linkChecker: { failOn404: true, exclude: ['/admin/**'], siteUrl: 'https://example.com', trailingSlash: true }
```

**After:**
```ts
site: { url: 'https://example.com', trailingSlash: true },
linkChecker: { failOnError: true, excludeLinks: ['/admin/**'] },
```

### 7. DevTools Host Package

**What changed:** The DevTools tab needs `nuxtseo-devtools-host` as a dev dependency.

**Action:** If the project uses Nuxt DevTools, run `pnpm add -D nuxtseo-devtools-host`.

## Verification Checklist

1. `pnpm install` (update lockfile)
2. `npx nuxt typecheck` (catch type errors)
3. `pnpm generate` or `pnpm build` with prerendered routes (run the build scan)
4. Read the Link Checker summary for new findings from teleported links and `<a>`{lang="html"} without `href`
5. `pnpm test` (catch runtime regressions)

---

Please scan my codebase for all affected patterns listed above and generate a complete migration plan. For each file that needs changes, show me the exact diff.
~~~
::

## ✅ Upgrading

If you use `@nuxtjs/seo`, upgrade it to v6 instead. It includes Nuxt Link Checker v6.

Otherwise, upgrade `nuxt-link-checker` directly:

```bash
# pnpm
pnpm add nuxt-link-checker@^6

# npm
npm install nuxt-link-checker@^6

# yarn
yarn add nuxt-link-checker@^6
```

## 📋 Changelog

> [Compare changes](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/compare/v5.3.0...v6.0.0)

### 🚀 Enhancements

- Prepare Link Checker 6 for Nuxt 4.6 ([#114](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/114))
- Ship an Agent Skill in the package ([#107](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/107))

### 🩹 Fixes

- Report the real status when a link check fails ([#109](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/109))
- Stop passing silently when the checker skips links ([#110](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/110))
- Discover nested and absolute page routes ([#120](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/120))
- Align Skill metadata with the Agent Skills spec ([#127](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/127))
- Flag 303, 307 and 308 redirects, not only 301 and 302 ([#132](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/132))

### 💅 Refactors

- Use native Site Config module dependencies ([#128](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/128))

### 📖 Documentation

- Describe what the build scan checks and its defaults ([#108](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/108))
- Add the module icon and unify the README badges ([#115](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/115))

### 🏡 Chore

- CI, test fixture, and maintenance updates ([#112](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/112), [#113](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/113), [#116](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/116), [#117](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/117), [#124](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/124), [#125](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/125), [#126](https://github.com/harlan-zw/nuxt-link-checker/pull/126))

### ❤️ Contributors

- [Harlan Wilton](https://github.com/harlan-zw)

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.