Orphan pages are web pages that exist on a website but have no internal links pointing to them. Because they’re not connected to the site’s internal linking structure, search engines and users have a hard time discovering them.
In simple terms, orphan pages are pages that are “left alone” with no clear path leading to them.
What Are Orphan Pages?
An orphan page is a page that:
- Is published and accessible by URL
- But has zero internal links from other pages on the same website
This means the page may only be accessible through:
- A direct URL
- External backlinks
- XML sitemaps (if included)
Without internal links, these pages are often invisible to users and less valuable for SEO.
How Orphan Pages Are Created
Orphan pages usually appear unintentionally. Common causes include:
- Removing navigation or internal links during a redesign
- Publishing landing pages for ads or campaigns
- Old blog posts no longer linked from categories
- Test or staging pages pushed live
- Broken internal linking structures
- Poor content organization
Over time, large websites often accumulate orphan pages without realizing it.
Why Orphan Pages Matter for SEO
Orphan pages are problematic because they:
- Are harder for search engines to crawl and index
- Receive little to no internal link equity
- Often rank poorly or not at all
- Provide a weak user experience
- Waste crawl budget on large sites
Even high-quality content can underperform if it’s orphaned.
Orphan Pages vs Dead-End Pages
| Orphan Pages | Dead-End Pages |
|---|---|
| No internal links pointing to them | No internal links pointing from them |
| Hard to discover | Stop user navigation |
| SEO visibility issue | UX issue |
| Often unintentional | Often design-related |
Both issues should be fixed for a healthy site structure.
How to Find Orphan Pages
You can identify orphan pages by comparing different data sources:
- Google Analytics – Pages with traffic but no internal links
- Google Search Console – Indexed pages not found in crawls
- SEO crawlers (Screaming Frog, Sitebulb) – Pages found via sitemaps but not internal links
- CMS reports – Published pages not assigned to categories
Combining crawl data with analytics is the most effective method.
How to Fix Orphan Pages
Fixing orphan pages usually involves one of these actions:
1. Add Internal Links
Link to the page from:
- Relevant blog posts
- Category or hub pages
- Navigation or footer (if appropriate)
2. Merge or Redirect
If the page is outdated or redundant:
- Merge it with a stronger page
- Use a 301 redirect to a relevant URL
3. Remove the Page
If the page has no value:
- Delete it
- Return a 404 or 410 status
- Remove it from the sitemap
Every orphan page should have a clear purpose—or be removed.
Best Practices to Prevent Orphan Pages
- Plan internal linking before publishing content
- Use content hubs and topic clusters
- Audit internal links regularly
- Monitor new pages after publishing
- Keep XML sitemaps aligned with internal links
- Review pages after site redesigns or migrations
Good internal linking prevents orphan pages from forming.
Do Orphan Pages Always Hurt SEO?
Not always. Some orphan pages are intentional, such as:
- PPC landing pages
- Private campaign URLs
- Thank-you pages
- Login or gated content pages
However, these pages are usually noindexed and excluded from SEO goals.
Final Thoughts on Orphan Pages
Orphan pages weaken your site’s SEO and content performance by cutting pages off from internal authority and discoverability. Regular audits and smart internal linking ensure every valuable page plays a role in your website’s structure.
If a page matters, it should never be an orphan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are orphan pages bad for SEO?
Yes, for indexable content. They limit crawlability, rankings, and internal link equity.
Can orphan pages still rank?
Sometimes, but they usually perform poorly unless they have strong external backlinks.
How often should I check for orphan pages?
At least every few months, and always after major site updates.
Are landing pages considered orphan pages?
They can be, but often intentionally. These pages are usually excluded from SEO indexing.
Should orphan pages be noindexed?
Only if they’re not meant to rank or be found via search engines.