How to validate an RSS feed
An RSS feed validator helps you answer a simple question:
is this feed actually healthy enough for readers, apps, and crawlers to use?
A good validator should help you catch problems like:
- invalid XML
- missing or broken feed URLs
- redirect loops
- stale feed updates
- malformed fields or metadata
- feed output that looks fine in a browser but fails in real readers
Need a diagnosis now? Validate this RSS feed.
Quick answer
If your RSS feed is broken, start by validating the live feed URL.
That tells you whether the real production feed:
- returns
200 - serves XML instead of HTML
- parses correctly
- resolves cleanly without redirect issues
- shows signs of stale or malformed output
Use the validator here:
What an RSS feed validator should check
A useful RSS validator is not only checking syntax. It should help surface several classes of problems.
1. Reachability
Can the feed URL actually be fetched?
Common failures:
- 404 Not Found
- 403 or auth issues
- feed path changed
- DNS or proxy problems
2. XML validity
Can the feed be parsed as XML?
Common failures:
- unescaped
& - malformed tags
- bad encoding
- broken CDATA
3. Feed structure
Does the output look like a real RSS or Atom feed instead of random XML or HTML?
4. Redirect behavior
Does the URL resolve cleanly, or does it bounce through too many redirects?
5. Freshness and update signals
Is the feed actually updating the way clients expect, or does it look stale?
When to use an RSS feed validator
Use a validator when:
- your feed reader says the feed is broken
- the feed stopped updating
- the feed URL changed
- a podcast platform rejects the feed
- you migrated platforms or rewrote feed routes
- you want to check a feed after deployment
What to do after validation
The right next step depends on what the validator finds.
If the feed returns 404
Go here:
If the feed has invalid XML
Go here:
If the feed has too many redirects
Go here:
If the Atom feed seems stale
Go here:
Best validation workflow
- validate the live feed URL
- fix the first reported problem
- validate again
- repeat until the endpoint resolves cleanly and parses correctly
This is important because feed problems often cascade. One XML error or one broken redirect can hide the next issue.
RSS validator vs feed fixer
A validator tells you what is wrong.
A repair tool helps you move from diagnosis into a safe mechanical change when one is supported.
CorrectFeed supports both sides of that flow without promising that every problem is automatically repairable:
- validate first
- then apply a verified safe repair or follow the diagnostic guidance
Keep feed validation practical
The point of validating a feed is not to get a perfect score for its own sake.
The point is to make sure:
- readers can fetch it
- clients can parse it
- updates reach subscribers reliably
- your feed remains stable over time
If you want to validate a feed right now, use:
FAQ
What does an RSS feed validator check?
An RSS feed validator checks whether a feed is reachable, well-formed XML, structurally valid, and free of common problems like redirects, 404s, stale updates, or malformed fields.
Can an RSS validator help with Atom feeds too?
Yes. Many feed validation problems overlap across RSS and Atom, including broken URLs, malformed XML, caching issues, and parser failures.
What should I do after validating a broken feed?
Start with the first reported problem and validate again after each change. CorrectFeed can apply selected safe XML repairs, while redirects, missing endpoints, server settings, and caching behavior must be corrected by the publisher or hosting provider.
Validate this RSS feed
Check a live RSS feed URL, pasted XML, or uploaded file first. CorrectFeed offers a safe repair only when it can verify an improvement.