Redirect Checker

Enter any URL to trace its full redirect chain and see every hop along the way.

What is a URL Redirect?

A URL redirect is a server-side instruction that sends visitors and search engines from one URL to a different URL. Redirects are commonly used during site migrations, when pages are moved, or to consolidate duplicate content.

Types of Redirects

  • 301 Moved Permanently — Tells search engines the page has permanently moved. Link equity is passed to the new URL. Use this for permanent URL changes.
  • 302 Found — A temporary redirect. Search engines may keep indexing the original URL. Use this for temporary changes.
  • 307 Temporary Redirect — Similar to 302, but preserves the HTTP method (POST stays POST). Used in HTTPS upgrades.
  • 308 Permanent Redirect — Similar to 301, but preserves the HTTP method. Less common but increasingly used.
  • Meta Refresh — A client-side redirect using an HTML meta tag. Slower and not recommended for SEO.

Why Trace Redirect Chains?

Redirect chains occur when URL A redirects to URL B, which redirects to URL C, and so on. Long redirect chains cause problems:

  • Slower page loads — Each redirect adds latency, hurting user experience and Core Web Vitals.
  • Lost link equity — Search engines may lose a small amount of PageRank with each hop in the chain.
  • Crawl budget waste — Googlebot has a limited crawl budget. Redirect chains waste it on unnecessary requests.
  • Redirect loops — Misconfigured redirects can create infinite loops, making pages completely inaccessible.

How to Fix Redirect Chains

The best practice is to redirect directly from the original URL to the final destination, eliminating intermediate hops. If URL A redirects to B, and B redirects to C, update A to redirect directly to C.

Use our free broken link checker to scan your entire website for redirect chains and loops, or check individual URLs with the HTTP status checker.