How to use Redirect Checker
The Redirect Checker traces the full chain of HTTP redirects a URL goes through before reaching its final destination, showing the status code and target at every hop. Redirects are powerful but easy to misconfigure: a chain that is too long slows pages down, a temporary 302 used where a permanent 301 belongs leaks SEO value, and an accidental loop breaks the page entirely. Use this tool to audit migrations, confirm that http correctly upgrades to https and that non-www folds into www (or vice versa), and to catch redirect loops before users and search engines do.
- Enter the starting URL you want to trace.
- Click Check to follow every redirect from start to finish.
- Review each hop’s status code (301, 302, 307, 308) and target URL.
- Confirm the chain ends at the intended final URL with a 200.
- Shorten unnecessary hops and fix any loops you find.
Permanent versus temporary redirects
The status code of a redirect carries meaning for browsers and search engines. A 301 (and its method-preserving cousin 308) signals a permanent move, instructing search engines to transfer ranking signals to the new URL and update their index. A 302 (and 307) signals a temporary move, telling them to keep the original URL indexed. Using a 302 for a permanent change is a common SEO mistake that prevents link equity from flowing to the new address, so verifying the right code is used at each hop matters for organic traffic.
| Code | Type | SEO behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| 301 | Permanent | Passes ranking to new URL |
| 308 | Permanent (keeps method) | Passes ranking, preserves POST |
| 302 | Temporary | Keeps original URL indexed |
| 307 | Temporary (keeps method) | Keeps original, preserves POST |
Why short chains matter
Every redirect adds a network round trip before the user sees content, so a chain of three or four hops noticeably delays the first byte, especially on mobile. Long chains also dilute the ranking signal search engines pass along and increase the chance of hitting a browser’s redirect limit. The ideal is a single hop from the old URL straight to the final destination. If you find a chain like http → https → www → final, collapse it into one rule so visitors and crawlers reach the destination in a single step.
Glossary
- Redirect
- An HTTP response that sends the client to a different URL.
- 301
- A permanent redirect that transfers SEO ranking to the new URL.
- 302
- A temporary redirect that keeps the original URL indexed.
- Redirect chain
- A sequence of multiple redirects between the first URL and the final page.
- Redirect loop
- A misconfiguration where URLs redirect to each other endlessly.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use Redirect Checker?
- Trace every redirect hop from a starting URL to its final destination
- Confirm permanent 301 redirects are used where temporary 302s would lose SEO value
- Detect redirect loops that would break pages for users and search-engine crawlers
- Count hops and plan consolidation to reduce load time from long chains
Common use cases
- Audit a site migration to confirm all old URLs redirect to the correct new paths
- Check that http:// URLs redirect to https:// in a single hop rather than a chain
- Detect an accidental redirect loop introduced after a server configuration change
- Verify a temporary campaign redirect uses a 302 to keep the original URL indexed
- Confirm affiliate or short links resolve to the intended final landing page
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