How to Use the Redirect Checker
- Enter any URL, such as an old page address, a link from an ad, or your bare domain.
- Keep “check variants” turned on to also test the http/https and www/non-www versions of the same address.
- Read each hop. You’ll see the status code, the URL and the response time for every step, followed by a plain-English verdict.
Status Codes at a Glance
| Code | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | OK, the page loaded | Nothing, this is the goal |
| 301 / 308 | Moved permanently | Fine for old URLs; update internal links to point at the new URL directly |
| 302 / 307 | Moved temporarily | Change to 301 if the move is permanent |
| 404 | Not found | Redirect to the closest relevant page, or restore the content |
| 410 | Gone | Fine for content removed on purpose |
| 5xx | Server error | Fix urgently; search engines will drop pages that keep failing |
When to Check Redirects
After a website redesign or migration
Migrations are the most common cause of sudden traffic drops. Every old URL should redirect, in one hop, to its closest new equivalent. Check your most important old URLs, especially pages with backlinks, right after launch. Our technical SEO service includes full migration mapping and monitoring.
After switching to HTTPS or changing domains
Make sure every http URL and every old-domain URL redirects permanently to the matching https URL on the new domain, not just to the homepage.
When ads or emails send traffic to old links
Paid campaigns often keep running with old URLs. A chain of redirects adds load time to every click you pay for. Point ads at the final URL.
Redirect Best Practices
- One hop. Old URL straight to final URL, with no chains.
- Permanent for permanent moves. Use 301 or 308.
- Relevant destinations. Redirect to the most similar page, not everything to the homepage.
- Consistent canonical. The final page’s canonical tag should point to itself.
- Update internal links. Don’t rely on redirects for links you control; update them to the final URL.
- Keep redirects in place. Leave migration redirects active for at least a year, and ideally permanently.