Why it matters
When pages move without redirects, old links, bookmarks and search results lead to a 404, and the search ranking those pages earned is lost. A site rebuild is the most common way small businesses lose their Google traffic.
Redirects themselves can cause problems: a chain (A to B to C) slows every visit and wastes crawl time, and a loop makes a page unreachable. This generator checks for both, and writes the rules in the exact syntax your server or host needs.
How to use it
- Enter your domain and choose the default redirect type (301 for permanent moves).
- Paste your old and new addresses, one pair per line.
- Check the notes for loops, chains and duplicates.
- Copy the rules for your server, publish them, and test a few old addresses.
FAQ
301 or 308?
Both are permanent and pass ranking signals. 308 also keeps the request method, which only matters for forms and APIs. 301 is the usual choice for pages.
Do redirects lose SEO value?
Google treats permanent redirects as a strong signal to move ranking to the new address. Keep them in place for at least a year, ideally for good.
Where does the .htaccess code go?
In the .htaccess file in your site's root folder, above any other rewrite rules such as WordPress's.
Why are query strings handled differently?
Apache can match them; Nginx location blocks, _redirects files and Cloudflare Bulk Redirects ignore them. The checks warn you when that matters.
