ClicksBracket

Free Redirect Checker

Enter an address and see every redirect between it and the page that loads: the status of each hop, how long it took, and anything that costs you visitors or rankings.

  • Every hop with its status code
  • Chains, loops and temporary redirects flagged
  • Free, no signup

Redirect Status Codes Explained

What each status in the chain means, and which ones search engines treat as a permanent move.

301 Moved Permanently
The page has moved for good. Search engines move rankings to the new address. The standard choice for a changed URL. Google: redirects and Google Search
308 Permanent Redirect
Permanent like a 301, and the browser keeps the request method. Google treats it the same as a 301.
302 Found and 307 Temporary Redirect
The move is temporary, so search engines may keep the old address in results. Right for short promotions and maintenance, wrong for a permanent move.
Redirect chain
Several redirects in a row. Google follows up to 10 hops, but every hop slows the visit, so point the first address straight at the last. Google: how HTTP status codes affect crawling
Redirect loop
The redirects lead back to an address already visited. Browsers stop with an error and the page cannot be indexed.
404 and 410
Not found and gone. A redirect that ends on one of these sends visitors to an error page; redirect to the closest live page instead.

How to Fix Redirect Problems

The fixes that matter most, in the order we would make them.

  1. Break loops first

    A loop makes the page unreachable. Find the rule that points back at an earlier address, often a conflict between your server, CDN and CMS settings, and remove it.

  2. Collapse chains into one hop

    Change the first redirect to point straight at the final page. Common chains are http to https to www to a trailing slash; one rule can do all of it.

  3. Use 301 or 308 for permanent moves

    If the old address is never coming back, make the redirect permanent so search engines move rankings to the new one.

  4. Update your own links

    Internal links, menus and sitemaps should point at final addresses, so visitors and crawlers never hit a redirect on your own site.

  5. Send dead pages somewhere useful

    Redirect removed pages to the closest live page, not to the homepage, and let pages with no replacement return 404 or 410.

When You Want It Done for You

Check one address yourself, or have us audit the whole site.

SEO audit services

The Revenue Leak Audit: every technical issue on your site, with the fix and what it costs you.

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SEO services

Rank higher in 90 days or less, or we work free until you do.

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Web design

A new site, with every old address redirected so you keep your rankings.

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Redirect Checker Questions

What does this redirect checker show?
Every hop from the address you enter to the page that finally loads: the status code, what it means, and how long each hop took. It flags loops, chains, temporary redirects, error pages at the end and pages that are not on https.
What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect?
A 301 says the page has moved permanently, so search engines move its rankings to the new address. A 302 says the move is temporary, so they may keep showing the old address. Use 301 or 308 when a URL changes for good.
How many redirects are too many?
One is ideal. Google follows up to 10 hops, but each one adds a round trip for visitors and a chance for something to break, so a chain of two or more is worth collapsing.
Do redirects lose SEO value?
A single permanent redirect passes a page's signals to its new address. Long chains, temporary redirects for permanent moves and redirects to unrelated pages are what cost rankings.
Why does my http address redirect twice?
Usually one rule adds https and another adds www or a trailing slash. Combine them so http://example.com goes straight to the final https address in one hop.
Is the redirect checker free?
Yes, with no signup. Each visitor can run 5 checks a minute and 50 a day, and a result is kept for 15 minutes.

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