HTTP Redirect Checker — Trace 301/302 Redirect Chains Free
Check redirect chains, detect loops, and verify 301/302 redirects
HTTP Redirect Checker — How It Works
This free HTTP redirect checker follows any URL through its full redirect chain and shows you every hop, the HTTP status code at each step (301, 302, 307, 308), and the final destination URL. Use it to debug redirect loops that cause browser errors, verify that old URLs correctly redirect to new ones after a site migration, check that HTTP automatically redirects to HTTPS, confirm that canonical URLs redirect properly for SEO, or audit redirect chains that are slowing down your page speed. Each redirect adds latency — ideally your URLs resolve in 1–2 hops. The tool also detects circular redirect loops (A→B→A) that would otherwise crash browsers and block search engine crawlers.
Types of Redirects
- 301 (Permanent): URL has moved permanently. Search engines transfer ranking power.
- 302 (Temporary): URL has moved temporarily. Original URL keeps ranking power.
- 307/308: Modern alternatives to 302/301 with stricter HTTP method preservation.
Common Issues
- Redirect Loops: URLs redirect to each other in a circle
- Too Many Redirects: Multiple hops slow down loading
- Mixed Redirects: HTTP→HTTPS→WWW→Final (should be single redirect)
Best Practices
- Use 301 for permanent moves (affects SEO)
- Use 302 only for truly temporary redirects
- Minimize redirect chains (1-2 hops max)
- Redirect HTTP to HTTPS directly
- Test redirects after implementation
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 301 and 302?
A 301 redirect is permanent — it tells search engines to transfer ranking signals (PageRank) from the old URL to the new one, and browsers cache it. A 302 redirect is temporary — it tells search engines the move is not permanent, so ranking signals stay on the original URL. Use 301 when permanently moving content, 302 when temporarily redirecting (A/B tests, maintenance pages).
How many redirects are too many?
Google recommends keeping redirect chains to a maximum of 3–5 hops, though fewer is always better. Each redirect adds round-trip latency (typically 100–300ms per hop), increases page load time, and can dilute PageRank. Redirect chains longer than 5 hops may cause Googlebot to stop following them entirely. Use our tool to check for redirect chains and collapse them to single direct redirects where possible.
What causes redirect loops?
Redirect loops occur when URL A redirects to URL B, which redirects back to URL A (or through a longer chain that eventually returns to A). Common causes: misconfigured .htaccess rules where a redirect applies to itself, conflicting rules between CDN and origin server, incorrect HTTPS redirect combined with HSTS policy, or CMS permalink settings that conflict with server-level redirects.
Do redirects hurt SEO?
301 redirects pass the vast majority of ranking signals (PageRank) to the destination URL — Google has confirmed this. However, redirect chains do dilute PageRank incrementally, and every redirect adds latency. Excessive redirects (5+) may prevent Googlebot from crawling the final destination efficiently. Always redirect to the canonical version of a URL and minimize unnecessary redirect hops for the best SEO outcome.
What is a 307 redirect?
A 307 (Temporary Redirect) is the HTTP/1.1 equivalent of 302. The key difference: 307 preserves the HTTP method (a POST request redirected with 307 stays a POST, while 302 typically changes it to GET). Use 307 when temporarily redirecting form submissions or API endpoints where the request method must be preserved. For most website redirects, 301 (permanent) or 302 (temporary) are the right choices.
Should I redirect HTTP to HTTPS?
Yes, always. Redirecting HTTP to HTTPS (with a 301 redirect) is essential for security, user trust, and SEO. Google confirmed HTTPS as a ranking signal in 2014. The redirect should be: http://example.com → https://example.com → and no further hops. Also configure HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) to tell browsers to always use HTTPS without a redirect on repeat visits.
What are redirect chains and why are they bad for SEO?
A redirect chain is a series of redirects: A→B→C→D instead of A→D directly. Chains are problematic for SEO because: PageRank dilutes at each step, each hop adds latency, Googlebot has a crawl budget and may stop following long chains, and users experience slower page loads. After a site migration, always audit for redirect chains and collapse them — redirect old URLs directly to their final destination.
How do I check if a redirect is working correctly?
Our Redirect Checker tool above shows you the full redirect chain, HTTP status code at each step, and the final destination URL. After implementing a redirect, always verify: the correct status code (301 vs 302), that the final URL is correct (no trailing slash issues, correct protocol), that there are no redirect loops, and that the redirect resolves within 2–3 hops maximum. Also test in an incognito browser window to avoid cached redirect results.
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