URL Redirect Checker: Trace Redirect Chains & Status Codes
Check where a URL redirects and see every step in the chain. Our free tool reveals 301, 302, and other redirects, helping you fix broken links and optimize SEO. Enter a URL to trace its path.
URL Redirect Checker
Follow a URL through its entire redirect chain displaying each step
HTTP Redirect Status Codes
How It Works
This tool traces URL redirect chains, showing you every step between the original URL and the final destination - essential for SEO, debugging, and security analysis.
The redirect tracing process:
- Initial request: The tool makes an HTTP request to the starting URL.
- Response analysis: HTTP status codes (301, 302, 307, 308) indicate redirects.
- Chain following: Each redirect location is followed until a final destination (200 OK) is reached.
- Path visualization: The complete redirect chain is displayed with status codes and timing.
Redirect chains impact page load speed and SEO. Each redirect adds latency and may dilute link equity. This tool helps identify and eliminate unnecessary redirects.
When You'd Actually Use This
SEO Audits
Identify redirect chains that waste crawl budget and dilute PageRank flow.
Site Migrations
Verify that old URLs properly redirect to new locations after restructuring.
Link Building
Check if backlinks point to URLs that redirect, potentially losing link value.
Performance Optimization
Find and eliminate redirect chains that slow down page load times.
Security Analysis
Detect suspicious redirect chains that might indicate compromised sites or malicious redirects.
Affiliate Link Verification
Trace affiliate links to ensure they reach the intended destination correctly.
What to Know Before Using
Redirect types matter for SEO
301 (permanent) passes link equity. 302 (temporary) may not. 307/308 preserve the HTTP method. Understand which type you're dealing with.
Some redirects are JavaScript-based
This tool traces HTTP redirects. JavaScript redirects (location.href, meta refresh) won't be detected - they require browser execution.
Redirect loops can occur
Misconfigured redirects can create infinite loops (A→B→A). The tool detects and reports these problematic configurations.
CDN and proxy redirects are common
Services like Cloudflare add redirects for www/non-www or HTTP/HTTPS. These are normal but add to chain length.
Mobile redirects may differ
Some sites redirect mobile users to different URLs (m.example.com). Desktop redirect checks may not reveal mobile-specific chains.
Common Questions
How many redirects is too many?
Google recommends no more than 5 redirects. Each redirect adds latency and may lose some link equity. Aim for 0-1 redirects maximum for important pages.
What's the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?
301 means permanent move - search engines transfer ranking signals. 302 means temporary - original URL retains ranking. Use 301 for permanent changes.
Do redirect chains hurt SEO?
Yes. Each hop in a chain can lose some PageRank. Long chains also waste crawl budget and slow page loads. Fix chains by redirecting directly to the final destination.
Why does my site redirect http to https to www?
That's two redirects for proper canonicalization. You can reduce to one by configuring your server to redirect http directly to https://www in a single step.
Can redirects cause security issues?
Yes. Open redirects (redirecting to any URL based on user input) are security vulnerabilities. Validate redirect destinations against allowlists.
How do I fix a redirect chain?
Update the first redirect to point directly to the final destination. For example, if A→B→C, change A's redirect to go directly to C.
Do internal links with redirects waste crawl budget?
Yes. Update internal links to point directly to the final URL. This improves crawl efficiency and user experience.
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