How to Fix Page with Redirect Errors Google Search Console

Introduction To Redirect Errors

Redirect errors in Google Search Console can negatively impact SEO performance, crawl efficiency, and user experience. When Google encounters broken or misconfigured redirects, it may fail to index pages properly, leading to lost rankings and reduced organic traffic.

Why Redirect Errors Matter

Redirects are essential for guiding users and search engines from one URL to another, but when implemented incorrectly, they can cause serious indexing issues. Some common problems include:

• Redirect loops – Pages stuck in an infinite redirect cycle, preventing access. Google’s official documentation explains how search engines handle these loops.
• Broken or expired redirects – Redirects pointing to deleted or unavailable pages can result in 404 or soft 404 errors, which Google warns can hurt your site’s ranking (Google Search Central).
• Too many redirects – Excessive redirect chains slow down crawl efficiency and can trigger Googlebot’s redirect limit (Googlebot crawling guidelines).
• Incorrect 301/302 usage – Using a temporary (302) redirect instead of a permanent (301) redirect can confuse Google about which URL to index. Moz’s redirect guide breaks down when to use each type.

If Google Search Console flags redirect errors, it’s crucial to diagnose and fix them quickly to ensure your website remains accessible and SEO-friendly.

What This Article Will Cover

This guide will walk through:

• How to identify redirect errors in Google Search Console and interpret the reports (Google Search Console Help).
• Common types of redirect issues and their causes, with real-world examples.
• Step-by-step solutions for fixing redirect problems, including proper redirect mapping and server-side fixes.
• Best practices to prevent future redirect errors, ensuring a smooth user experience and SEO performance.
• Advanced troubleshooting tips for persistent issues, including debugging tools like Google’s URL Inspection Tool (Google Search Central).
• Advanced troubleshooting tips for persistent issues, including how to inspect URL using Google’s URL Inspection Tool.

By the end of this article, you’ll know how to resolve redirect errors effectively, ensuring that Google can crawl and index your site properly for improved search visibility.

Quick Answer: How to Fix Page with Redirect Errors in Google Search Console

To fix page redirect errors in Google Search Console, follow these steps:

1. Identify the redirect error in the Coverage report of Google Search Console (Google Search Console Guide).
2. Check your redirect setup to ensure you are using 301 redirects for permanent URL changes (Moz’s Redirect Best Practices).
3. Update internal links and sitemaps to reflect the new, correct URLs and avoid unnecessary redirects (Google’s URL Structure Guide).
4. Test the redirects using tools like Google’s URL Inspection Tool or third-party redirect checkers such as Redirect Checker.
5. Remove redirect chains and loops, which slow down Googlebot and reduce site performance (Googlebot Crawl Efficiency).

Key Fixes for Redirect Errors

Identify errors → Check redirect type (301 vs. 302) → Update internal links & sitemap → Test & verify fixes.

By following these steps, you can ensure your site remains search-engine friendly, improves crawl efficiency, and maintains a seamless user experience.

Understanding Redirect Errors

What Are Redirect Errors?

Redirect errors occur when a URL fails to correctly forward users and search engines to the intended destination. Redirected pages in Google Search Console indicate situations where original URLs are being redirected to alternative ones. Instead of smoothly guiding traffic, these errors create obstacles that prevent Googlebot from crawling and indexing pages correctly. This can lead to SEO issues, lost rankings, and poor user experience.

Redirect errors typically occur in Google Search Console’s Report under the “Page with redirect” status. Some common redirect issues include:

• Redirect chains – When a URL redirects multiple times before reaching the final destination, slowing down page load times and crawl efficiency.
• Redirect loops – When two or more URLs continuously redirect back to each other, preventing the page from loading.
• Broken redirects – When a redirected URL leads to a 404 (Not Found) error instead of the intended page.
• Incorrect redirect types – Using 302 (temporary) redirects instead of 301 (permanent) redirects, causing search engines to treat the redirect as a temporary change rather than indexing the new URL.

Common Redirect Errors in SEO

Common Causes of Redirect Errors

Redirect errors can be caused by server misconfigurations, outdated URL structures, and improper redirect implementations. Below are some of the most frequent causes:

• Misconfigured .htaccess or server settings – Errors in Apache’s .htaccess file, Nginx server rules, or Cloudflare settings can lead to unintended redirects. Google’s redirect guide explains how to set up redirects properly.
• Outdated URLs – Redirects pointing to removed or changed pages can result in broken redirects or unnecessary chains. Regularly updating sitemaps and internal links can prevent this issue (Google’s URL Structure Guide).
• Improper use of 301/302 redirects – A 301 redirect should be used for permanent URL changes, while a 302 redirect is temporary. Using the wrong redirect type can confuse search engines (Moz’s Redirect Best Practices).
• Multiple redirects applied to the same URL – Websites that have undergone multiple redesigns or migrations often accumulate legacy redirects that create redirect chains. Running a site-wide redirect audit using tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs’ Site Audit can help detect and fix these issues.

Identifying Redirect Errors in Google Search Console

Accessing the Page Indexing Report

1. Log in to Google Search Console: Navigate to Google Search Console and sign in with your credentials.
2. Select Your Property: Choose the website property you wish to analyze.
3. Navigate to Page Indexing:
   • In the left-hand menu, click on “Pages” under the “Index” section.
   • This will open the Page Indexing report, which provides insights into how your pages are being indexed by Google.

Filtering and Locating Redirect Errors

1. Review Indexing Status:

• Within the Page Indexing report, you’ll see a summary of pages categorized by their indexing status.
• Look for sections labeled “Not indexed” or “Why pages aren’t indexed”.

2. Identify Redirect Issues:

• In these sections, search for entries labeled “Redirect error” or “Page with redirect”.
• Look for entries labeled “Redirect loop” to identify pages caught in a repeating cycle of redirects.
• These labels indicate that Google encountered issues when attempting to follow redirects on your site.

3. Examine Affected URLs:

• Click on the specific error type (e.g., “Redirect error”) to view a list of affected URLs.
• This list will show which pages are experiencing redirect issues, allowing you to prioritize them for troubleshooting.

By following these steps, you can effectively identify and address redirect errors in Google Search Console, ensuring that your website’s pages are properly indexed and accessible to users.

For additional troubleshooting, run the URLs through a redirect checker tool such as:

• Redirect Checker – Identifies if URLs are properly redirected.
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider – Analyzes site-wide redirect chains and loops.
• Ahrefs Site Audit – Detects broken redirects and improper redirect types.

How to Fix Redirect Errors in Google Search Console

Once you’ve identified redirect errors in Google Search Console, the next step is to fix them properly to ensure search engines and users reach the correct pages. Below is a step-by-step process to resolve common redirect issues.

Step 1: Analyze the Error

Before making changes, it’s important to diagnose the exact issue by using redirect testing tools.

Tools to Identify Redirect Errors

Use the following tools to confirm whether you’re dealing with a redirect chain, loop, or broken redirect:

• Redirect Checker – Identifies redirect paths and response codes.
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider – Detects redirect chains, loops, and broken redirects across an entire website.
• Ahrefs Site Audit – Finds 301/302 errors, broken links, and incorrect redirect usage.

Step 2: Correct the Redirect Setup

Implement Proper 301 Redirects

A 301 redirect signals that a URL has permanently moved, allowing Google to transfer SEO value from the old page to the new one.

• Apache (.htaccess method):
  If your site runs on an Apache server, update the .htaccess file:

  Redirect 301 /old-page-url https://yourdomain.com/new-page-url

• NGINX (server block method):
  If your site uses NGINX, add this to your server configuration:

  rewrite ^/old-page-url$ https://yourdomain.com/new-page-url permanent

• WordPress Redirect Fix:
  If using WordPress, apply redirects via plugins like Redirection or Yoast SEO Premium.

Remove Redirect Chains & Loops

Redirect chains (multiple redirects before reaching the final URL) and loops (where URLs redirect to each other) slow down crawling and waste crawl budget.

How to fix:

• Reduce multiple redirects into a single-step 301 redirect to the final destination.
• Use Screaming Frog or Ahrefs Site Audit to identify redirect chains and remove unnecessary redirects.

Step 3: Update Internal Links & Sitemaps

• Fix Internal Links: Ensure all internal links point directly to the final URL instead of passing through redirects. This improves page load speed and crawl efficiency.
• Update XML Sitemap: Submit an updated XML sitemap to Google Search Console with correct URLs.
• Modify Robots.txt (if needed): Ensure that important redirected URLs are not blocked from being crawled.

Step 4: Verify and Test the Fixes

• Re-crawl the Site: Use Google Search Console’s Request Indexing feature in the URL Inspection Tool to confirm that the fixes have been recognized.
• Test Redirects Again:
  • Re-run URLs through Redirect Checker or Screaming Frog to verify that incorrect redirects no longer exist.
  • Check the Coverage Report after Googlebot re-crawls your site to ensure the “Page with Redirect” errors are resolved.

By following these steps, you can eliminate redirect errors, improve crawl efficiency, and maintain strong SEO performance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a redirect chain, and why is it harmful?

A redirect chain occurs when a URL redirects to another URL, which then redirects to another, creating multiple hops before reaching the final destination.

Why is it harmful?

• Slows down page load times, negatively impacting user experience and SEO rankings.
• Wastes Google’s crawl budget, meaning search engines may not efficiently index all pages.
• Increases the risk of redirect failures, leading to broken or incorrect redirects.

To avoid redirect chains, ensure all redirects go directly from the old URL to the new URL without unnecessary steps. Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs Site Audit to identify and fix them.

Can I use 302 redirects instead of 301?

302 redirects are temporary and should only be used when:

• A page is undergoing short-term maintenance.
• A promotion or seasonal page needs to be redirected temporarily.

For permanent URL changes, use 301 redirects because they:

• Pass SEO value (link equity) to the new URL.
• Help search engines update their index with the new page location.

When in doubt, use a 301 redirect unless you have a specific reason to make it temporary. Check Moz’s Redirect Guide for best practices.

How often should I monitor my site for redirect errors?

Regular monitoring helps catch redirect issues early before they impact search rankings. Recommended schedule:

• Monthly: Run a site audit with Screaming Frog or Ahrefs Site Audit.
• After major website changes: Check redirects immediately after URL updates, migrations, or redesigns.
• Ongoing: Set up Google Search Console alerts to detect and fix new redirect errors as they appear.

How can I ensure my website’s target URL is working correctly?

To ensure your website’s target URL is working correctly, you should first inspect the URL for accuracy and functionality. A helpful method is to use tools that provide HTTP status reports to verify the URL’s health. You might also consider adding the URL to your browser to check that it is redirecting properly to the intended destination without any issues. Regular inspections are crucial to maintaining seamless user experiences and ensuring Google crawls the site effectively.

What should I do if my website’s original page is failing to redirect to the destination URL?

If your original page is failing to redirect to the correct destination URL, begin by inspecting the redirection settings within your website’s backend. Double check the URLs to make sure there are no errors in the address. You may want to enlist further assistance from a technical expert if the problem persists, as resolving such issues is essential for maintaining page functionality and improving domain authority.

Why is it important to have a live URL inspection tool for website maintenance?

Having a live URL inspection tool is vital for website maintenance as it allows you to assess the functionality of target URLs and specific pages in real-time. This functionality helps in ensuring that all links on your site work correctly and are indexed by Google, which is crucial for Search Engine Optimization (SEO). By regularly using such tools, you can proactively manage your site’s URLs, address any redirect issues, and maintain robust website performance.