How to use the redirect checker
- Enter the full URL you want to trace, including https://.
- Press Check. The tool follows the request from the first URL to wherever it finally lands.
- Read each hop in the chain: the "from" URL, the status code, and the "to" URL it points at.
- Check the final URL and final status to confirm where the chain ends.
Types of redirects
Not all redirects are equal. A 301 is a permanent redirect that tells search engines to transfer ranking to the new URL and update their index. A 302 is a temporary redirect that says "this moved for now", so the original URL keeps its value. Related codes 307 and 308 are their HTTP/1.1 equivalents with stricter method handling. Knowing which type a site uses matters, because a permanent redirect that should be temporary — or the reverse — can quietly harm a site's search presence.
Why redirect chains hurt
A single redirect is usually harmless. A chain of two, three or more redirects is a different story. Every hop adds a round trip, so visitors wait longer, and each extra step dilutes the ranking signal passed to search engines. Long chains also risk a redirect loop, where two pages point at each other and the browser gives up with an error. Mapping the chain here shows you exactly how many hops a visitor takes and where any wasted steps occur.
How to fix a bad redirect chain
Once you can see the chain, the fix is usually simple: update each intermediate hop to point straight at the final destination instead of another redirecting URL. Replace 302s that should be permanent with 301s, and update internal links so they target the final URL directly. Fewer hops mean faster pages, cleaner analytics and a clearer signal to search engines. Run the URL through this tool again after making changes to confirm the chain is short and direct.