URL Redirect Checker

Trace the full path of any URL. Discover hidden redirects, 301 vs 302 statuses, and find the true final destination.

We'll trace the exact redirect chain up to 10 hops.

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Why Check Redirect Chains?

Redirects are a normal part of the web, but too many redirects can ruin your SEO, slow down your site, and leak ranking power ("link juice").

301 Moved Permanently

The safest redirect for SEO. It tells Google to transfer all ranking power from the old URL to the new one. Always use this when moving pages.

302 Found (Temporary)

Tells Google to keep the old URL indexed. The new URL will not gain ranking power. Only use this for temporary promotions or maintenance.

Redirect Chains are Bad for SEO

A redirect chain occurs when there is more than one redirect between the initial URL and the destination (e.g., A → B → C → D). Here is why you should fix them:

  • Loss of Link Juice: Every hop in a redirect chain causes a small loss (about 10-15%) in PageRank power.
  • Slower Page Load Times: Each redirect adds an extra HTTP request round-trip, noticeably delaying the page load for the user.
  • Crawl Budget Waste: Search engine bots like Googlebot might give up following the chain if there are too many hops, meaning your final page might not get indexed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I fix a redirect chain?

Update the links on your site to point directly to the final destination URL. Instead of linking A → B → C, link directly from A → C.

What is a Redirect Loop?

A redirect loop happens when URL A redirects to URL B, and URL B redirects back to URL A. This creates an infinite loop, and browsers will show an error (ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS).

Are 301 redirects bad for SEO?

No, a single 301 redirect is standard practice for SEO. The problem only arises when you chain multiple redirects together.

Can you trace affiliate links?

Yes, this tool will reveal the final destination of short links (like bit.ly) or affiliate links, showing you exactly where you will end up before you click.

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