Where these come from
Redirect errors often appear after a redesign or platform move, when new redirect rules stack on top of old ones, or when http, https, www and trailing-slash rules disagree.
Redirect error in Search Console
Google could not finish following the redirect for this URL. The usual causes are a redirect loop, a chain that is too long, or a redirect to an empty or malformed address.
Permanent or temporary
Use a permanent (301) redirect when a page has moved for good. Google treats it as a strong signal that the target should be shown in results.
Diagnose it
Symptoms, checks and fixes
Common symptoms
- URLs appear under "Redirect error" in the Page indexing report.
- A browser shows "too many redirects" for the page.
- Old URLs from a previous site version bounce through several addresses.
Checks to run
| Check | How to tell | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a loop? | Follow the redirect hop by hop with a redirect checker or Lighthouse and see whether an address repeats. | Remove the rule that sends the URL back to an earlier address.[1] |
| Is the chain too long? | Count the hops. Google follows up to 10 redirect hops by default. | Point every old URL straight at its final address in one hop.[2][3] |
| Is the target valid? | Check the final address loads with a 200 status and is not empty or over-long. | Correct the redirect target, or return 404 if the page is gone with no replacement.[1] |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How we work together
Two ways to get started
Website Subscription
Your website, fully managed — no big upfront cost.
We design, build, host, maintain and keep improving your site for one simple monthly fee.
- Custom-designed & built for your brand
- Hosting, security & maintenance included
- Ongoing edits & content updates
- Continuous SEO & performance improvements
- Scale up or down as you grow
Fixed Project
A one-off custom build you own outright.
A defined scope and a single fixed quote — delivered once, and yours to keep.
- Bespoke design & development
- Defined scope & timeline
- You own the website & code
- Optional care plan after launch
- Custom-quoted to your needs
Sources
- [1] Page indexing report (Search Console Help). Checked 9 October 2026.
- [2] Google crawling docs: How HTTP status codes affect Google's crawlers. Checked 10 October 2026.
- [3] Google Search Central: Redirects and Google Search. Checked 10 October 2026.
Ready to get started?
Get a free, no-obligation quote for your project. We respond within 24 hours.