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What causes the "Redirect error" in Google Search Console and how can it be fixed?

 The "Redirect error" in Google Search Console (GSC) means that Googlebot attempted to follow a redirect but encountered a problem that prevented it from successfully reaching the destination URL. This error can prevent the page from being crawled and indexed correctly. 

What causes the "Redirect error" in Google Search Console and how can it be fixed?

🔍 Common Causes of "Redirect error" in GSC

  1. Redirect Loop

    • Description: A loop occurs when URL A redirects to URL B, and B redirects back to A (or creates an infinite loop).

    • Fix: Break the loop by correcting the redirect path so it terminates at the final intended URL.

  2. Redirect Chain (Too Many Redirects)

    • Description: Multiple redirects in a sequence (e.g., A → B → C → D) can exceed Google's limit or degrade performance.

    • Fix: Minimize redirect chains by updating links to point directly to the final destination URL (e.g., A → D).

  3. Incorrect Redirect Type

    • Description: Temporary (302) redirects instead of permanent (301), or using JavaScript-based or meta-refresh redirects improperly.

    • Fix: Use 301 redirects for permanent moves and avoid meta-refresh or JavaScript-only redirects when possible.

  4. Destination URL Not Reachable

    • Description: The URL Googlebot is redirected to is broken, returns 404/5xx, or is blocked.

    • Fix:

      • Ensure the destination URL returns a 200 OK status.

      • Confirm it is not blocked by robots.txt or marked noindex.

  5. Protocol Mismatch (HTTP ↔ HTTPS)

    • Description: Redirects between different protocols or improper HTTPS configurations can cause errors.

    • Fix:

      • Ensure consistent use of HTTPS.

      • Check SSL certificates and HTTPS redirect settings.

  6. Blocked by Robots.txt

    • Description: Googlebot is redirected to a URL that's disallowed in the robots.txt file.

    • Fix: Allow access to the redirected URL in robots.txt.

  7. Redirect to Unwanted or Irrelevant URL

    • Description: Redirects to unrelated or irrelevant pages (e.g., homepage instead of specific content) may be flagged.

    • Fix: Redirect each page to its most relevant counterpart to preserve SEO value and user intent.

🛠️ How to Fix Redirect Errors

1. Use the "URL Inspection Tool" in GSC

  • Inspect the affected URL to see how Google sees it.

  • Click "Test Live URL" to observe the current behavior and final destination.

2. Check with Redirect Testing Tools

3. Fix Redirect Configuration

  • If using .htaccess, Nginx, or a CMS plugin (like Redirection in WordPress), correct any misconfigurations.

  • Ensure redirects are:

    • Not chained or looping.

    • Point to live, indexable URLs.

    • Use 301 (permanent) status codes where appropriate.

4. Update Internal and Sitemap Links

  • Replace old links pointing to redirecting URLs with the final destination URLs.

  • Submit an updated sitemap in GSC.

5. Resubmit the URL

  • Once fixed, go to the URL Inspection Tool in GSC and click “Request Indexing” to notify Google of the update.

✅ Best Practices to Prevent Redirect Errors

  • Always redirect to the final destination with a 301 status.

  • Avoid more than 1–2 hops in redirect chains.

  • Regularly audit redirects using crawling tools.

  • Keep your robots.txt and meta directives aligned with your redirection strategy.

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