301 Redirect

A 301 redirect is an HTTP status code that tells browsers and search engines a URL has moved **permanently** to a new address.

Beginner5 min readUpdated 2026-07-26Reviewed by Lucía Marín

Key takeaways

A 301 redirect is permanent and passes most SEO value to the new URL.
Use it for deleted, renamed, or moved pages to avoid 404s.
Always redirect to the most relevant page, not just the homepage.
Avoid redirect chains and loops; test after implementation.
Update internal links to point directly to the new URLs.

For SEO, a 301 redirect is the standard way to preserve users, crawling, and most link signals when a page or domain changes location.

Example

You move your blog from `example.com/blog/old-post` to `example.com/new-post`. A 301 redirect automatically sends visitors and search engines from the old URL to the new one, preserving traffic and rankings.

When Should I Use This?

Page deleted or renamed: Redirect to the closest relevant page.
Site migration: Moving to a new domain or URL structure.
Merging content: Combining two pages into one.
Fixing broken links: Redirect old URLs to live pages instead of showing 404s.
Consolidating canonical URLs: Ensure only one version of a page is indexed.

What It Is Not

Not a temporary redirect: Use 302 for short-term moves.
Not a fix for duplicate content: Use canonical tags instead.
Not a way to hide content: Search engines still follow and index the destination.
Not a penalty: Proper 301s do not harm SEO.

Quick Start

Identify old URLs that need redirecting.
Map each old URL to the most relevant new URL.
Implement the redirect via server config (`.htaccess`), CMS plugin, or hosting panel.
Test using a browser or tool like Redirect Checker.
Update internal links to point directly to the new URLs.

Common Mistakes

Using a 301 for a temporary change instead of a 302.
Redirecting many old URLs to the homepage instead of the closest matching page.
Creating redirect chains or loops.
Leaving internal links pointed at old URLs after the redirect is live.

Next step

Redirect ChainLearn how to avoid redirect chains and loops that can harm SEO.

FAQ

Does a 301 redirect lose SEO value?

No. Google has stated that 301 redirects pass most link equity and ranking signals to the destination URL, though a small amount may be lost in very long chains.

What is the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?

A 301 indicates a permanent move and passes SEO value; a 302 indicates a temporary move and does not transfer ranking signals.

How do I implement a 301 redirect in WordPress?

Use a plugin like Redirection or Yoast SEO, or add code to your .htaccess file. Many hosting control panels also offer redirect tools.

Sources

Google Search Central — Primary Google guidance on when to use 301 redirects and how search systems treat them.
Google Search Central: Migrations — Best-practice source for site moves, URL changes, and redirect mapping.
MDN Web Docs — Authoritative technical definition of the 301 HTTP status code.
Bing Webmaster Guidelines — Useful secondary search engine guidance on redirects and site changes.

Reviewed by Lucía Marín, Founding editor.