5 Steps to Add 301 Redirects to WordPress via htaccess (Full Practical Guide)

If you’ve ever changed the URL of a page or post on your WordPress website, you already know that things can go wrong fast. One small adjustment to a permalink can instantly break every link that pointed to the old page — from Google search results to blog mentions and social media posts. Instead of reaching the content they expected, users land on a 404 page, and search engines quietly start removing that URL from their index.

For a growing website, this is more than just an inconvenience. Lost traffic, broken SEO value, and a disrupted user experience can snowball quickly. That’s why setting up a proper 301 redirect WordPress rule isn’t just a technical detail — it’s essential site hygiene.

A 301 redirect tells browsers and search engines that a page has permanently moved to a new location. When configured correctly, it ensures that every visitor is sent to the right URL and that Google transfers ranking signals to the new page instead of resetting your SEO efforts back to zero.

At Codico, we frequently help clients untangle messy redirects, restore lost traffic, and create clean, scalable structures that prevent issues from resurfacing. If you ever need professional assistance, you can always rely on WordPress support from Codico to keep your site running smoothly. But even if you manage your site yourself, learning how to set up redirects properly is one of the simplest ways to protect the long-term performance of your WordPress website.

In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know — what 301 redirects are, when to use them, and how to add them via .htaccess or a plugin. Let’s get started.

What Is a 301 Redirect?

A 301 redirect is one of the simplest yet most important tools for keeping your WordPress site healthy. In plain language, it’s a permanent instruction that tells browsers, search engines, and users: “This page has moved — here is the new address.”

Unlike temporary redirects such as 302, a 301 redirect passes nearly all SEO value from the old URL to the new one. This matters because Google relies heavily on URL history, internal linking, and external backlinks when determining how a page should rank. If you change a URL without a redirect, Google treats the new link as a completely different page — and the original page loses its accumulated trust, backlinks, and ranking signals.

With a permanent .htaccess 301 redirect, you’re essentially preserving that equity while ensuring visitors never hit a dead end. Everything continues to work as expected: old links keep sending traffic, bookmarks still open the correct page, and Google updates its index to reflect the new URL.

For WordPress users, this becomes especially important because updating permalinks, merging posts, or organizing content structure is a common part of website growth. A reliable redirect strategy makes sure your improvements strengthen your website instead of accidentally damaging it.

Read also: How to Improve Time to First Byte (TTFB) for Your WordPress Site

When You Should Use a 301 Redirect

While a redirect may seem like something you only need once in a while, it actually plays a major role in ongoing WordPress maintenance. Any time you adjust your site structure, optimize content, or refine your SEO strategy, you’re likely to encounter situations where a WordPress permalink redirect is essential.

1. When you change the URL of a page or post

Maybe you updated the title, improved your URL structure, or removed unnecessary words. When the original link disappears, any internal or external references pointing to it will break. A quick redirect ensures visitors and search engines automatically reach the updated location.

2. When you merge several articles into a stronger, more complete resource

Consolidating content is a powerful SEO tactic. But if you simply delete the old posts, you lose their ranking signals. By applying a 301 redirect, you can redirect old URL to new URL while preserving traffic and authority from each of the original pieces.

3. When you restructure your categories or permalinks

If your permalink settings change — for example, removing “/category/” or switching from date-based URLs to clean slugs — every old link becomes outdated. This is a perfect moment to use WordPress SEO redirects to avoid a flood of 404s.

4. When you move your site to a new domain

Whether you’re rebranding or upgrading to a better domain name, a redirect ensures that everything from product pages to blog posts carries over smoothly. With the right .htaccess 301 redirect, your old URLs continue to work, and Google will eventually treat the new domain as the primary one.

5. When cleaning outdated or low-performing content

Sometimes you want to remove pages altogether — but doing so without redirecting can harm UX and SEO. Pointing an outdated URL to a more relevant resource is both user-friendly and search-engine-friendly.

How to Add 301 Redirects to WordPress via htaccess (Step-by-Step Guide)

One of the most reliable ways to create a permanent redirect in WordPress is by adding it directly to your .htaccess file. This method works at the server level, which means the redirect is fast, stable, and doesn’t depend on plugins. If you prefer hands-on control, or if your site already handles many redirects, a direct WordPress htaccess redirect is often the cleanest solution.

Before making changes, remember: the .htaccess file controls how your server behaves. Even a small error can break your site temporarily. That’s why following each step carefully is essential.

1 Accessing Your .htaccess File via FTP

To begin, you need access to your hosting environment. The easiest way is through an FTP client such as FileZilla or Cyberduck. After connecting, navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation — it’s the folder that contains wp-admin, wp-content, and files like wp-config.php.

Your .htaccess file typically sits right there.

If you don’t see it, your FTP program may be hiding dotfiles. Enable “Show Hidden Files,” and it should appear. Once found, download the file to your computer so you can edit it locally.

This step is the foundation of learning how to add 301 redirect WordPress rules manually and safely.

2 Always Back Up Your .htaccess File Before Editing

Before touching anything, create a backup.

Copy the file, rename it (for example, .htaccess-backup), and store it somewhere safe. This allows you to restore your site in seconds if something goes wrong — an essential precaution, especially when applying a redirect via htaccess for the first time.

If after making changes your site shows a 500 error, simply upload the original file and overwrite the edited version. The site should immediately return to normal.

3 Adding a Single 301 Redirect in .htaccess

To redirect one page to another, scroll to the bottom of the file and add a new line with the following structure:

Redirect 301 /old-url https://yourdomain.com/new-url

A few important notes:

• /old-url is the part after your domain (the relative path).
• The second part must be the full new URL.
• Each redirect goes on its own line for clarity.

For example, if you want to redirect old URL to new URL from:

https://example.com/blog-old-post
to
https://example.com/blog-updated-tutorial

your rule would look like this:

Redirect 301 /blog-old-post https://example.com/blog-updated-tutorial

This is the simplest and most widely used form of .htaccess 301 redirect.

4 Redirecting an Entire Domain via .htaccess

If you’ve moved your website to a new domain but want to keep the entire URL structure intact, use the following block:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^olddomain.com [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.olddomain.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://newdomain.com/$1 [L,R=301,NC]

Here’s what it does:

• Every request to the old domain is caught.
• The $1 wildcard keeps every URL path the same.
• Visitors and search engines are seamlessly forwarded to the new domain.

This type of WordPress permalink redirect is essential during migrations and rebranding.

5 Using Wildcards for Advanced Redirects

Sometimes you need to redirect an entire group of URLs instead of defining them one by one. Wildcards (also called regex or pattern-based redirects) make this easy.

Example:

RedirectMatch 301 ^/category/(.*)$ https://example.com/$1

This rule does the following:

• It catches every URL in the /category/ directory.
• It sends each page to a new location while preserving whatever comes after the slash.
• It’s ideal when reorganizing categories or removing sections from your site.

Wildcard redirects are powerful but easy to misuse. Test them carefully, as incorrect patterns can unintentionally redirect far more URLs than intended. When implemented correctly, they become a valuable part of effective WordPress SEO redirects.

Read also: A Simple, Clear Guide to Editing the functions.php File in WordPress

Adding 301 Redirects in WordPress Using a Plugin (Alternative Method)

Not everyone feels comfortable editing server files, and that’s perfectly fine. WordPress offers a simpler, plugin-based method that doesn’t require FTP access or technical knowledge. If your site has many redirects, or you want an easy way to manage them from the dashboard, using a plugin is often the best approach.

One of the most user-friendly tools for this is Simple 301 Redirects. It makes it effortless to create, edit, and control redirect rules without touching .htaccess at all.

1. Simple 301 Redirects Plugin Overview

Simple 301 Redirects does exactly what its name suggests: it lets you create permanent redirects quickly and safely. Because the plugin is lightweight, it won’t slow down your site or conflict with most themes and other extensions.

For beginners, this is an excellent alternative to manual redirect via htaccess rules. For experienced users, it’s a convenient way to manage dozens—or even hundreds—of redirects without risking errors in the server configuration.

To get started:

1. Go to Plugins → Add New.
2. Search for Simple 301 Redirects.
3. Install and activate the plugin.

You’ll find the settings panel under Settings → 301 Redirects.

2. Adding Basic Redirects in the Plugin Panel

Once inside the plugin interface, creating a new redirect is straightforward.

You’ll see two fields:

• Request: where you enter the old URL (only the part after your domain).
• Destination: where you enter the full new URL.

For example, if you’re consolidating content or updating a post’s slug, simply add the original path on the left and the updated link on the right. This works just like a manual .htaccess 301 redirect, but without touching the server.

This method is ideal when you want a clean, visual way to manage your redirect list, especially if you’ve been restructuring your site or updating multiple pages.

3. Using Wildcards for More Advanced Redirects

Simple 301 Redirects also supports wildcard redirects, which are incredibly helpful when reorganizing categories or replacing entire URL sections.

To enable this functionality, check the Use Wildcards? option.

Example:

/category/*  →  https://example.com/new-section/

This tells WordPress to treat the asterisk as a placeholder for anything that follows /category/. It’s an easy way to bulk-redirect large content groups without manually creating dozens of individual rules.

While wildcard redirects are powerful, use them carefully. A single misplaced slash or a too-broad pattern can cause unexpected redirect loops or unintended matches. Always test your redirects after publishing them — especially when they’re part of your broader WordPress SEO redirects strategy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Setting Up Redirects

Even though creating a redirect seems simple, small mistakes can lead to broken pages, SEO issues, or even full website downtime. Understanding these pitfalls will help you avoid unnecessary troubleshooting and keep your redirects clean and reliable.

Here are the most common problems to watch out for when working with 301 redirect WordPress rules:

1. Creating Redirect Loops (infinite redirects)

A redirect loop happens when URL A redirects to URL B, but B also redirects back to A. The browser becomes stuck in an endless cycle, and visitors see an error instead of your content.

This often occurs after site restructuring, wildcard misconfigurations, or incorrect .htaccess 301 redirect rules. Always test your redirects immediately after adding them to ensure they don’t create circular paths.

2. Using Incorrect Relative Paths

When adding redirects via .htaccess, the old URL should never include your full domain. Writing /old-url is correct — writing https://example.com/old-url will break the rule.

Misunderstanding the path formatting is a common cause of redirects not working as expected when performing a WordPress htaccess redirect.

3. Forgetting About Trailing Slashes

/page and /page/ can be treated as different URLs depending on your server configuration. If your redirect doesn’t work, double-check the exact format of the original URL.

Inconsistent trailing slashes can also cause duplicate redirects or mismatched patterns when trying to redirect old URL to new URL.

4. Accidentally Using 302 Instead of 301

A 302 redirect is temporary. It tells search engines not to transfer SEO value to the new page. If you use it by mistake, Google may continue indexing the old URL or split ranking signals between both pages.

For permanent page moves, site migrations, or permalink changes, you need a 301 redirect WordPress rule — not a 302.

5. Overusing Redirects

Redirects are helpful, but they shouldn’t become a crutch. Too many layers of redirects — especially chained redirects (A → B → C → D) — slow down your site and weaken SEO clarity.

If you find yourself stacking redirects, update internal links instead and simplify your overall URL structure. Plugins that manage WordPress SEO redirects usually let you export or reorganize rules easily.

6. Editing .htaccess Without a Backup

This is the fastest way to break your site.

One missing character can trigger a 500 server error, making your entire WordPress installation inaccessible. Always back up the file before adding a redirect via htaccess, especially if you’re not familiar with Apache rules.

Best Practices for Managing Redirects on a WordPress Site

Setting up redirects correctly is only half of the job. Maintaining a clean, efficient, and scalable redirect structure ensures your site stays fast, user-friendly, and SEO-healthy over time. Whether you’re working with a handful of redirects or hundreds, these practices will help you avoid clutter, prevent performance issues, and keep your WordPress installation organized.

1. Keep a Centralized List of All Redirects

When redirects accumulate across plugins, theme files, and .htaccess, it becomes difficult to track what’s happening behind the scenes. Creating a simple spreadsheet — URL before → URL after — helps prevent duplicates or conflicting rules.

This is especially helpful if you’re managing complex structures involving both manual WordPress htaccess redirect rules and plugin-based redirects.

2. Regularly Check Redirects in Google Search Console

Google Search Console lets you see:

• which redirects are working,
• which ones return errors,
• and whether Google has started indexing the new URLs correctly.

Monitoring this data is one of the easiest ways to make sure your WordPress SEO redirects strategy is performing as intended.

3. Update Internal Links After Adding Redirects

Redirects ensure that old links still function, but they shouldn’t become a long-term substitute for proper internal linking.

For example:

• blog posts,
• navigation menus,
• footer links,
• and sidebar widgets

should all be updated to point directly to the new URLs. This reduces server load and eliminates unnecessary redirect chains.

4. Avoid Long Redirect Chains

A redirect chain occurs when URL A redirects to B, and B redirects to C. Each extra step slows down the user and may dilute SEO value. Whenever possible:

• remove unnecessary layers,
• point each old URL directly to the final destination.

Maintaining a clean structure also makes future 301 redirect WordPress rules easier to manage.

5. Check for Conflicts Between Plugins and .htaccess Rules

It’s possible for a plugin-based redirect to conflict with a manual redirect via htaccess. In such cases, the server-level rule always wins, but duplicated logic can cause confusion or unintended results.

Every few months, review your redirects to confirm they’re not overlapping or contradicting each other.

6. Lean on Experts When Your Redirect Structure Becomes Complex

If your site grows quickly, undergoes a major redesign, or migrates between domains, redirect logic can become tricky. That’s where a specialized team — like Codico — can step in to ensure everything stays organized and SEO-optimized. For long-term consistency and prevention of redirect issues, you can rely on Codico website maintenance to keep your WordPress environment stable and well-structured.

Redirects may look simple, but managing them at scale requires experience and careful planning..

Read also: Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a New Website on WordPress

Conclusion: Keep Your SEO Safe With Proper 301 Redirects

Changing URLs is a normal part of improving and evolving your WordPress website. Whether you’re refining permalink structure, merging articles, updating slugs, or moving to a new domain, redirects ensure your users and search engines always land in the right place. Without them, even small adjustments can lead to traffic loss, broken links, and SEO setbacks that take months to recover from.

By using clear, reliable rules — either through .htaccess 301 redirect entries or plugin-based tools — you maintain full control over how visitors navigate your site. And once you understand the logic behind a 301 redirect WordPress setup, keeping your structure clean becomes a straightforward routine rather than a risky technical task.

If you follow the steps in this guide, monitor your redirects regularly, and avoid common mistakes, you’ll create a smoother, faster, and more search-friendly WordPress experience for your audience.

And if you ever need expert assistance — whether it’s setting up advanced WordPress SEO redirects, cleaning up old structures, or optimizing your entire website — the team at Codico is always ready to help. For more robust site improvements and technical expertise, explore Web development by Codico to ensure your WordPress foundation stays clean, optimized, and scalable.

A clean redirect structure isn’t just a technical detail — it’s the backbone of a healthy WordPress site. Keep it organized, keep it intentional, and your SEO will stay strong for years to come.