> What 'Redirect error' means in Google Search Console: chains that are too long, loops and broken destinations, how to trace each, and how to fix them. - Canonical: https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/redirect-error-search-console/ --- # Redirect error in Search Console: what it means and how to fix it 'Redirect error' means Google followed a redirect from the address and could not reach a page at the end of it. Google names four ways that happens: the chain of redirects was too long, the redirects looped, the destination address grew too long, or an address in the chain was empty or broken. It differs from 'Page with redirect', which is a redirect that works. Updated 6 October 2026 ## What the status means Google’s Page indexing report lists the faults it counts as a redirect error: a redirect chain that was too long, a redirect loop, a redirect URL that eventually exceeded the maximum URL length, and a bad or empty URL in the redirect chain. In each case no page was reached, so nothing was indexed. ## Trace the chain Open the address in a browser with the developer tools’ network panel showing, or paste it into any redirect checker. Note each hop: the address requested, the address it forwarded to, and so on until it stops or repeats. The pattern identifies the fault. ## A chain that is too long Chains build up over years. An address forwards to its replacement, which was later replaced itself, and so on. Rewrite the rules so that every old address forwards directly to the current one, in a single step. ## A loop A loop is two rules disagreeing. One part of the setup forwards to the address with `www`, and another forwards to the address without it. Or the site forces `https` while a service in front of it sends `http`. Decide on one form of the address, and remove whichever rule sends traffic the other way. ## A broken destination A redirect can point at an address that is empty, mistyped or malformed, often after a spreadsheet of redirects was imported with an error in it. Check the destination of the rule and correct it. ## An address that grows Some rules add to the address each time they run, appending the same text again and again until it is too long to use. The cause is a rule that matches its own output. Narrow it so that it applies once. ## After the fix Test the address again, then use Validate fix in Search Console. Redirects that work are a separate, normal status, covered in [page with redirect](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/page-with-redirect-search-console/). Rebuilds are when most of these faults are introduced, and [redesigning a website without losing rankings](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/redesign-a-website-without-losing-rankings/) covers how to plan the redirects. ## Questions people ask ### What is the difference between 'Redirect error' and 'Page with redirect'? 'Page with redirect' is a redirect that works: the address forwards to a page, and Google indexes the destination. 'Redirect error' is one that fails, so Google reaches no page at all. ### What causes a redirect loop? Two rules that undo each other: one forwards the address to a second form, and another forwards the second form back. Rules for www, for https and for the final slash, set in different places, are the usual pair. ### How many redirects are too many? One is the aim. Each extra hop slows the visitor and risks the chain being abandoned. Forward every old address straight to its final destination. ## Free competitor gap report Broken redirects waste the standing old addresses have earned. Name up to three competitors and we test your addresses and theirs for chains, loops and dead ends, then send you where yours fail. 1. Speed and technical health, side by side 2. On-page SEO and site structure 3. The content they are found for and you are not 4. Who holds the searches that matter in your market 5. A prioritised list of what to fix first [Request your free report by email](mailto:contact@hadalmedusa.com?subject=Competitor%20gap%20report%3A%20Guide%3A%20Redirect%20error%20in%20Search%20Console%3A%20what%20it%20means%20and%20how%20to%20fix%20it&body=Website%3A%0D%0A%0D%0AWhere%20you%20compete%20(area%2C%20country%20or%20countries)%3A%0D%0A%0D%0ACompetitors%20to%20compare%20against%20(up%20to%20three)%3A%0D%0A%0D%0AAnything%20else%20we%20should%20know%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A) - **Address** — contact@hadalmedusa.com - **Include** — your site; up to three competitors; where you compete ## More in this series - [Why your website is not showing up on Google](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/website-not-showing-on-google/) - [Why your Wix site is not showing up on Google](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/wix-site-not-showing-on-google/) - [Crawled, currently not indexed: what it means and how to fix it](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/crawled-currently-not-indexed/) - [Discovered, currently not indexed: what it means and how to fix it](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/discovered-currently-not-indexed/) - [Page with redirect: what it means in Search Console](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/page-with-redirect-search-console/) - [Why your Squarespace site is not showing up on Google](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/squarespace-site-not-showing-on-google/) - [Why your Shopify store is not showing up on Google](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/shopify-store-not-showing-on-google/) - [Why your Google Business Profile is not showing up](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/google-business-profile-not-showing-up/) - [Why your Shopify store is not getting traffic or sales](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/shopify-store-not-getting-traffic/) - [Why your WordPress site is not showing up on Google](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/wordpress-site-not-showing-on-google/) - [Alternate page with proper canonical tag: what it means](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/alternate-page-with-proper-canonical-tag/) - [Duplicate without user-selected canonical: what it means and how to fix it](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/duplicate-without-user-selected-canonical/) - [Duplicate, Google chose different canonical than user: what to do](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/duplicate-google-chose-different-canonical/) - [Excluded by noindex tag: what it means and how to fix it](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/excluded-by-noindex-tag/) - [Blocked by robots.txt: what it means and how to fix it](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/blocked-by-robots-txt/) - [Soft 404 and Not found (404): what they mean and how to fix them](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/soft-404/) - [Server error (5xx): what it means and how to fix it](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/server-error-5xx-search-console/) - [Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt: what it means and what to do](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/indexed-though-blocked-by-robots-txt/) - [Blocked due to access forbidden (403): what it means and how to fix it](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/blocked-due-to-access-forbidden-403/) - [How to make your website show up on Google](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/how-to-make-your-website-show-up-on-google/) - [When a site is not showing on Google: the whole topic](https://hadalmedusa.com/topics/not-on-google/) - [All guides](https://hadalmedusa.com/guides/) - [Redesigns and rebuilds: what the service includes](https://hadalmedusa.com/services/website-redesign/)