# How to set up WordPress redirects Websites are hardly static, but tend to change for different reasons. For your **content to always remain accessible**, or visitors not ending up on an empty page and search engines not ignoring you by mistake, a [domain redirect](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/domains/domain-administration/the-basics-of-domain-redirects/ "The basics of domain redirects") in WordPress is vital. Find out how to redirect a page in WordPress, which options are available, and why redirects are important. ## Why are WordPress redirects important? The simplest way to explain just how important a redirect in [WordPress](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/hosting/cms/wordpress-examining-the-well-known-cms/ "WordPress: The CMS for more than just blogs") can be is to show what would happen without it. If a page or post is no longer online and a user clicks on the corresponding URL or a link, they will land on an **error page**. This leaves the impression that a website owner is unprofessional and results in higher bounce rates. Pages that cannot be found also have a negative effect on search engine ranking. --- ### Tip Your dream domain awaits! [Register your desired domain](https://www.ionos.ca/domains/domain-names "Register your domain with IONOS") quick and easy with IONOS. Wildcard SSL, domain lock, and 2GB email are included. --- ## WordPress 301 redirect The solution is a 301 redirect for your WordPress site. If a redirect is set up for a page that has either been deleted or moved, the server sends the browser the [HTTP status code](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/hosting/technical-matters/the-most-important-http-status-codes-at-a-glance/ "The most important HTTP status codes at a glance") 301, which causes a new, previously specified page to be displayed. This new page is either the relevant post under a new URL, a similar article, an article overview, or the homepage of your website. The redirects help users find the desired page or stay on your website. ## When do you need a redirect in WordPress? There are several scenarios when a redirect becomes necessary in WordPress. On the one hand, it’s useful when pages are outdated, redundant and thus are deleted. A user who searches for a URL, should not land on an error page. Where content is current, but the respective post has been **moved to a new URL**, a WordPress redirect becomes all the more important. This commonly occurs after you restructure your website or [change the WordPress domain](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/wordpress-domain-change-and-domain-transfer/ "WordPress: domain change and domain transfer"). In that case, redirection helps users find the post they are looking for. But even when a page has neither been deleted nor migrated, sometimes a WordPress redirect is necessary. Namely, if you purchase a [SSL certificate](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/ssl-certificate/ "SSL certificate") and switch your [**website from HTTP to HTTPS**](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/how-do-i-convert-my-site-to-ssl-and-https/ "How do I convert my site to SSL and HTTPS?") the old URL will no longer be accessible. In order for the content to remain accessible, a redirect to the new WordPress site must occur. The conversion to HTTPS in WordPress is recommended for all website owners, because the certificate boosts security for visitors and can have a positive effect on your search engine ranking. --- ### Tip More security for your website: a [SSL certificate from IONOS](https://www.ionos.ca/security/ssl-certificate "SSL certificates from IONOS") provides optimal protection and improves your Google ranking. Conveniently choose the one that suits you best! --- ## How to manually set up a redirect in WordPress You have several options to create a WordPress redirect. The most direct option is via the *.htaccess* file. In principle, this method is not difficult, but you should **create a backup first**. Since you’re about to modify your website code, any error could result in limited access to your site. Once you have created a backup, the next steps are as follows: 1. First log in to your web server via **FTP**. 2. Open the ***.htaccess* file in the root directory** of the WordPress installation. If you cannot find the file, select the “show hidden files” option. 3. If you want to redirect the entire domain, e.g. because you’ve swapped to a new URL, enter the following code in the *.htaccess* file. This will automatically **redirect all subpages** to the new domain. ```none RewriteEngine On RewriteBase / RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www\.)?old-website\.com$ [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.new-website.com/$1 [R=301,L] ``` A 301 redirect for a **specific WordPress article** works in a similar manner. The code is as follows: ```none redirect /old-content https://new-website.com/new-content ``` ## Setting up a WordPress redirect with a plugin However, if you have no experience with page code or prefer not to take any risks, you can use a **plugin for a WordPress redirect**. The simple user interface not only ensures that you can create the redirect to the new WordPress site in just a few clicks, but also helps to prevent errors. Two popular and recommended plugins are **Redirection** and **Simple 301 Redirects**. Below we explain how they work, step by step. ### Redirection [![Image: Screenshot of the Redirection plugin](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/3/csm_plugins-redirection_13c9f6fcb9.webp "Screenshot of the Redirection plugin")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/plugins-redirection.png) Create a redirect in just a few clicks using Redirection. 1. First **install** the WordPress plugin for redirecting and **activate** it. 2. You can find the plugin in the dashboard under “**Tools**” and “Redirection”. 3. To redirect to a new WordPress site, enter the old site under “**Source URL**” and then enter the new site in “**Target URL**”. 4. Now click “**Add redirection**”. If a user heads to the old URL, they will automatically be redirected to the new page, an article overview, or your homepage, depending on which redirection you have set up. ### Simple 301 Redirects [![Image: Screenshot of Simple 301 Redirects plugin](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/5/7/csm_plugins-simple-301-redirects_2044935f44.webp "Screenshot of Simple 301 Redirects plugin")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/plugins-simple-301-redirects.png) Enter your old URL in “Request” and the new destination URL in “Destination”. 1. Once again, first **install** and **activate** the Simple 301 Redirects WordPress plugin. 2. You can find the plugin in “**Settings**” and “301 Redirects”. 3. The plugin provides two input options. Under “**Request**” you enter the old URL, under “**Destination**” the new one. Importantly, enter the relative URL without the domain in “Request”. So instead of *https://old-website.com/old-content* simply enter */old-content.* 4. If you have set up a redirect, an additional line will automatically appear so that you can create **as many redirects** to new WordPress pages as you want. ## Conclusion: WordPress redirects are a must have To maintain a professional web appearance, there’s **no way of avoiding** a WordPress redirect. After all, you want your old content to be accessible when swapping to a new domain. The easiest way to redirect for WordPress is a plugin. Using popular plugins is very **intuitive**, and multiple redirects are created quickly and easily. --- ### Tip How to get started on WordPress with ease? [Hosting for WordPress](https://www.ionos.ca/hosting/wordpress-hosting "Hosting for WordPress from IONOS") from IONOS has plenty of benefits. Secure up to three domains free of charge, benefit from built-in security features and choose from different plans that suit your online presence! --- This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/wordpress-redirect/](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/wordpress-redirect/) for AI/LLM consumption.