Few Search Console messages cause more unnecessary panic than “Page with redirect”. Site owners see dozens or hundreds of URLs listed as “not indexed” and assume something is badly broken. Most of the time it is completely normal. Sometimes, though, it points to real issues that waste crawl budget and confuse Google. This guide shows you how to tell which situation you are in, and how to fix the cases that matter.
This article is part of our complete guide: Why Is My Website Not on Google? The Complete Indexing Guide.
What the status means
A URL appears under “Page with redirect” when Google requested it and the server answered with a redirect to a different URL. Google does not index the redirecting URL; it indexes the destination instead. That is exactly what should happen when a page has moved.
So the presence of URLs in this report is not a problem in itself. The real questions are why Google keeps requesting URLs that redirect, and whether the destinations are correct and indexed.
A quick primer on redirect types
Before deciding what to fix, it helps to know what each redirect code tells Google:
- 301 Moved Permanently: the page has moved for good. Google transfers ranking signals to the new URL and eventually drops the old one. This is the right choice for most changes.
- 308 Permanent Redirect: the modern equivalent of 301, treated the same way by Google.
- 302 Found and 307 Temporary Redirect: the move is temporary. Google may keep the old URL indexed because it expects it to come back.
- Meta refresh and JavaScript redirects: redirects done in the page rather than by the server. Google can follow them, but they are slower and less reliable. Avoid them for SEO-critical pages.
Redirects that are perfectly normal
- http to https:
http://example.com/redirects tohttps://example.com/. - www to non-www (or the reverse), as long as you consistently use one version.
- Trailing slash normalisation:
/servicesredirecting to/services/. - Old pages after a redesign that were deliberately redirected to their new equivalents.
- Old campaign or short URLs that forward to a live landing page.
If the URLs in the report fall into these categories, and the destinations are indexed, you can safely leave them alone. Google will check them less often over time.
Redirects that need attention
1. Redirecting URLs listed in your sitemap
Your XML sitemap should only contain final, indexable URLs that return a 200 status. If it lists http URLs, old slugs or URLs without the trailing slash, you are actively telling Google to crawl redirects. Regenerate the sitemap from your SEO plugin and make sure the site address settings use the correct https domain. We fixed exactly this on mivaq.com itself when the WordPress address was still set to http.
2. Internal links pointing to redirecting URLs
When menus, buttons or old blog posts link to URLs that redirect, every visit and every crawl takes an extra hop. Update internal links to point straight to the final URL. A crawler such as Screaming Frog will list every internal link that hits a 301.
3. Redirect chains and loops
A chain is A → B → C → D. Each hop slows users down and Google may stop following after several hops. A loop (A → B → A) means the page never loads at all. Fix chains by pointing every old URL directly at the final destination.
4. Redirects to irrelevant pages
Redirecting lots of old product or service pages to the homepage is a common shortcut. Google often treats these as soft 404s, and you lose the relevance the old page had. Redirect each old URL to the closest equivalent page instead. Our guide to soft 404 errors explains why.
5. Temporary redirects used for permanent moves
302 and 307 redirects tell Google the move is temporary. For permanent changes use a 301 or 308 redirect, so signals consolidate on the new URL.
6. Hacked or spam redirects
If you see URLs you never created, redirecting to pharmacy, casino or foreign-language sites, your website may be compromised. This is a security issue, not an SEO setting. Our WordPress malware removal service and the guide to a hacked WooCommerce store explain how we clean these up.
How to audit “Page with redirect” in 20 minutes
- Export the list from Indexing › Pages › Page with redirect.
- Look for patterns: http, www, missing slash, old slugs, parameters.
- Use URL Inspection on a few examples and check the “Google-selected canonical” and the final destination.
- Check your XML sitemap for any of the redirecting URLs.
- Run a crawl and list internal links that point to redirects.
- Test a few URLs with a redirect checker to spot chains.
- Confirm that every destination URL is itself indexed.
Fixing redirects on different platforms
WordPress
Use the redirection module in Rank Math or a dedicated redirection plugin, and keep Settings › General set to the correct https address. After a redesign, map every old URL to its new home before launch, as described in our website redesign checklist.
Wix
Wix has a URL Redirect Manager in the SEO settings. Use it whenever you rename a page. Wix handles http/https and www automatically once your domain is connected properly. See our Wix SEO checklist for the full setup.
Squarespace
Squarespace uses URL Mappings in the developer tools area. Add a 301 mapping for each old URL, one per line. Our Squarespace SEO guide covers this in more detail.
Shopify
Shopify creates redirects automatically when you change a product handle (if the option is ticked), and you can add more under Online Store › Navigation › URL Redirects. See our Shopify services if you are migrating a store.
Building a redirect map before any change
The cheapest redirect problem is the one you never create. Before renaming pages, changing your permalink structure or moving platform, build a simple spreadsheet with two columns: old URL and new URL. Pull the old URLs from your sitemap, Search Console’s Performance report and any page that has backlinks. Every old URL should map to its closest new equivalent. Then, after launch, test a sample of old URLs and confirm they return a single 301 to the right destination. This one spreadsheet prevents most of the redirect issues we are asked to fix.
When to worry and when to relax
Relax if the redirecting URLs are old or alternative versions of pages and the destinations are indexed. Act if your sitemap or internal links point to redirects, if you see chains or loops, if important pages have been redirected to the homepage or to irrelevant pages, or if unknown URLs are redirecting to spam.
How we handle it for clients
Redirect clean-up is a routine part of our technical SEO audits and redesign projects. On projects like Powersports Software and the Crazy Color Malta theme change, protecting URLs and redirects was part of making sure the new design did not cost the site its visibility. The same principles apply to every migration, from a five-page brochure site to a large store.
Summary
- “Page with redirect” is usually normal and not an error.
- Your sitemap should never contain redirecting URLs.
- Internal links should point directly to final URLs.
- Eliminate chains, loops and mass redirects to the homepage.
- Use permanent redirects (301/308) for permanent moves.
- Unknown redirects to spam sites are a security warning sign.
Related guides and services
- Discovered – currently not indexed: why Google postpones crawling and how to speed it up.
- Crawled – currently not indexed: what to do when Google reads a page but refuses to index it.
- Website redesign without losing SEO: how to relaunch a site without dropping in Google.
- Website not showing on Google: the full diagnosis for sites that are missing from search.
- Google indexing fix service: we diagnose and fix pages Google will not index.
Get expert help
If you would rather spend your time running your business, MIVAQ can handle this for you. We audit the site, fix the root causes, document every change and show you the before-and-after in Search Console, so you know exactly what improved and why. Start with our Google indexing fix service, browse real client results in our case studies, or contact us for a free, no-pressure review of your website.
Frequently asked questions
Do redirects hurt SEO?
A single, correct 301 redirect passes signals to the new URL and does not hurt. Chains, loops and irrelevant redirects can.
How long should I keep redirects in place?
Ideally permanently, or at least for a year, especially if other sites link to the old URLs.
Why does Google keep crawling my old URLs?
Because they still exist in links, old sitemaps or Google’s memory. It will check them less frequently over time.
Can I remove these URLs from the report?
Not directly. The report reflects what Google has seen. Fix sitemaps and internal links, and the list will gradually stabilise.
