Free Redirect Chain Checker
Paste up to 50 URLs and find redirect chains, loops, temporary redirects and redirects that end on errors – then copy ready-made rules that send every old URL straight to its final page.
What is a Redirect Chain Checker?
A redirect chain is when a URL redirects to another URL that redirects again before reaching the final page (A → B → C). A redirect chain checker follows many URLs at once, counts the hops for each one and shows which chains, loops and broken redirects need fixing.
Chains build up after HTTPS moves, www changes, permalink changes and site redesigns. Each hop adds delay for visitors and Googlebot. This tool finds them in bulk and writes the rules to flatten them into a single redirect.
What the Redirect Chain Checker checks
Every problem comes with plain-English steps to fix it, and every result is added to your downloadable Technical SEO report.
Up to 50 URLs at once with a live progress bar.
Shows every status code in each chain.
Finds URLs that redirect forever.
Chains that end on 404, 5xx or no response.
Flags 302/307 hops inside chains.
Copy or download .htaccess rules that flatten the chains.
How to use the Redirect Chain Checker
Click Load Example above to see a real result first.
Paste your URLs
Old URLs, backlink targets or URLs from a site migration – one per line.
Click “Check Redirect Chains”
Every URL is followed to its final destination.
Read the “Fix first” tab
Loops and broken redirects come first, then chains.
Copy the fix rules
Use the “Fix rules” tab, then re-check to confirm one hop per URL.
Common problems and how to fix them
| Problem | Why it matters | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| http → https → www → slash | Three hops for every old link. | Combine HTTPS and www into one rule. |
| Old migration redirects | Old URL → older URL → new URL. | Point the oldest URLs straight to the final page. |
| Redirect loops | Page never loads. | Remove the conflicting rule. |
| Chain ends on 404 | Link value and visitors lost. | Redirect to a live, relevant page. |
| 302 inside a chain | Signals may not pass as expected. | Use 301 for permanent moves. |
Frequently asked questions
How many hops does Google follow?
Googlebot follows up to 10 hops, but recommends keeping it to one. Long chains may stop being followed and slow down crawling.
Do redirect chains hurt SEO?
They waste crawl budget, add load time and increase the risk of a broken link in the chain. Flattening them is a quick technical win.
Where do I find URLs to check?
Export old URLs from a previous sitemap, Search Console (Pages and Links reports), your backlink tool or analytics landing pages.
Should I also update internal links?
Yes. Redirects are a safety net. Internal links, menus and the sitemap should point directly to final URLs.
Why is the number of URLs limited?
To keep the tool fast and fair for everyone. Split larger lists into batches of 50.
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Built and maintained by the AM Digital Marketing Agency SEO team. Last updated: .
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