What Is the ‘Too Many Redirects’ Error?
The “too many redirects” error means your web site has incorrectly configured redirects that create an infinite loop and stop the web page from loading. Which hurts search engine marketing and the consumer expertise as a result of search engines like google and customers gained’t have the ability to entry the web page.
For instance, let’s say URL X redirects to URL Y. Then URL Y redirects again to URL X.
That creates a loop. And the browser retains going forwards and backwards between these two pages till it provides up.
Most browsers will observe as much as about 20 redirects. If they will’t attain a closing web page by then, they cease and present an error as an alternative.
For instance, Chrome says this website redirected too many occasions and suggests clearing cookies.
What Causes the ‘Too Many Redirects’ Error?
The “too many redirects” error is brought on by the browser being caught in a loop that retains stepping into circles with out reaching a closing web page.
Dan Taylor, Companion & Head of Technical search engine marketing at SALT.company, says the commonest trigger he sees is cookie or cache mismanagement.
“From my expertise, it’s normally all the way down to cache or cookie points—issues like session affinity, session management, or incorrect cache management headers. Ten years in the past, when HTTPS adoption was extra the ‘hype,’ modifications within the HTTP/HTTPS protocol precipitated conflicts, however that’s a lot much less frequent now.”
Listed here are another frequent causes behind redirect loops:
- Outdated server cache: Your server may nonetheless be displaying an outdated model of your website that features damaged redirect directions
- Content material supply community (CDN) cache points: Your CDN may be serving outdated variations of your website with incorrect redirect guidelines
- Third-party instruments or plugins: If two instruments (like a firewall and a plugin) try to deal with redirects in numerous methods, they will create a battle
Tips on how to Test Your Web site for ‘Too Many Redirects’ Errors
You’ll be able to verify for the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error manually by visiting your website in numerous browsers.
Dan says his first step is to verify redirect guidelines straight:
“I’ll begin by reviewing the .htaccess or server configuration recordsdata to ensure there aren’t any conflicting or incorrect redirect guidelines in place.”
He then checks that redirects between HTTP and HTTPS pages and www and non-www pages are arrange correctly and constantly.
You’ll be able to crawl your website for redirect points brought on by misconfigured guidelines with Semrush’s Website Audit software:
Open the software and observe the prompts to configure your venture.
As soon as the audit is finished, go to the “Points” tab and search “redirect.”
In case your web site has redirect loops (and/or chains), you’ll see the “# redirect chains and loops” error.
Click on on it to see the listing of affected URLs.
Simply know that this particularly uncovers loops ensuing from incorrect redirect guidelines.
Different points can get in the way in which as properly. So let’s go over the way to repair them.
8 Methods to Repair the ‘Too Many Redirects’ Error
1. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Clearing your cache and cookies removes outdated knowledge that may be inflicting your browser to load an outdated redirect path.
Dan says he all the time contains this step when debugging redirect loops:
“I’ll clear the cache and cookies in my browser to rule out any saved redirect knowledge that may be inflicting the loop.”
This can be a good place to start out for those who’re seeing the error your self, however others aren’t. Or if one consumer stories it, however nobody else is affected.
Listed here are the steps to do that in numerous browsers:
Google Chrome
Click on the three dots within the prime proper nook and choose “Settings.”
Navigate to “Privateness and safety” and click on “Delete searching knowledge.”
Choose each the checkboxes subsequent to “Cookies and different website knowledge” and “Cached pictures and recordsdata.” You’ll be able to uncheck the field subsequent to “Looking historical past.”
Set the time vary to “All time.” And click on “Delete knowledge.”
Firefox
Click on the menu button (three traces) within the prime proper and choose “Settings.”
Go to “Privateness & Safety,” scroll to the “Cookies and Website Information” part, and click on “Clear Information…”
Choose the checkboxes subsequent to “Cookies and website knowledge” and “Short-term cached recordsdata and pages.” You’ll be able to depart different choices unchecked.
Select “The whole lot” because the timeframe. Then click on “Clear.”
Safari
Click on the “Safari” tab within the prime menu, then choose “Settings…”
Go to the “Superior” tab and allow “Present options for net builders.”
Click on the brand new “Develop” tab that seems within the prime menu and select “Empty Caches.”
To clear cookies, go to the settings once more.
Go to the “Privateness” tab and click on “Handle Web site Information…”
Click on “Take away All” and ensure by clicking “Take away Now” when prompted.
Microsoft Edge
Click on the three dots within the nook and select “Settings.”
Go to “Privateness, search, and companies” within the sidebar. Click on “Clear searching knowledge.”
Choose the checkboxes subsequent to “Cookies and different website knowledge” and “Cached pictures and recordsdata.” You’ll be able to depart different packing containers unchecked.
Choose “All time” because the time vary. Click on “Clear now.”
2. Clear Your Web site Cache from the CMS
Clearing your web site cache removes outdated redirect directions that your content material administration system (CMS) or plugins should be serving.
When you’re utilizing WordPress, you could have a caching plugin like WP Tremendous Cache put in.
To clear the cache utilizing this plugin, go to your WordPress dashboard, click on “Settings” within the left menu, and choose “WP Tremendous Cache” within the submenu.
Scroll down to search out the “Delete Cached Pages” part and click on the “Delete Cache” button.
When you’re utilizing a distinct CMS, observe the steps within the acceptable assist documentation:
3. Clear Cached Information from Your Server
Clearing your server cache ensures your server isn’t utilizing outdated recordsdata which have redirect errors.
Most internet hosting suppliers supply instruments to clear the server cache by way of their management panels.
Let’s say you’re utilizing Kinsta to host a WordPress web site.
Go to your dashboard, click on “WordPress websites,” and choose the checkbox subsequent to your website.
Click on the “Actions” button within the prime proper nook and select “Clear cache.”
Choose the checkbox subsequent to “Clear server cache” and click on “Clear cache.”
Different internet hosting suppliers even have built-in cache-related instruments. When you’re having hassle, attain out to your supplier’s assist group for assist.
4. Clear Outdated Redirects from Your CDN
A content material supply community (CDN) accelerates your website by saving copies of it somewhere else world wide. But when these copies have outdated redirect settings, they will maintain inflicting the loop.
As an example you utilize Cloudflare as your CDN.
Go to your Cloudflare dashboard, select your account and your website, click on “Caching” within the left menu, and choose “Configuration.”
Click on “Purge The whole lot.”
For different CDNs, observe the suitable documentation:
5. Test for HTTPS-Associated Issues
Ensuring you’ve got a correctly carried out SSL certificates (which verifies your website’s identification and allows you to use HTTPS) and that you simply aren’t attempting to pressure HTTPS with out one can repair redirect loops.
Use an SSL checker like SSL Shopper to substantiate your certificates is legitimate and put in accurately.
If there’s an issue, ask your internet hosting supplier for assist.
You may as well discover HTTPS points utilizing Semrush’s Website Audit software.
Go to your “Overview” report, discover the HTTPS part, and click on “View particulars.”
Additional studying: Tips on how to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS (4 Strategies)
6. Overview and Repair Redirect Guidelines
Conflicting redirect guidelines can create loops that set off ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error.
You’ll be able to see these loops in your Website Audit Points report:
To repair the difficulty, replace or take away the conflicting redirect guidelines utilizing no matter software or platform you used to set them up.
This could possibly be a plugin, your CMS settings, or a server config file.
For instance, for those who’re utilizing WordPress with the Redirection plugin, you possibly can view all lively redirect guidelines within the plugin’s dashboard.
Edit or delete any rule inflicting loops.
When you’re on an Apache server, your redirect guidelines may dwell in a file referred to as .htaccess.
You’ll be able to reset this file to take away problematic guidelines.
However solely do that for those who’re assured modifying server recordsdata or have assist from a developer.
To reset it, entry your web site recordsdata by way of your internet hosting supplier’s File Supervisor or join utilizing FTP.
Let’s say you are utilizing Bluehost. Go to your cPanel and click on “File Supervisor.”
Navigate to your web site’s root listing (normally named “public_html,” “www,” or “htdocs”).
Discover the .htaccess file
Earlier than modifying, obtain a duplicate to again it up. Proper-click the file and select “Obtain.”
Then, right-click on the .htaccess file once more and choose “Edit.”
Substitute your entire content material with this default WordPress .htaccess configuration:
# BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule .* – [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index.php$ – [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
# END WordPress
Save your modifications and verify if the redirect error is resolved.
In case your website makes use of Nginx or one other server kind, contact your internet hosting supplier or developer for assist.
7. Test URL Settings in Your CMS
Redirect loops can occur when your CMS makes use of two barely completely different variations of your website’s URL.
When you use WordPress, go to “Settings” > “Basic.”
Take a look at the “WordPress Deal with (URL)” and “Website Deal with (URL)” fields. These ought to match.
For instance:
- If one makes use of http:// and the opposite makes use of https://, it may possibly create a loop
- If one contains “www” and the opposite doesn’t, that mismatch can even set off the error
Replace each fields to match.
When you’re utilizing a distinct platform, verify their assist documentation for the way to replace your website’s primary URL.
After updating these settings, save your modifications.
8. Disable or Alter Plugins and Extensions
When you’re utilizing a CMS, certainly one of your put in plugins or extensions may be creating the battle.
Deactivate them to search out which one may be the perpetrator.
In WordPress, go to “Plugins” > “Put in Plugins” and choose the checkbox subsequent to every plugin.
Choose the “Bulk Actions” drop-down, select “Deactivate,” and click on “Apply.” This may flip off all plugins.
If the error disappears, one of many plugins was accountable.
Reactivate your plugins separately. And verify your website after every one to search out the one creating the loop.
You need to use an analogous course of for those who use one other CMS or web site platform.
As soon as you discover the plugin inflicting the difficulty, think about switching to an alternate. And let the plugin’s builders know to allow them to examine.
Tips on how to Stop ‘Too Many Redirects’ Errors within the Future
You’ll be able to forestall most redirect loops by testing modifications rigorously earlier than pushing them dwell.
Dan recommends doing correct QA and evaluation everytime you make deployments that have an effect on URLs, redirects, cookies, or asset supply.
Which implies reviewing how URLs, redirects, cookies, and asset supply are dealt with after modifications to catch any sudden habits earlier than it causes loops.
How?
- Test frequent redirect paths manually. After making updates to your website, go to key pages to verify that redirects go to the proper locations with out bouncing between variations. And check out a number of browsers and gadgets.
- Test plugins or customized scripts. Ensure that these choices aren’t inflicting redirect issues. Some instruments set their very own guidelines, which may unintentionally create conflicts and result in loops.
- Audit redirects after main website modifications. Issues like redesigns, migrations, or area updates can unintentionally create redirect loops. So, run a full website audit after any main updates utilizing Semrush’s Website Audit software to search out redirect loops.
You must also do a full technical audit of your website recurrently to catch points earlier than they harm your search engine marketing rankings or natural visitors.
Run your first audit now.
