URL Redirect Checker
Trace redirect chains for any URL. See status codes, intermediate URLs, and final destination. Identify redirect loops and long chains. Browser CORS limitations apply.
Localhost & Pre-Deployment Ready — No Live URL Required. Run redirect traces entirely in your browser — no backend, no proxy, nothing to deploy.
Enter a full URL including https://
DevPouch runs entirely client-side — there is no backend proxy. Your browser fetches the target URL directly, so the target endpoint must permit cross-origin requests (CORS, e.g. Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *) or the browser will block the trace and the tool will report it as CORS-blocked. Same-origin URLs and localhost work best for pre-deployment testing.
Redirect Chain Results
Redirect Status Codes Reference
How to check redirect chains
- Enter a URL. Paste the full URL (including https://) you want to trace.
- Click Trace Redirects. The tool attempts to follow the redirect chain step by step.
- Review the chain. See each redirect step with status code, type (permanent/temporary), and target URL.
- Check analysis. The tool identifies loops, long chains, HTTP→HTTPS, and www changes.
- Copy or download. Use Copy to copy results as JSON or Download to save as a file.
Note: Due to browser CORS restrictions, most external redirect chains cannot be fully traced from the browser. The tool will clearly indicate when CORS blocks the analysis.
Redirect Chains, Status Codes & SEO Impact
- 301 vs. 302 redirects. A 301 (Moved Permanently) tells search engines the URL has permanently moved to a new location and transfers link equity / PageRank to the new URL, which should be indexed. A 302 (Found / Temporary Redirect) indicates a temporary move, so the original URL stays indexed and link equity is not transferred to the target.
- Redirect chains. A redirect chain is multiple consecutive hops (e.g., A → B → C). Chains increase page-load latency and unnecessarily consume Googlebot's crawl budget on intermediate URLs instead of your content. Flatten chains into a single 301 redirect straight to the final URL.
- Redirect loops. A redirect loop is an infinite cycle (e.g., A → B → A) that breaks page rendering in browsers and prevents search engines from indexing any URL in the cycle entirely. Loops must be fixed by correcting redirect rules so each URL resolves to a single final destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The tool attempts to fetch the URL and track redirects using the Fetch API. However, due to CORS restrictions, it can only track redirects for same-origin requests or when the server explicitly allows cross-origin access with proper headers. Most external redirect chains cannot be fully traced from the browser.
- For each step in a redirect chain that can be observed, the tool shows the HTTP status code, the URL, and whether it was a permanent (301, 308) or temporary (302, 303, 307) redirect.
- A redirect loop occurs when URL A redirects to URL B, which redirects back to URL A (or through a longer chain that eventually returns to a previous URL). This causes browsers to show an error and prevents the page from loading.
- No. The redirect checker requires network access to attempt fetching the URL. It cannot work offline.
Use Cases
The URL Redirect Checker helps developers, SEOs, and site owners trace HTTP redirect chains from a starting URL to its final destination. Use it to audit 301 permanent redirects after a domain migration, verify 302 temporary redirects during campaigns, and detect redirect loops that trap users and crawlers. It also reveals unnecessary intermediate hops that slow page load and dilute link equity, lets you confirm HTTPS enforcement across subdomains, and validates mobile or AMP redirect rules before a launch. E-commerce teams can audit checkout redirect flows, while marketers can ensure tracking URLs resolve cleanly without broken chains.
Site migrations are a common use case. When you change domain names or URL structures, the URL Redirect Checker confirms every old page points to its new equivalent, protecting search rankings and preventing broken links for visitors. It also supports HTTPS migrations by verifying that all HTTP variants redirect to secure URLs, which keeps browsers from showing security warnings and preserves trust. It is also useful for auditing affiliate links, vanity URLs, and QR code destinations to make sure every marketing touchpoint resolves correctly.
How To Use
- Enter the full URL you want to trace, including the http:// or https:// scheme.
- Click Check Redirects to start the analysis.
- Review each hop in the redirect chain, showing status codes and destination URLs.
- Inspect the final landing page and total hop count for performance issues.
- Export or copy the results to share with your development or SEO team.
Regular redirect audits preserve crawl budget, prevent soft 404 errors, and keep link equity flowing to the right pages. Whether you are restructuring a site, consolidating duplicate content, or moving to HTTPS, the URL Redirect Checker gives you visibility into every redirect so you can fix issues before they affect rankings or user experience.
For large sites, run the tool on a sample of high-traffic URLs first, then expand to category pages, product detail pages, and blog archives. Prioritize chains with more than two hops, since each extra redirect adds latency and wastes crawl budget. Pair redirect checks with status code monitoring so temporary issues do not turn into permanent ranking losses.
Make redirect checks part of your pre-launch checklist and quarterly site audits. Catching chains early protects crawl budget, preserves link equity, and ensures users reach the content they expect without extra round trips.