How To Fix “Page with redirect” in Google Search Console
- hardeep kaur
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
When managing a website, nothing is more frustrating than encountering vague errors in Google Search Console (GSC). One such common issue is the “Page with redirect” status.
If you’ve seen this in your Index Coverage report, don’t panic.
This article will break down what this message means, why it happens, and how to fix it-complete with real-world examples and clear, actionable steps.
🔍 What Does “Page with Redirect” Mean in Google Search Console?
Google Search Console marks a page as “Page with redirect” when it attempts to index a URL but discovers that the URL redirects to another page instead of loading content directly.
In simple terms, Google intended to crawl Page A, but Page A automatically redirected the crawler to Page B (or another URL). As a result, Page A doesn’t get indexed-and this can impact your SEO if not intended.
🚨 Why Is This a Problem?
Redirects aren't always bad-they are essential for site migrations, fixing broken links, or managing outdated pages. However, unintended or improper redirects can:
Prevent important pages from being indexed.
Create redirect loops or chains.
Lead to a loss of SEO authority.
Confuse users and search engines.
You may be losing traffic simply because Google can’t index the original URL.
🧩 Common Reasons for “Page with Redirect” Issues
Here are the most common scenarios that can trigger this issue:
1. 301 or 302 Redirects in Place
If you've redirect a URL permanently (301) or temporarily (302), Google will register the original page as "Page with redirect".
➡️ Example: You changed a URL from example.com/services to example.com/our-services. You applied a 301 redirect. GSC now marks example.com/services as a page with a redirect. This is expected behavior-but only if it was intentional.
2. Incorrect Canonical Tags + Redirects
Having a canonical tag pointing to one URL, and a redirect pointing somewhere else, creates confusion.
➡️ Example: Canonical tag on example.com/page-a points to example.com/page-b, but the page redirects to example.com/page-c. Now Google doesn’t know which one to index.
3. Mobile and Desktop Versions Redirecting Differently
Some websites have different behaviors based on device type. A mobile user is redirected to m.example.com, while a desktop user stays on the main domain.
➡️ This split can confuse Googlebot, which crawls with both desktop and mobile user agents.
4. Redirect Chains or Loops
A redirect chain happens when one redirect leads to another before reaching the final URL.
➡️ Example: Page A ➝ Page B ➝ Page C. Google gives up after too many redirects and flags it.
A redirect loop is worse-it keeps redirecting between two or more pages endlessly.
➡️ Example: Page A ➝ Page B ➝ Page A.
5. HTTPS or www Redirection Confusion
If your site redirects from http:// to https://, or from www.cleaningtactics.com to cleaningtactics.com, make sure it’s done consistently. Any inconsistency can trigger issues in indexing.
✅ How to Fix “Page with Redirect” – Step-by-Step
🔧 Step 1: Verify If the Redirect Is Intentional
Open the Index Coverage report in GSC and check the affected URLs.
If the redirect was intentional (e.g., old blog post redirected to updated one), you don’t need to take action.
If it was not intended, proceed to the next step.
🔧 Step 2: Inspect the URL
Use the URL Inspection Tool in GSC:
Enter the affected URL.
Check the Final URL to which it redirects.
See if the page is indexable.
You can also test with browser tools or command-line tools like:
nginx
CopyEdit
curl -I https://yourdomain.com/page
This will show the HTTP status (301, 302, etc.).
🔧 Step 3: Fix Redirect Chains or Loops
If your redirect path looks like this:
Page A ➝ Page B ➝ Page C
✅ Fix it: Redirect Page A directly to Page C.
❌ Avoid looping paths: Page A ➝ Page B ➝ Page A
Use tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider or Ahrefs Site Audit to detect and visualize redirect chains and loops.
🔧 Step 4: Check Canonical and Meta Tags
Make sure that:
Your canonical tag matches the final destination URL of your redirects.
There’s no contradiction between redirects and canonicals.
➡️ For example, if a page redirects to Page B, its canonical tag should also point to Page B, not to Page A.
🔧 Step 5: Use Consistent URL Structures
Choose between www and non-www.
Choose between http and https.
Set your preferred domain in Google Search Console.
Make sure internal links across the site use the correct version.
🔧 Step 6: Update Internal Links
Internal links pointing to the redirected pages should be updated to point directly to the final URL. This reduces crawl time and avoids unnecessary redirects.
➡️ Example: If your blog sidebar links to example.com/blog-post-old, but it redirects to example.com/blog-post-new, update the link to the new one directly.
📌 Pro Tip: Use Server Logs or Crawl Tools
Check your server logs or use crawl tools like Screaming Frog or Sitebulb to understand:
Which pages are redirecting.
Whether Googlebot is hitting the correct URLs.
How deep your redirect chains go.
✅ When You Don’t Need to Fix Anything
If the redirect was intentional and the destination page is indexed, there is no need to worry. “Page with redirect” simply means Google isn’t indexing the original URL because it no longer serves content-and that’s okay.
However, if you have hundreds of such entries in your Index Coverage report and they weren’t intentional, you might be wasting crawl budget or losing ranking opportunities.
🧠 Real-World Example
Let's say you had a product URL:
arduino
CopyEdit
You redirected it to:
arduino
CopyEdit
Google Search Console marks 1234-shoes as “Page with redirect.”
✅ If this was a product simplification, and the new page is performing well, you’re good.
❌ But if the redirect was mistakenly implemented or pointing to a broken page, you need to fix it.
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Does “Page with Redirect” affect my SEO?
Yes, if it's unintentional. Redirect chains, loops, or incorrect redirects can hurt indexing and link equity.
Q: Should I worry if the redirected page is still indexed?
No. If the redirected (final) page is indexed and performing well, you don’t need to worry about the original URL being flagged.
Q: How long does it take for changes to reflect in GSC?
It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on your crawl frequency and site structure.
Q: Can I remove old redirected pages from Google?
Yes. You can request removal through GSC’s Removals Tool, but only if absolutely necessary.
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