How do I create a 301 redirect in .htaccess?

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect. You can generate a copy-ready 301 rule using the Htaccess Redirect tool on OnlineToolsDesk.com, then paste it into your site’s .htaccess file on an Apache server.

What is the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?

A 301 redirect is permanent and is the best choice for SEO when a URL has moved permanently. A 302 redirect is temporary and tells search engines the move is not permanent.

How do I redirect HTTP to HTTPS using .htaccess?

You can redirect HTTP to HTTPS with rewrite rules in .htaccess. The Htaccess Redirect tool can generate an HTTPS redirect rule you can copy and paste into your Apache configuration.

How do I redirect non-www to www (or www to non-www)?

You can redirect between www and non-www versions using .htaccess rewrite rules. The Htaccess Redirect tool helps you generate the correct rule to avoid duplicate content and keep URL structure consistent.

Do redirects affect SEO?

Yes. Proper 301 redirects help preserve SEO value when URLs change. Incorrect redirects, redirect chains, or loops can cause crawling issues and ranking drops. Always test your redirects after adding them.

Is Htaccess Redirect really free?

Yes. Htaccess Redirect on OnlineToolsDesk.com is completely free to use with no registration or payment required.

Htaccess Redirect

Q: What is an .htaccess redirect?

An .htaccess redirect is a rule placed in the Apache .htaccess file that sends visitors and search engines from one URL to another. It is commonly used for URL changes, domain migrations, and fixing 404 pages.

Create and manage website redirects easily with our Htaccess Redirect tool. Generate correct .htaccess redirect rules for 301, 302, www to non-www, HTTP to HTTPS, and more—without coding knowledge. Perfect for SEO, site migrations, and fixing broken links. No sign-up, no downloads—just clean redirect rules in seconds.

Domain Name

Select redirect type

Redirect From www to non-www Redirect From non-www to www

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Htaccess Redirect: - Build and Maintain URL Redirects Easily

It is necessary to manage the redirects on the websites properly to maintain the SEO, user experience, and maintenance of websites. Redirects are used when using URLs that have been changed, pages have been removed, and domains are being migrated to make sure that the visitors and search engines are taken to the appropriate destination. This is the point where .htaccess redirect rules are very vital.

The Htaccess Redirect enables the management of the behaviour of URLs on Apache servers through the .htaccess file. The redirect rules have enabled you to redirect old URLs to new URLs, correct bad links, enforce HTTPS, redirect non-www to www (or the opposite), and maintain the same SEO value by offering the appropriate HTTP status codes such as 301 and 302.

We have a solution that will make this process easy at OnlineToolsDesk.com. You do not need to memorise complicated syntaxes, but can write clean and correct redirects that immediately work on Apache-based servers. It is quick, easy to learn, and easy to use, and it is also safe when it comes to SEO, so it is ideal for all developers, SEO experts, and web masters.

Guideline to use .htaccess Redirect Rules

With some basic knowledge of directing, redirects are simple to create. htaccess.

Identify the Redirect Type

Select either 301 (Permanent) or 302 (Temporary) redirect.

Advantage: Maintains the SEO values properly.

Source URLs and Destination URLs definition

Indicate the old URL and the new target URL.

Advantage: This will avoid broken links and 404 errors.

Add the Redirect Rule to the .htaccess

Add the rule that you have created to your. htaccess file (generally in the root directory).

Advantage: No server restart is required.

Test the Redirect

Ensure that there is proper redirection of the users and search engines.

Advantage: Provides good functionality and compliance with search engine optimization.

Common Htaccess Redirect Examples

Here are some widely used .htaccess redirect rules:

Redirect a Single Page (301)

Redirect 301 /old-page.html https://example.com/new-page.html

Redirect HTTP to HTTPS

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [L,R=301]

Redirect Non-WWW to WWW

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\. [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [L,R=301]

Redirect an Entire Domain

Redirect 301 / https://newdomain.com/

Key Features & Benefits

Several significant benefits are associated with the correct use of the .htaccess redirect rules:

SEO-Friendly Redirects

Maintain position and forwarding 301.

Fix Broken Links & 404 Errors

Make sure that the users do not reach dead ends.

Domain Migration Support/URL Migration Support

Relocate websites without loss of traffic.

Force HTTPS & Canonical URLs

Enhance the security and prevent the problem of duplication.

Server-Level Performance

Redirects are run at the server level- fast and efficient.

Complete URL Behavior Control

Plugins and CMS dependency are not required.

The importance of .htaccess redirects to SEO

The search engines use the redirects to interpret the content change. Wrong redirects may result in:

Loss of rankings
Crawl errors
Duplicate content
Poor user experience

Application of .htaccess redirect correctly will guarantee that search engines are transferring to the appropriate page and that users will always enter the appropriate page.

What is the Rationale behind OnlineToolsDesk.com?

Numerous redirect generators are baffling or partial. In the case of OnlineToolsDesk.com, we are interested in:

Uncomplicated, unencumbered redirect syntax.
SEO-safe Apache rules
Beginner-friendly explanations
No ads, no clutter
Free and unlimited usage

OnlineToolsDesk.com provides you with the tools that you can rely upon, whether you have to fix one broken link or run an entire site migration.

Related Tools

The following tools may also be helpful:

Google cache checker online: Check pages on Google cache.
SSL Checker Online: HTTPS setup verification.
Spider simulator online: View how search engines are crawling redirects.

To be officially documented, the mod_rewrite guide of Apache is the technical reference.

Final Words

The redirects need to be done properly in order to preserve the SEO power, user trust, and the structure of the website. Using .htaccess redirect rules, you can provide better navigation for visitors and search engines through your site efficiently and securely.

OnlineToolsDesk.com simplifies complicated web activities and provides speedy, free, and privacy-protected internet-based tools. We have our .htaccess Redirect instructions ready so that you can fix broken links, move your domain, and correctly optimize your site with no guessing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is an .htaccess redirect?

An .htaccess redirect is a rule that is applied to an Apache server to automatically redirect one URL to another.

2. What is the best redirect between 301 or 302: SEO?

The best kind of redirect to use is the 301 redirect, as it transfers the ranking signal to the new URL.

3. What is the location of the .htaccess file?

It is typically located in the root of your website (e.g., publichtml).

4. Will wrong redirects be detrimental to my website?

Yes. Poor redirects chains or loops may lead to SEO problem and frustration to users.

5. Is it necessary to have some coding skills to apply .htaccess redirects?

Simple knowledge suffices; however, tools and generators make the task simple even for inexperienced people.