How to Set Up Redirects in WordPress

When you change a URL, delete a page, or restructure your site, redirects send visitors and search engines to the right place — protecting your traffic and rankings.

Why redirects matter

Without a redirect, an old or changed URL returns a 404 and any ranking or inbound links are wasted. A 301 redirect passes visitors and SEO value smoothly to the new address.

Set them up

A redirects plugin lets you map old URLs to new ones from the dashboard without touching code. For bulk or server-level rules, you can also add redirects in the .htaccess file via cPanel.

Keep them tidy

Avoid chains where one redirect points to another that redirects again — they slow things down. Periodically review your redirects and remove any that are no longer needed.