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Fixing Common Redirection Plugin Issues: Loops, 404s, and Cache Problems

47 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Redirection

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If you're using the Redirection plugin for WordPress, you might occasionally run into issues where your redirects don't work as expected. This troubleshooting guide covers the most common problems and their solutions, based on community discussions.

1. Redirect Loops (ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS)

Problem: Your browser shows a "too many redirects" error. This happens when a URL redirects to another URL, which then redirects back to the original, creating an infinite loop.

Why it happens: This is often caused by having multiple redirect rules affecting the same URL. For example, you might have a rule in Redirection and another rule in your .htaccess file, both trying to handle the same request, conflicting with each other.

Solution: Audit all your redirects. Check not only the Redirection plugin's settings but also your site's .htaccess file and any caching/CDN settings (like Cloudflare) for conflicting rules. Use a tool like Redirect Li to trace the path a URL takes and identify where the loop is occurring.

2. Redirects Not Working from Search Engines or Specific Sources

Problem: A redirect works when you type the URL directly into your browser's address bar but fails when you click on a link from Google Search Results or another website.

Why it happens: The most common culprit is browser or server cache. Your local browser might have cached the old 404 page, or your server's caching mechanism (like Varnish, WP Rocket, or a CDN) is serving an old, cached version of the page before the redirect rule is processed.

Solution: Always clear your browser cache and cookies after creating new redirects. Furthermore, purge your server-level and CDN caches. If you use a caching plugin or service, consult its documentation for instructions on clearing the cache.

3. Trailing Slash Mismatches

Problem: A redirect works for example.com/post but not for example.com/post/ (or vice-versa), sending users to a 404 page instead.

Why it happens: By default, Redirection treats URLs with and without a trailing slash as different addresses.

Solution: Enable the "Ignore trailing slash" option when creating or editing your redirect. This setting tells the plugin to treat /url and /url/ as the same source, ensuring the redirect works for both variations.

4. Target URL Returns a 404

Problem: You set up a redirect, but it sends users to a page that doesn't exist (a 404 error).

Why it happens: The Redirection plugin does not create pages. This error means the page or post you are redirecting to (the target) has been deleted, its URL has changed, or it never existed. The plugin simply points the old URL to the new one; it cannot fix an invalid target.

Solution: Double-check that the target URL you entered is correct and that the page or post actually exists and is published on your site.

5. URLs with Question Marks (&) and Parameters Not Redirecting

Problem: Redirects for URLs containing query parameters (everything after the ?) fail to work.

Why it happens: This is typically not a problem with the Redirection plugin itself, which handles query strings correctly. The issue is almost always related to caching, as mentioned in point 2.

Solution: Clear all relevant caches (browser, plugin, server, CDN). The redirect should function properly once the cached version of the old URL is purged.

General Best Practices

  • Test with a Tool: Use an online HTTP header checker like Redirect Li to see exactly what is happening with your URL. This tool will show you the final status code and destination, bypassing your local browser cache.
  • Check for Conflicts: Other plugins, especially those related to caching, security, or SEO, can sometimes interfere with redirects. Try temporarily disabling other plugins to see if the issue resolves.
  • Regular Expressions: For complex pattern-based redirects, ensure your regex is correct. The Redirection support site has excellent documentation on using regular expressions.

By methodically working through these common issues, you can resolve most problems encountered with the Redirection plugin.

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