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Troubleshooting Common Rank Math Redirection and 404 Monitor Issues

18 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Rank math seo

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Many WordPress users rely on the Rank Math SEO plugin for managing redirects and monitoring 404 errors. However, like any complex tool, you might occasionally run into problems where redirects don't work as expected or the 404 monitor behaves strangely. This guide compiles solutions to the most frequently reported issues, based on community discussions.

Common Redirection Problems and Fixes

1. Redirects Not Saving or Page Refreshes

The Problem: You try to add a new redirect, but the page simply refreshes without saving your changes.

The Solution: This is often caused by missing database tables for the redirection module. To fix this:

  1. Navigate to Rank Math > Status & Tools > Database Tools.
  2. Click the "Re-create Tables" button.
  3. Try adding your redirect again. This process rebuilds the necessary database structure for the redirections to function.

2. "Please add at least one valid source URL" Error

The Problem: You receive this error when trying to create a redirect, even though you've entered a URL.

The Solution: The plugin expects only the path portion of the URL in the "Source URLs" field, not the full web address. Instead of https://example.com/my-old-page/, simply enter my-old-page/.

3. Redirects Not Triggering (Conflicts)

The Problem: A specific redirect isn't working, while others are fine.

The Solution: A conflict with another plugin or server rule might be intercepting the request before Rank Math can process it. Check if you have other redirection plugins (e.g., Redirection, Lasso) active or server-level redirects in your .htaccess file. Deactivate other redirection tools one by one to identify the conflict.

4. Resetting the Redirection Hit Counter

The Problem: You want to reset the number of "Hits" shown for a redirect back to zero.

The Solution: This cannot be done from the plugin's interface. You must manually update the database. Find the specific redirect in your database table wp_rank_math_redirections, locate the hits column for that row, and set its value to 0. Warning: Always back up your database before making direct changes.

Common 404 Monitor Problems and Fixes

1. Redirected URLs Still Appearing in the 404 Log

The Problem: URLs that you have already successfully redirected continue to appear in the 404 monitor log.

The Solution: This can sometimes be a caching issue. Clear your website's cache (both any caching plugins and your server cache if possible). If the problem persists, it may be a temporary glitch; the log should eventually update to reflect the successful redirects.

2. The "Hits" Column is Missing

The Problem: The column that shows how many times a 404 error has occurred is not visible, even in the Advanced view.

The Solution: First, click the "Screen Options" tab at the top of the 404 Monitor page and ensure the "Hits" checkbox is selected. If it's not there, try clearing the plugin's transients and re-creating the tables from Rank Math > Status & Tools > Database Tools.

3. Excluding Paths from the 404 Log

The Problem: You've added paths to the "Exclude Paths" setting, but they are still being logged.

The Solution: Ensure you are using the exclusion method correctly. If you choose "Contains", you should only enter a simple word or path (e.g., autodiscover). Do not use complex regex patterns unless you have selected the "Regex" method. Using regex with the "Contains" method will cause it to fail.

When to Suspect a Bug

If you have tried all relevant solutions above and your issue persists, especially after a recent plugin update, you may be experiencing a bug. The Rank Math SEO team has been seen to quickly acknowledge and investigate reproducible bugs, such as critical errors on the redirections page. In such cases, the best course of action is to ensure your plugin is updated to the latest version, as fixes are typically included in subsequent releases.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you can resolve the majority of common issues encountered with the Rank Math redirection and 404 monitor modules.

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