Why Your WordPress Site Redirects to the Wrong Place (And How to Fix It)

Redirects are a powerful tool in WordPress, used for everything from SEO-friendly URL changes to maintenance mode pages. However, when they malfunction, they can cause immense frustration, leaving you with broken links, 404 errors, or content that won't load. Based on common community support threads, this guide will help you diagnose and fix the most prevalent WordPress redirect issues.

Common Symptoms of Redirect Problems

You might be dealing with a redirect issue if you experience:

• Clicking a URL sends you to a completely different website or a third-party service.
• Accessing a specific file (like robots.txt or ads.txt) shows your homepage or an HTML document instead of the expected text.
• You see a "404 Not Found" error on pages that should be redirecting correctly.
• Your browser console shows errors about blocked redirects or mixed content.

Why Do These Redirect Issues Happen?

Redirect conflicts usually arise from one of these four areas:

1. Plugin Conflicts: A plugin you installed and later removed may have left behind rewrite rules in your database or .htaccess file, forcing unwanted redirects.
2. Server Configuration (.htaccess): Incorrect rules in your .htaccess file can override WordPress's default behavior, causing files to be served incorrectly or paths to be misinterpreted.
3. Caching: Heavily cached pages, HTML, or server-level rules might be serving old redirect instructions to visitors.
4. Mixed HTTP/HTTPS Settings: If your WordPress Address and Site Address are not consistently set to use HTTPS in your settings, it can cause redirect loops or failures.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix Redirects

1. Investigate Plugin Culprits

The most frequent cause of strange redirects is a plugin. To check:

• Deactivate All Plugins: Temporarily deactivate every plugin on your site. Does the redirect stop? If yes, reactivate them one-by-one to identify the one causing the problem.
• Check Plugin Settings: Some plugins, especially those related to CDNs, caching, or security, add their own redirects. Review the settings of any recently added or updated plugins.
• Clean Up After Removal: Simply deleting a plugin doesn't always remove its rules. If you identified a problematic plugin, reinstall it, use its settings to properly remove any rules, and then delete it again.

2. Audit Your .htaccess File

Your .htaccess file is a powerful configuration tool for Apache servers. An error here can break your site.

• Locate the File: It's in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
• Create a Backup: Before making any changes, download a copy of your current .htaccess file so you can restore it if needed.
• Review the Rules: Look for any custom rewrite rules (lines starting with RewriteRule) that you don't recognize. These could be leftovers from old plugins or misconfigured manual edits.
• Revert to Default: Often, the fastest fix is to let WordPress regenerate a clean .htaccess file. Rename your current file to .htaccess_old. Then, go to your WordPress admin dashboard under Settings > Permalinks and simply click "Save Changes" without modifying anything. This will generate a new, standard file.

3. Clear All Caches

Stale cache can serve old redirect instructions. You must clear cache at multiple levels:

• WordPress Cache: Clear the cache from within your caching plugin (e.g., W3 Total Cache, WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache).
• Server-Level Cache: Contact your hosting provider or check your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel) to clear any server-side caching.
• Browser Cache: Clear your own browser's cache and cookies or test the site in an incognito/private browser window.
• CDN Cache: If you use a Content Delivery Network like Cloudflare, purge its cache through its dashboard.

4. Verify WordPress and Site Address

Ensure your site is configured to use the correct protocol. In your WordPress admin, go to Settings > General. Verify that both the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) start with https://.

When to Seek Further Help

If these steps don't resolve the issue, the problem might be more complex. Consider enabling debugging to check for PHP errors or reviewing your server's error logs, which can provide specific clues. For issues related to a specific plugin's functionality, the 'Developing with WordPress' team suggests seeking help in that plugin's dedicated support forum on WordPress.org, where its developers and community can offer targeted assistance.