TOOL GUIDE
Redirect & canonical checker
Trace a URL with the 301 redirect checker, inspect each hop and compare its destination with your plan. Review canonical declarations and export the evidence.
Read the walkthroughHow do you check URL redirects and canonical tags?
Follow a URL's redirect chain and inspect the final page's canonical declaration. Compare the result with the destination you intended. This check can reveal loops or unexpected targets, but it cannot establish which canonical URL Google has selected without the relevant search data.
A PRACTICAL WALKTHROUGH
When to use it and what to prepare
For developers reviewing a migration, a renamed page or a URL that reaches an unexpected destination.
- Provide the original public URL and, if known, the intended final URL.
- Keep a reviewed oldUrl,newUrl CSV available if you need a migration-map export.
Work through these steps
- Run the original URL when the live adapter is available.
- Inspect each HTTP hop and compare the final destination with your plan.
- Review the page’s canonical separately and recheck after publishing any redirect correction.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
Put the method into context
Illustrative example: /old-service/ redirects through two obsolete paths before reaching /new-service/. Consider a direct permanent redirect only after confirming the new page meets the original buying intent.
How to interpret the result
A redirect moves the request; a canonical declaration suggests a preferred page. They serve different purposes. Google’s selected canonical requires separate Search Console evidence.
Get a more useful result
- Test important legacy URLs individually instead of assuming one successful URL validates a migration.
- Preserve meaningful query behavior where your migration requires it.
Keep these limits in mind
- The check follows at most five redirects and applies a network security policy at every hop.
- A supplied migration map is exported for review; its destinations are not all fetched.
The method and its scope
At most five redirects. Every destination must pass the configured network security policy. Canonical declarations remain hints, not redirects.
Choose your next step
Read the supporting SEO guideReview the service scopeQuestions about redirect & canonical checker
Can I use this tool now?
The usage guide is available. The interactive function still awaits setup and checks; this informational page does not run scans or collect tool inputs.
Is a canonical tag the same as a redirect?
No. A redirect sends the request to another URL. A canonical tag declares a preference while the original page may still load.
Does uploading a migration map test every destination?
No. The map is prepared for review and export. The live check follows the original URL you supplied, within its stated redirect limit.
What is the scope of redirect & canonical checker?
At most five redirects. Every destination must pass the configured network security policy. Canonical declarations remain hints, not redirects.