People can be left using the wrong version of your website as a result of changing your website's domain or desired address. An Htaccess Redirect Generator allows you to develop Apache redirect rules without having to manually write each rule. Free SEO Pro's Htaccess Redirect Generator specialises in redirecting a site from a www version to the non-www version and vice-versa. Then type in your domain, select the desired "hostname format" and generate your .htaccess code. It is helpful for website owners, bloggers, developers or SEO professionals looking for consistent website addresses and fewer redirect configuration errors.
Htaccess Redirect Generator can be a software that is offered online that generates redirect directions for websites that are hosted by compatible Apache web servers.
A Redirect shall tell the browser or other HTTP client to get a different URL.
For instance visitors to www.example.com to be directed to example.com.
It's not necessary to write Apache rewrite conditions by hand, it could be generated.
Free SEO Pro Htaccess Redirect Generator
Has a four step interface – displays.
It has the following controls:
Select redirect type - Redirect www to non-www and non-www to www.
Domain name: Type in the domain name (omitting www).
Get code: To use the Get .htaccess Code control.
Copy the code: Copy the instructions that you generated, and paste them in the .htaccess file of your site.
In particular, the actual user interface supports the redirection of a host name. The explanatory text for the page speaks of 301 redirects and 302 redirects, and redirect individual pages or via https, but they are not confirmed as possible generator features.
Free Seo Pro
It can aid website owners when deciding on which kind of website they want.
It can be used by the developers to create an initial configuration to be used for an Apache hosted web site.
This may prove helpful for SEO professionals when auditing duplicate versions of their hostname.
An .htaccess file is a file containing instructions that can be applied to requests in a directory by apache.
Depending on how the server is configured, those instructions can be used to direct redirects, URL rewriting, access restrictions, and more.
Once an address is requested matching a redirect rule, the server can reply with an “HTTP redirect” response to the requesting client to send it to a different address.
Consider these addresses:
https://www.example.com
https://example.com
They are not sharing the same hostnames, although both might support the same website.
Either can be used as your preferred hostname.
A redirect can be used to redirect requests from the alternative version, to your preferred location.
It is the constant application, not the merit in itself of whether it is www or non-www that is superior in terms of SEO.
Apache's mod_rewrite module features rules which match incoming requests and decide just how they should be addressed.
RewriteCond will set up a condition — a condition that must be met in order to trigger an associated rule.
RewriteRule tells rewriting that what is to be matched and what is going somewhere else.
Unless you do this on a machine with no identity context, these directives can help normalize host names but have different effects depending on context.
Apache HTTP Server 2.4 version
The 301 redirect means that the resource has been permanently moved.
The 302 redirect is used for a temporary redirect.
If you'd like to change the hostname setting permanently, a permanent redirect is usually suitable.
More appropriate if the original address is likely to be active again is a temporary redirect.
Selecting the right status provides background on the change for browsers and search engines.
It must be given a redirect direction and a domain name, within the well-visible user interface.
Prepare your configuration by following the steps below.
First, launch the Redirect Generator for Free SEO Pro Htaccess.
Under Select redirect type.
Select Redirect from www to non-www if you prefer that those who type www at the front of your domain not be directed to your site.
Or, if you prefer to use the www version, select Redirect from non-www to www.
Locate Enter your domain name.
Type in your domain without the www (as indicated).
Click on Get .htaccess Code.
Be sure to check the code that is generated before copy-pasting the code into the corresponding .htaccess file.
Determine if your hosting environment is Apache and it has the required .htaccess directives.
Instead some hosting providers offer redirects with a control panel, a CDN or the web server configuration.
Before editing your .htaccess file, make a copy of your current .htaccess file.
But also, see if there are already any hostname or HTTPS redirect rules on your site.
The .htaccess file for many Apache web sites is found in the document root for the site.
However, it may be in the proper place or not based on the structure of the directory you have on your server and the configuration.
The file is typically edited via the hosting file manager, FTP client or other authorized method of server management.
Once you have made the changes, test the website as soon as.
Examples: Illustrative examples of a possible Apache configuration: It was not created based on a Full Interactive Test with Free SEO Pro's tool.
Suppose your Web site requires:
https://www.example.com
You'd like visitors to utilize:
https://example.com
Choose from the generator:
Redirect from WWW to non-WWW
Enter:
example.com
The desired effect is that anyone who accesses the site via www.example.com will be rerouted to example.com.
A very basic illustrative Apache configuration is:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule %{HTTP_HOST} www\.example\.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://example.com/$1 [R=301,L]
The condition is whether the requested website name (hostname) is www.example.com.
The rule will forward matching request to the non-www version of the scheme https.
The flags [R=301,L] tell it to issue a permanent redirect and not continue with the rewrite ruleset for the current pass.
For this example, it is assumed that the target is capable of https and that the apache is configured to allow these directives.
Once a rule is installed, you can request:
https://www.example.com/about
The anticipated destination is:
https://example.com/about
Test to see that the server responds with the expected redirect and destination is loaded correctly.
Test the homepage, another internal page and urls with query parameters as well.
The changing of the domain format can be done by preserving the requested path using a hostname redirect.
The rule created, however, has to be suitable for your hosting environment.
Don't expect sample configuration to run properly on all Apache server machines.
The Apache generated code is a configuration directive, it does not indicate that a redirect is enforced.
Rule is only applied to your website after it has been installed in the right place and picked up by the server.
Element Purpose
RewriteEngine On Turns rewrite processing on to handle rewriting
RewriteCond - Add a matching condition.
HTTP_HOST The hostname requested in the URL, if any, (without the protocol.)
RewriteRule Statement of the rewrite rule and target.
R=301 Permanent (HTTP) redirect
L Ends the processing of the current rewrite ruleset
These rules are from the official mod_rewrite documentation for Apache.
Apache HTTP Server software v2.4 (www.apache.org).
Test the original address to see if it does lead to the proper address.
If you want to see this in more detail, use browser developer tools or an HTTP client to view the HTTP response status and Location header.
Make sure that the destination does not redirect again to the source host name.
If your site is accessible via both the www and non-www versions—decide on one you want to use.
Redirect the alternate host name, don't have wasted "competitive" alternate versions.
Some changes in behavior of domain aliases or redirects may happen in the course of hosting migrations.
While migrating a site to another server, check and review your Hostname Rules.
Using a hostname audit will give you any inconsistencies or redirect chains or versions of the same page.
Solving those issues ensures a consistent URL pattern.
You can use a permanent redirect to help bring traffic in to your desired hostname.
If you're moving to a new page or new domain, you may need more redirect rules than the ones listed on this redirect generator.
When redirect configuring conflicts with other rule sets, unexpected behavior may occur.
Would it be possible to investigate Problem What to investigate?
Receiving a redirect loop Conflict with hosted names/HTTPS rules
http 500 error An invalid Apache command or an unsupported command (directive) has been read by the server.
No redirect Your server configuration is not set up to redirect or the file locating is incorrect.
More than one destination - domain name or replacement pattern
This is because of having multiple redirects on the host, CDN rules, and Apache rules that have an overlap.
HTTPS problems Certificate/Proxy/HTTPS detection
A redirect loop is when requests are cyclically bounced between addresses with no endpoint.
One rule could force non-www to www and another could force www to non-www.
Look at the overall redirect setup – hosting or CDN.
A redirect chain is a series of redirects that a visitor must undergo in order to get to the desired page.
For example:
URL A → URL B → URL C
If possible, forward the original address to the actual address.
This decreases prior unnecessary requests and makes maintenance easier.
Free SEO Pro's generator is visible, and offers two redirect options for a hostname. This should not be used as a definite full-featured generator for all apache redirects situations.
The page does not provide clear information on downloadable files, output limit, data retention or even specific compatibility with hosting setups.
These .htaccess rules are for compatible Apache servers. They don't get interpreted directly by Nginx.
On top of that, there may be a CDN or reverse proxy involved which will influence the redirect, especially if https is terminated earlier than hitting Apache.
The documentation for redirecting and remapping Apache can be found here.
explains why some Redirect are better setup at Server Level.
Apache HTTP Server software 2.4
Always keep a backup that works and test changes first.
assists you in creating Crawler instructions. A different purpose than redirects and not to replace redirects.
can be of great assistance to you for decoding characters when you are facing with troubles while typing weird addresses on the web.
has relevance as a result of the changes of URL; as there might still be old internal links that point to removed pages.
After setting up these changes, offers another approach to exploring the information regarding website responses.
When redirects are functioning, change (edit) key internal links so that they point to the host name desired. Redirects have their uses for old addresses, but it's usually navigation and sitemap that reference the final address.
An Htaccess Redirect Generator generates apache redirection rules to redirect requests from one address to another. The visible part of the Free SEO Pro tool deals with switching hostnames from www to non-www and vice versa. The resulting instructions have to be put on a compatible server to have an impact on visitors.
Select if you want to redirect www or non-www (or vice versa). Type in your domain name (minus the www), and choose Get .htaccess Code. Check generated instructions, backup your current setup and install the rule in the corresponding file.
The Free SEO Pro Search Engine Generator is included in a suite of free marketing-oriented search engine optimization tools offered by the site. It appears in public, in a form. Although the page does not explicitly mention any limitations of use or all of the possible restrictions on your account, you should check with the working service for specifics.
A 301 redirect is an HTTP status code that signals that the page that is being redirect has actually relocated permanently. This information can be used by browsers and search engines for URL following. Generally appropriate when you change your preferred hostname permanently or transfer a webpage.
The 301 is used for a permanent move, and 302 is used for a temporary redirect. Select depending on whether you anticipate that the sender will reply to the original site. Free SEO Pro's visual version doesn't include a 301-versus-302 setting; it chooses the direction of the hostname.
Yes. Rewrite conditions and rules can be used in a compatible apache server to redirect web traffic from a www hostname to its non-www version. This direction is explicitly included in the Free SEO Pro's generator. Test both homepage and internal-page urls after setting up configuration.
Yes. The generator offers a different option, to redirect addresses to their www counterparts. Select the hostname that you want to use prior to creating a rule. Don't allow redirects on your site that point to other competing sites as they may lead to redirect loops which cause visitors to not reach you.
Add the code(s) you've reviewed to the .htaccess file, which may be located in the document root of your website. The specific location will differ, depending on Apache and hosting configurations. Before copying, ensure that you have backed up the original file, and if you are copying instructions regarding configuration in a file that will also include non-applicable instructions, do not delete them.
Yes. An HTTP 500 error may be generated by incorrect syntax, unrecognized directives or inappropriate configuration of the server. If the issue begins manifesting itself after editing .htaccess then back up the original .htaccess file and check the server error logs. Re-try corrected rules prior to re-deployment.
Not directly. Nginx is not Apache and therefore doesn't use .htaccess files. Has a unique redirecting configuration system. If you are using Nginx as your server I would prefer using the proper structure in the server configuration or a supported hosting control in place of Apache Rewrite rules installation.
Apache can, if it's possible in the server and certificate configuration. But, there is no distinct choice for changing your site from http to https in Free SEO Pro's visible generator. This can require separate rules, particularly if using a CDN or reverse proxy.
Yes. Apache can allow redirecting between the individual web pages such as permanent redirects and temporary redirects. But visible Free SEO Pro generator is specific to www/non-www changes to hostnames. Individual page redirects may require a separate rule / configuration method.
A 301 redirect can signal the permanent change of a URL, and can assist search engines in finding them. Does not promise higher rankings. Update internal links as needed, preserve relevant content, and redirect old URL to new ones where applicable.
Redirect loop is when the URL's keep redirecting back and forth, with no end goal. Make sure there are no conflicting rules in Apache, your hosting control panel and any CDN. If you need to, revert to a configuration that is working, and test each redirect direction independently.
Get the original URL and ensure it is going to the intended target. Check the Location header if present and Check the HTTP status code if possible. Try all variants of host names, in-page, http and https, query strings, etc. and see if anything is there out of the ordinary or not supposed to happen.
