Page With Redirect Report in Google Search Console

Redirects ensure users and search engines reach the correct pages when URLs change. Google Search Console’s "Page with Redirect" report helps you monitor these redirects to prevent issues like wasted crawl budget, slower loading times, and loss of link authority. Here's what you need to know:

• Redirect Types:
  • 301: Permanent, best for SEO, passes most link equity.
  • 302/307: Temporary, retain original URL in the index but should be used sparingly.
• Common Issues:
  • Redirect chains (e.g., A → B → C) waste resources and slow down your site.
  • Improper redirects can hurt SEO and user experience.
• Fixing Redirects:
  • Simplify chains to direct paths (A → C).
  • Update internal links to point to the final URL.
  • Regularly review and clean up redirects using GSC and tools like Screaming Frog.
• SEO Impact:
  • Redirects affect crawl budget, page speed, and link equity.
  • Properly managed redirects preserve rankings and improve site efficiency.

Use GSC to analyze and fix redirects, ensuring your site remains fast, user-friendly, and optimized for search engines.

What Are Redirects and Why Does GSC Track Them?

What Are URL Redirects?

A URL redirect sends users and search engines from one webpage to another. Think of it as a set of instructions that ensures smooth navigation when content is moved or updated. Redirects are essential for maintaining search rankings, managing site changes, and ensuring users land on the right pages.

For instance, if an online store reorganizes its product categories, redirects make sure customers using old bookmarks are still directed to the correct product pages. Without them, users might hit a dead end, and search engines could misinterpret the changes. Knowing how redirects function is essential to making the most of Google Search Console (GSC) tools for monitoring and refining them.

Why Does GSC Show Redirects?

Google Search Console helps you keep track of your site's redirects with the "Pages with redirect" report. This report flags potential problems that could impact SEO and user experience.

"Regular monitoring of the 'Pages with redirect' report in GSC is crucial for maintaining optimal site performance and preserving link equity", as stated in Rank Math's Redirections Manager documentation.

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Types of Redirects

When you set up redirects, Google doesn’t index the page with the redirect itself - it indexes the final URL where the redirect leads. That’s why getting redirects right is so important. They help maintain your site’s visibility in search results and ensure Google’s crawlers use their time efficiently.

Different types of redirects serve different purposes, and knowing how they work is key when managing your site through tools like Google Search Console. Let’s break them down.

301 Redirects

A 301 redirect is your go-to option for permanent changes. It passes most of the link authority from the old URL to the new one, which is great for SEO. Use this when you’re moving content to a new location, whether it’s part of a site redesign or a domain change. This type of redirect tells Google, “Hey, this is the new permanent home for this content,” prompting it to update its index accordingly.

302 and 307 Redirects

302 and 307 redirects are for temporary situations, like when you’re running tests or performing maintenance. They tell search engines that the original URL is still valid and should remain indexed. However, these redirects need to be monitored closely. If left in place too long, Google might start treating them as permanent, which could lead to indexing issues.

With these basics in mind, let’s dive into how redirects affect your site’s SEO performance.

How Redirects Affect SEO

Redirects play a key role in managing your website, but they can also influence your SEO in several ways. Knowing how they work helps you make smarter choices when handling them through Google Search Console.

Crawl Budget Concerns

Redirects can eat into your crawl budget. Every time Googlebot processes a redirect in a chain (like URL A → URL B → URL C), it uses up resources. This leaves fewer resources for crawling the pages that truly matter on your site.

Slower Loading Times

Redirect chains can slow down your website. Each redirect adds extra HTTP requests, which can delay page loading. For example, every redirect might add 150-300 milliseconds. On a slower connection, like 3G, a three-step chain could add nearly a full second. Considering that Google reports 53% of mobile users abandon a site if it takes over 3 seconds to load, this can have a big impact.

Loss of Link Authority

Although 301 redirects pass most link equity to the new URL, some value is lost. The more redirects in a chain, the greater the loss. Think of it like water flowing through a series of pipes - some pressure (or link value) diminishes at each joint. To maintain your SEO power, keep redirect chains to a minimum.

"Proper management of redirects is crucial to maintain website performance and rankings. Regular monitoring through Google Search Console can help identify and address redirect issues promptly, ensuring optimal crawl efficiency and link value preservation."

The takeaway? Handle redirects with care. Use Google Search Console to monitor and resolve issues, avoid unnecessary chains, and keep your redirect setup clean. This way, you’ll preserve your crawl budget, maintain page speed, and retain as much link value as possible - all of which are vital for keeping your rankings strong.

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How to Use GSC to Find Redirects

Now that you know how redirects affect SEO, let’s dive into using Google Search Console (GSC) to spot and manage them.

Using GSC to Analyze Redirects

Start by opening Google Search Console and navigating to Indexing > Pages. Here, you’ll find the "Page with Redirect" report, which lists all the URLs Google has identified as redirecting to other pages.

For a deeper look, use the URL Inspection Tool. Simply paste a URL to check its redirect status and path. This tool is especially helpful for verifying redirects like HTTP to HTTPS, non-www to www, and spotting any redirect chains.

When analyzing redirects in the report, clicking on a URL will show you:

• The final destination URL
• The type of redirect (e.g., 301, 302, or 307)
• The last time Google crawled the redirect
• Any potential issues with how the redirect is set up

If you find any problematic redirects, address them right away. Fix incorrect setups, update outdated links, or eliminate unnecessary redirect chains. These steps will help keep your site running smoothly and retain its SEO value.

Pro Tip: Check your XML sitemap for redirecting URLs. Replace them with the final destination URLs to save crawl budget and ensure Google focuses on your key pages.

How to Fix Redirect Chains

Redirect chains happen when one redirect leads to another, creating a sequence that can slow down your site, waste crawl budget, and weaken link equity. Fixing these issues is key to maintaining your site's performance and SEO health.

Tools to Identify Redirect Chains

To find and analyze redirect chains, you can use tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider, which crawls your site and pinpoints redirect patterns. Another great option is Sitebulb, which provides clear visualizations of redirect paths, making it easier to identify and address problems.

Steps to Fix Redirect Chains

To fix redirect chains, start by auditing your site's redirects and addressing any inefficiencies. Here's how:

1. Audit Your Redirects

Use Google Search Console's "Page with Redirect" report to export a list of all redirects on your site. This will give you a clear picture of where issues might be occurring.

2. Simplify Redirect Paths

Redirect chains can slow things down, so replace them with direct 301 redirects to the final destination URL. For instance, instead of having:

old-page.html → intermediate-page.html → new-page.html

Simplify it to:

old-page.html → new-page.html

This ensures a smoother and faster user experience.

3. Update Internal Links

Check your internal links to ensure they point directly to the final destination URL, rather than going through a redirect. This helps preserve link equity and reduces unnecessary server requests.

"Regular monitoring of redirects is essential to maintain optimal site performance. By consolidating redirects and updating internal links, you can prevent crawl budget issues and ensure better page speeds." - From Google Search Console documentation

Pro Tip: Always test your redirects thoroughly in both development and live environments to confirm they're working correctly. Also, make sure your XML sitemap only includes final destination URLs.

Tips for Managing Redirects

Use 301 Redirects for Permanent Changes

If you're moving content permanently or reorganizing your site, go with 301 redirects. These ensure you keep your SEO value and link equity intact. You can set them up through server settings, CMS plugins (like those for WordPress), or by editing server configuration files directly.

Monitor and Streamline Redirects

Make sure your redirects point directly to their final destination. Avoid redirect chains or loops, as they can slow down your site and hurt performance. Regularly check redirects using Google Search Console's "Page with redirect" report. Also, test them on both desktop and mobile devices to confirm they load quickly and provide a smooth user experience.

"The 'Page with redirect' status in Google Search Console is generally normal but can indicate issues if it applies to important, canonical pages."

Pro Tip: When auditing redirects, pay attention to these areas:

• Server and CMS settings to ensure redirects are set up properly
• Redirects tied to SSL for secure connections
• Keeping a consistent URL structure to avoid confusion

Conclusion

Managing redirects effectively using Google Search Console plays a big role in keeping your website running smoothly. The "Page with Redirect" report helps pinpoint issues that could impact your site's performance and visibility.

Redirects influence three major areas: keeping SEO value intact by ensuring link equity flows properly through your site, using your crawl budget efficiently for better indexing, and ensuring pages load quickly. Regularly checking the redirect report in GSC helps you spot and fix problems before they grow.

To handle redirects successfully, consistent monitoring and proper implementation are key. Avoiding redirect chains and setting up redirects correctly helps maintain link equity and keeps your site performing well. Tools designed for managing redirects can simplify the process and help keep your site in good shape.

Although redirects are a common part of website management, they require careful attention. Regularly reviewing Google Search Console's redirect report, using redirects wisely, and managing your XML sitemap can help ensure your site stays technically sound and visible in search results.

FAQs

What does "Page with redirect" mean in Google Search Console?

When Google Search Console labels a URL as "Page with redirect" in the Coverage report, it means that the URL redirects to another location. Google excludes these pages from indexing to avoid duplication and keep its search index organized. This is perfectly fine if the redirect is intentional and properly configured.

For instance, if you've rebranded from old-domain.com to new-domain.com, Google Search Console will list your old URLs as "Pages with redirect" to confirm that they now point to the new domain.

Knowing how redirects work in Google Search Console helps you choose the right type for your site's specific needs.

Which redirect is best for SEO?

For SEO, the 301 redirect is the go-to choice. It's a permanent redirect that tells both search engines and users that a page has moved to a new location for good. This makes it ideal for cases like domain changes, site restructuring, permanent URL updates, or merging duplicate pages.

Temporary redirects, like 302 and 307, are meant for short-term use. Leaving them in place for too long can lead to indexing issues.

"For example, not all 'Page with redirect' issues need to be fixed. If the redirect is intentional and correctly set up, it does not negatively impact SEO."

Here’s a quick breakdown of redirect types: