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Redirect chain checker

Follow every hop a URL takes — status codes, http/https, timing and the final address. Catch redirect chains, loops and downgrades before they cost you rankings or clicks.

Check a URL

Why the redirect chain is worth checking

Every hop between a link and its destination adds latency and a chance of failure, and each one can dilute or drop a signal — link equity, the click id on a tracking URL, UTM parameters, the referrer. Search engines follow a few hops but treat long chains as a quality problem; ad networks may reject a destination that bounces through several redirects. This tool follows the chain server-side and shows every hop: the URL, the status code, the scheme, timing and the final address. A single 301 straight to the canonical https URL is ideal; two or more hops, a 302 where a 301 belongs, an http step after an https one, or a loop are all worth fixing.

What it does and does not follow

The check uses HEAD requests from our server. Only HTTP-level redirects (3xx with a Location header) are followed — a page that redirects via a meta-refresh tag or client-side script shows as a 200 here. Because the request comes from a server with a bot user agent, a link that cloaks on user agent or geo can resolve differently than it would for a real click, and some servers return 403 or 405 to HEAD while serving a browser fine. For safety the checker refuses any URL whose hostname resolves to a private, loopback or reserved IP range, so it cannot be used to probe internal networks.

Frequently asked questions

Why do redirect chains matter for SEO and ads?
Every hop adds latency and a chance of failure, and each one can dilute or drop signals — link equity, the click ID on a tracking URL, UTM parameters. Search engines follow a few hops but treat long chains as a quality problem; ad networks may reject a destination that bounces through several redirects.
301 vs 302 vs 307 vs 308 — which should I use?
301 (or 308) for a permanent move — it passes ranking signals and is cached. 302 (or 307) for a temporary one — signals stay with the original URL. Using 302 for a permanent change is a common mistake that slows consolidation.
The tool says my host is blocked — why?
The checker refuses URLs whose hostname resolves to a private, loopback or reserved IP range (localhost, 10.x, 192.168.x, 169.254.x and similar). That guard prevents the server being used to probe internal networks.
Does it follow meta-refresh or JavaScript redirects?
No. Only HTTP-level redirects (3xx with a Location header) are followed. A page that redirects via a meta-refresh tag or client-side script will show as a 200 here, and search engines treat those redirects as weaker signals anyway.
Why is the final status 403 or 405 when the page works in my browser?
Some servers block or reject the HEAD request or an unfamiliar user agent while serving a normal browser fine. The redirect chain up to that point is still accurate; the final status may not reflect what a real visitor sees.
Can I use it to check a cloaked or affiliate tracking link?
You can trace where a tracking link resolves to and whether parameters survive the hops. It fetches from our server with a bot user agent, so a link that cloaks on user agent or geo may resolve differently than it would for a real click.
What is an ideal result?
Zero redirects, or a single 301 straight to the canonical https URL with a 200 at the end. No loops, no http step after an https one, no chain of three or more.
Is the URL I check stored?
It is passed in the query string so the result page can be shared or bookmarked, and it appears in normal server logs. It is not saved to a database or used for anything else.

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