URL Redirects 101

If a user tries to access a store URL that no longer exists, they might run into a 404 error message.

Basic URL redirects are supported natively by Shopify and allow you to send visitors from an outdated URL to another URL.

Shopify redirects the user browser anytime it detects a redirect on an old URL. This occurs before your theme is loaded and is also known as an HTTP 301 permanent redirect.

Redirect Components Explained

The redirect function has two parts:

1. Redirect from: this is the original URL that users might have bookmarked
2. Redirect to: this is the new URL or new page that users should be directed to

The format of both fields can use the subdirectory or path that appears after your .com domain (and includes the slash). For example, if we want to redirect visits to this URL:

We would specify the 'Redirect from' field as /collections/winter-2019 .

You can redirect users to your store, your homepage and also to external websites:

• Store format: specify all content after the domain name (including the slash) /collections/winter
• Homepage format: input single slash /
• External URL format: copy and paste the entire URL

Limitations

There are several limitations to using URL redirects:

1. Redirects must match the URL exactly (aside from capitalization). You cannot configure a redirect wildcards using a basic redirect protocol. For example: redirecting any URL that starts with /old/ to a new URL. If you need this kind of redirect you can use pattern redirects or wildcard redirects instead.
2. Redirects cannot point to other redirects.
3. Some URLs in Shopify cannot be redirected. For example, if you have a published product at a URL, Shopify will ignore any redirects for that URL since there is a product there. (However, if you un-publish the product the redirect would be checked).
4. You are limited to 100,000 redirects.

Ablestar: Managing URL Redirects

From the Ablestar Link Manager dashboard, you have two options to manage missing pages that require URL redirects:

1. 'Redirects' navigation menu: here you can search, update, remove and create new redirects or wildcard redirects.
2. 'Broken Link Visits' navigation menu: here you can add a 'Redirect to' configuration to any missing pages

Shopify Admin: Managing URL Redirects

You can also manage your URL redirects from the Shopify admin. From the Shopify admin dashboard:

1. Click the 'Online Store' navigation menu
2. Select 'Navigation' from the sub menu
3. Click on the URL redirects button
4. Once the 'URL redirects' page appears, click the Create URL redirect button

✅ Tips and Troubleshooting

• Learn how to use wildcard redirects instead of the basic URL redirects
• Get started with your first scan for broken links

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