htaccess Redirect Generator

.htaccess Redirect Generator

Generate common Apache .htaccess redirect rules for websites.

Redirect Type

Domain

Generated .htaccess Rule

Common Uses

Force HTTPS on all traffic
Choose either WWW or non-WWW as canonical domain
Redirect an old page to a new URL

Intro

Generate common Apache .htaccess redirect rules for domain changes, HTTPS enforcement, www redirects, and URL forwarding.

This tool helps you build redirect rules without having to write Apache rewrite syntax from scratch. It is useful when you need to send visitors and search engines from one URL to another, standardize your preferred domain, or force secure HTTPS access.

It is especially useful when you need to:

redirect HTTP to HTTPS
redirect non-www to www, or the reverse
move an old page to a new URL
forward an entire domain to another domain
preserve SEO value during site changes
avoid common rewrite rule mistakes

What Is an .htaccess Redirect?

An .htaccess redirect is a rule placed in an Apache .htaccess file that tells the web server to send requests from one URL to another.

Redirects are commonly used for:

site migrations
domain changes
HTTPS enforcement
canonical domain handling
URL cleanup
preserving old links after page changes

Instead of returning the original page, Apache sends a redirect response telling the browser or crawler where to go next.

This is useful because it helps:

users reach the correct page
search engines update indexed URLs
old links keep working
traffic flow remain consistent after changes

What This Tool Generates

This generator creates starter Apache redirect rules for common website scenarios.

The current live page includes options for:

HTTP to HTTPS
www to non-www
non-www to www
old page to new page
domain to domain
custom redirect

Common Redirect Types

HTTP to HTTPS Redirect

Use this when you want all visitors to access the secure HTTPS version of the site.

This is commonly used when:

an SSL certificate is installed
you want one secure canonical version of the site
browsers and search engines should always use HTTPS
you are cleaning up mixed access paths

This is one of the most important redirects for modern websites.

www to non-www Redirect

Use this when you want:

www.example.com to redirect to example.com

This helps standardize one preferred hostname so users and search engines do not treat both versions as separate URLs.

non-www to www Redirect

Use this when you want:

example.com to redirect to www.example.com

This is equally valid as long as you stay consistent across the site, internal links, and canonical settings.

Old Page to New Page Redirect

Use this when a page has moved permanently.

Examples:

old blog post URL to new article URL
outdated service page to updated version
deleted landing page to replacement content

This helps preserve traffic and avoids broken links.

Domain to Domain Redirect

Use this when a full site or brand moves to a different domain.

This is useful for:

domain rebranding
merging websites
moving from a temporary domain to a permanent one
consolidating old projects

Custom Redirect

Use a custom rule when your redirect logic needs something more specific, such as:

pattern-based matching
conditional rules
path preservation
advanced rewrite behavior

Why Redirects Matter

Redirects are not just for convenience. They also affect:

user experience
SEO continuity
link preservation
crawl efficiency
canonical site structure
migration success

A good redirect strategy helps prevent:

broken links
duplicate hostname issues
insecure HTTP access
traffic loss after URL changes
confusion between old and new site structures

For many websites, redirects are one of the most important parts of a migration or cleanup project.

301 vs 302 Redirects

Understanding the difference between redirect types is important.

301 Redirect

A 301 is a permanent redirect.

Use it when:

the move is permanent
the old URL should no longer be used
you want search engines to treat the new URL as the main destination

This is the most common choice for page moves, HTTPS enforcement, and domain canonicalization.

302 Redirect

A 302 is usually treated as a temporary redirect.

Use it when:

the move is temporary
you expect the original URL to return later
you are testing or temporarily rerouting traffic

For most long-term site changes, 301 is the better choice.

Common Redirect Use Cases

Forcing HTTPS

A redirect sends all insecure HTTP requests to the secure HTTPS version of the site.

This is useful for:

site security
browser trust
canonical consistency
reducing duplicate access paths

Choosing a Preferred Domain

A redirect helps enforce one version of the hostname.

Examples:

always use example.com
always use www.example.com

Without this, users and crawlers may access the same site through multiple versions.

Redirecting Deleted or Renamed Pages

If a page is removed or renamed, a redirect can send users to the best replacement instead of leaving them on a broken URL.

Domain Migrations

A domain-to-domain redirect is important when moving a site from one brand or hostname to another.

This helps preserve:

bookmarks
external links
user trust
search visibility

Campaign or Vanity URLs

Redirects can also be used to send short or memorable URLs to deeper destination pages.

Common .htaccess Redirect Mistakes

Redirect Loops

A bad rule can cause the browser to redirect repeatedly without reaching a final destination.

This often happens when:

HTTP and HTTPS rules conflict
www and non-www rules fight each other
proxy or CDN logic overlaps Apache rules

Using the Wrong Redirect Type

Using a temporary redirect for a permanent move can create confusion for users and search engines.

Stacking Too Many Rules

Large .htaccess files with many overlapping rules can become hard to maintain and debug.

Forgetting HTTPS Preconditions

Do not force HTTPS unless the certificate is installed and the HTTPS site actually works.

Breaking Existing Paths

A domain or page redirect may accidentally drop or change paths if the rule is not written carefully.

Testing Only One Hostname

A redirect may work on one version of the site but fail on another.

Always test:

HTTP
HTTPS
www
non-www

How to Use Redirect Rules Safely

A safe workflow for redirect changes is:

choose the exact redirect goal
generate the starting rule
back up the current .htaccess file
add the new rule carefully
test all hostname variations
confirm there are no redirect loops
verify old URLs reach the correct final destination

This is especially important on live production sites, where one bad rewrite can affect the whole domain.

Best Practices for Apache Redirects

When working with .htaccess redirects, it helps to:

keep one clear canonical hostname
prefer 301 for permanent site changes
test redirects with and without www
test both HTTP and HTTPS
avoid duplicate or conflicting rules
document why a redirect exists
remove outdated rules during cleanup
recheck redirects after hosting or CDN changes

For larger sites, it is also smart to keep redirect logic documented outside the .htaccess file so future changes are easier to manage.

Example Redirect Scenarios

Redirect HTTP to HTTPS

Use this when the goal is:

secure all traffic
standardize the site on HTTPS
reduce duplicate access paths

Redirect www to non-www

Use this when your preferred canonical domain is the root domain without www.

Redirect non-www to www

Use this when your preferred canonical domain includes www.

Redirect an Old Page to a New Page

Use this when:

a page slug changes
content is reorganized
an old resource has a new permanent location

Redirect One Domain to Another

Use this when:

a project changes brand
a business moves to a new domain
multiple sites are being consolidated

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an .htaccess redirect do?

It tells Apache to send requests from one URL or hostname to another URL or hostname.

Should I use a 301 or 302 redirect?

Use 301 for permanent changes and 302 for temporary ones.

Can I force HTTPS with .htaccess?

Yes, as long as HTTPS is already configured and working properly on the site.

What is the difference between www and non-www redirects?

They control which hostname version becomes the preferred canonical version of the site.

Why is my redirect looping?

This usually happens because multiple rules conflict or because HTTP/HTTPS and www/non-www logic overlap incorrectly.

Do redirects help preserve old links?

Yes. Proper redirects help visitors and search engines reach the new destination instead of hitting a dead page.

Related Tools

You may also find these tools useful:

Final Note

This .htaccess Redirect Generator is useful for building common Apache redirect rules quickly without having to remember rewrite syntax from memory.

Use it to create a starting rule, then test carefully across all domain variations so you do not introduce loops, broken paths, or conflicting redirect behavior.