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Create URL Redirect

Last updated: October 07 2024

Written and researched by experts at Avada Learn more about our methodology
Sam Nguyen Avatar
By Sam

Are broken links and 404 errors haunting your Shopify store, frustrating visitors, and harming your SEO? Creating URL redirects offers a simple yet powerful solution to guide customers seamlessly to the right pages, even if you've changed product links or restructured your site.  

In this article, let's discover how to effortlessly create and manage URL redirects on Shopify, ensuring a smooth and user-friendly browsing experience.

How to Create a URL Redirect on Shopify

Step 1: Go to Navigation Settings

  • Log in to your Shopify admin
  • From the left-hand menu, go to Online Store > Navigation
Create a URL Redirect 1

Step 2: Access URL Redirects

  • Under "Navigation," click on "View URL redirects."
Create a URL Redirect 2

Step 3: Create a New Redirect

  • Click the "Create URL redirect" button.
Create a URL Redirect 3

Step 4: Fill in Redirect Details

  • Redirect from: Enter the old URL (the one you want to redirect from)
  • Redirect to: Enter the new URL (the one you want to redirect visitors to). To redirect to your homepage, use /.
  • Click "Save redirect".
Create a URL Redirect 4

Notes:

  • Shopify automatically creates redirects when you change product or collection handles if you check the box during the edit.
  • For bulk redirects, you can use the "Import" feature to upload a CSV file.
  • Third-party apps like "Bulk 301 Redirects" can offer more advanced redirect management features.

How to Edit URL Redirects on Shopify

Step 1: Access Navigation Settings

  • Log into your Shopify admin.
  • From the left-hand menu, go to Online Store > Navigation.
Create a URL Redirect 5

Step 2: View URL Redirects

  • In the Navigation section, click on View URL redirects.
Create a URL Redirect 6

Step 3: Edit Existing Redirect

  • On the URL Redirects page, you'll see a list of your existing redirects.
  • Locate the redirect you want to edit and click on it.
Create a URL Redirect 7

Step 4: Modify Redirect Details

  • Update the Redirect from (old URL) or Redirect to (new URL) fields as needed.
  • Click Save redirect.
Create a URL Redirect 8

Remember:

  • Use 301 redirects (permanent) for pages that have moved permanently.
  • Use 302 redirects (temporary) for temporary changes or testing.
  • Double-check your changes before saving to avoid creating broken links.
  • After editing, clear your browser cache and test the redirect to ensure it works as expected.

How to Export your URL Redirects on Shopify

Step 1: Access Navigation Settings

  • Log in to your Shopify admin.
  • From the left-hand menu, go to Online Store > Navigation.
Create a URL Redirect 9

Step 2: Go to URL Redirects

  • In the Navigation section, click on View URL redirects.
Create a URL Redirect 10

Step 3: Export Redirects

  • On the URL Redirects page, click the Export button located at the top right corner.
Create a URL Redirect 11

Step 4: Choose Export Options

  • In the popup, select "All redirects."
  • Under "Export as," choose CSV for Excel, Numbers, or other spreadsheet programs
  • Click Export redirects
Create a URL Redirect 12

Step 5: Download the CSV

  • You'll receive an email with a link to download the CSV file.
Create a URL Redirect 13
  • You can also access it directly from the Bulk actions section on the Navigation > URL Redirects page.

Note:

  • The CSV file will contain the "Redirect from" and "Redirect to" URLs for all your redirects.
  • This exported file can be helpful for backup, analysis, or importing into another system.

If you have any trouble, Shopify's help center has further instructions!

FAQs

Yes, Shopify allows you to import a CSV file containing multiple redirects, making it easier to manage large-scale URL changes or migrations.
No, URL redirects only affect incoming traffic from external sources. You'll need to manually update any internal links within your store's content to point to the new URLs.

If you create a redirect for an existing URL, it will override the original page, and visitors will be redirected to the new destination. Be cautious when creating redirects to avoid accidental overwrites.

Currently, Shopify doesn't offer a built-in bulk editing feature for redirects. However, you can export your redirects as a CSV file, make the necessary changes, and then re-import the updated file.

Yes, the Shopify App Store offers several redirect management apps that provide advanced features like bulk editing, 404 error tracking, and more granular control over your redirects.

In conclusion

You have just finished learning the entire process of creating and managing URL redirects on Shopify, enabling you to seamlessly guide visitors to the correct pages and preserve your site's SEO value. We recommend regularly reviewing your redirects and implementing best practices to ensure a smooth and user-friendly experience for your customers.

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Sam
Sam
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Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.