How to resolve redirect errors/ "Failure: Redirect Error"

 # "Failure: Redirect Error" in Google Search Console: Causes and Solutions

When you see "Failure: Redirect Error" in Google Search Console, it means Googlebot (Google's web crawler) encountered an issue while following a redirect chain on your website. This can negatively impact your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) by preventing Google from properly indexing your pages.

Here are the common causes of redirect errors:

Infinite Redirects: A loop where redirects keep pointing to each other, never reaching a final destination.

Loop Redirects: Redirecting a URL back to itself.

Incorrect Redirects: Redirecting to a non-existent URL (often a 404 error).

Misuse of 301 Redirects: Using a 301 (permanent redirect) when a 302 (temporary redirect) is more appropriate.

Incorrect Response Codes: Using the wrong HTTP response code (e.g., 404 instead of 301) for the redirect.

robots.txt Blocking: The robots.txt file unintentionally blocking the redirect page.

JavaScript Redirects: Using JavaScript code for redirects, which can be unreliable for SEO.

How to resolve redirect errors:

Identify the Redirect Chain: Use browser developer tools or a redirect checker to see the complete redirect chain for the affected URL.

Analyze the Error: Based on the redirect chain, pinpoint the specific cause of the error (e.g., infinite loop, incorrect URL).

Fix the Issue:

Simplify Redirect Chain: Reduce the number of redirects to a maximum of 1 or 2.

Correct Redirect URLs: Ensure all redirect URLs are valid and exist.

Use Appropriate Redirect Codes: Use 301 for permanent redirects and 302 for temporary redirects.

Adjust robots.txt: Unblock the redirect page from robots.txt (if necessary).

Avoid JavaScript Redirects: If possible, rely on server-side redirects for better SEO.

Verify the Fix: Use Google Search Console's "URL Inspection Tool" to test the fixed URL and confirm it resolves correctly.