Generate .htaccess redirects without breaking your site
Build 301/302 redirects, force HTTPS or www, and handle domain migrations — copy the output straight into your .htaccess file.
# BEGIN WordPress section in your existing .htaccess file, not inside it — WordPress regenerates that section automatically and will remove anything placed within it. Always back up your current .htaccess before editing.
Why Getting Redirects Right Actually Matters
A wrong or missing redirect doesn’t just show visitors a 404 — it can quietly cost you search rankings, since a dead link passes nothing to the page that replaced it. A properly built 301 redirect tells both browsers and search engines that a page has permanently moved, carrying its ranking signals to the new URL instead of losing them.
Most site owners only think about redirects after something breaks — a moved page, a domain change, a URL restructure — when a five-minute fix beforehand would have prevented the issue entirely.
How the Redirect Generator Works
Building correct redirect rules takes three steps, with no manual syntax to memorize.
Choose Your Rules
Toggle on site-wide rules like forcing HTTPS or www, or add specific old-URL-to-new-URL redirects.
Watch the Code Build
Valid Apache syntax generates live in the editor panel as you fill in each field.
Copy and Paste Carefully
Copy the output and place it above the WordPress-managed block in your .htaccess file.
What Do These Redirect Rules Actually Do?
Force HTTPS
Redirects any visitor arriving at the unencrypted http:// version of your site to the secure https:// version — expected by both browsers and search engines today.
WWW Handling
Picks one canonical version of your domain — with or without www — so search engines don’t treat the two as separate, competing sites.
Domain Migration
Sends every visitor and every page from an old domain to its equivalent page on a new one, preserving the specific URL path rather than dumping everyone on the homepage.
Custom Page Redirects
A 301 for a permanently moved page tells search engines to transfer ranking signals to the new URL; a 302 signals the move is temporary and shouldn’t transfer those signals yet.
Redirect Best Practices Worth Following
- Always back up your .htaccess file before editing it. A single syntax error in this file can take your entire site offline until it’s fixed.
- Never place custom rules inside the WordPress-managed block. WordPress regenerates that section automatically and will silently remove anything added inside it.
- Avoid chaining redirects. A redirects to B, which redirects to C, adds unnecessary load time and can confuse search engines — point A directly to C instead.
- Use 301 for permanent moves, 302 for temporary ones. Using the wrong type either wastes ranking signal transfer or delays it when it shouldn’t be delayed.
- Test every redirect after saving. Open the old URL in a fresh browser tab to confirm it actually lands where you expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect?
A 301 redirect signals a permanent move and transfers ranking signals to the new URL. A 302 signals a temporary move and generally doesn’t transfer those signals the same way, since search engines expect the original URL to return.
Will this break my WordPress site if I paste it wrong?
A syntax error in .htaccess can cause a server error across your entire site. Always back up the file first, and if something breaks immediately after saving, restore the backup and check your syntax carefully.
Does this work on any WordPress host?
This generates standard Apache mod_rewrite and mod_alias syntax, which works on the majority of WordPress hosts. It won’t apply on Nginx-based hosting, which doesn’t use .htaccess files at all.
Do I need a plugin instead of editing .htaccess directly?
A redirect plugin can be easier for non-technical users and adds a management interface, but direct .htaccess rules run slightly faster since they’re processed at the server level before WordPress loads.
Can I redirect an entire old domain to a new one?
Yes — the domain migration option handles this, redirecting every URL from the old domain to the matching path on the new one rather than sending all traffic to a single page.
Is this tool free to use?
Yes — there’s no sign-up or account required. Build your rules, copy or download the code, and use it directly.
The WPOptimizers .htaccess Redirect Generator produces standard Apache syntax — always back up your file and test redirects after publishing.