How do I set up a 301 redirect in .htaccess?

Add a Redirect 301 line (for single URLs) or RewriteRule (for patterns) to the .htaccess file in your site root, usually the public_html folder. This generator builds the exact rules for you — just copy and paste them at the top of the file.

What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect?

A 301 is permanent: Google transfers rankings and signals to the new URL and eventually replaces the old one in its index. A 302 is temporary: the old URL keeps its rankings. For site moves and URL changes always use 301.

Does a 301 redirect pass SEO value?

Yes — Google confirms that a 301 passes full PageRank to the target URL. Avoid redirect chains though: every extra hop slows the page down and risks losing crawl budget.

Where is the .htaccess file on Polish hosting providers?

On home.pl, cyberfolks, zenbox, dhosting and OVH the .htaccess file lives in the root folder of your site (usually public_html). It is a hidden file — enable showing hidden files in the file manager or FTP client. .htaccess works on Apache and LiteSpeed servers, not on nginx.

Free Tool

301 Redirect Generator

Build ready-to-paste .htaccess rules: www to non-www, force HTTPS, redirect single URLs or move a whole domain — without touching regex.

Canonical domain

One address version — Google should see a single URL

www → without www example.com

Redirect www.example.com to example.com

without www → www www.example.com

Redirect example.com to www.example.com

Leave as is

Do not unify the www version

Force HTTPS http → https

Redirect every http:// request to https:// (single hop, no chains)

Single URL redirects

Old address → new address (e.g. after renaming a page)

Move to a new domain

Redirect the whole old domain, keeping paths

Old domain (where this .htaccess lives)

New domain

Your .htaccess rules

Live preview — updates as you type

.htaccess works on Apache and LiteSpeed servers (home.pl, cyberfolks, zenbox, dhosting, OVH and most Polish shared hosting). It does NOT work on nginx.

How to install the rules?

1 Open the .htaccess file in your site root (usually public_html) via FTP or the hosting file manager. Enable showing hidden files.
2 Make a backup copy of the current file before editing.
3 Paste the generated rules at the TOP of the file — before WordPress or other CMS rules.
4 Test in an incognito window — browsers cache 301 redirects aggressively.

301 redirects explained in plain language

Why they matter for SEO and how to avoid the classic mistakes.

What is a 301 redirect?

A permanent redirect: it tells browsers and Google that a page has moved for good. Google transfers the old URL's rankings and link value to the new address.

301 vs 302 — which one?

301 = permanent (passes SEO value, use for site moves and renamed URLs). 302 = temporary (keeps value on the old URL, use for short promos or maintenance). When in doubt — 301.

Avoid redirect chains

http → www → https → final page is three hops. Every hop slows the site and wastes crawl budget. This generator combines www and HTTPS into a single hop for you.

After a domain move

Keep the 301 from the old domain active for at least a year, use the Change of Address tool in Google Search Console and update the most important backlinks at the source.

Redirects in place? Verify them

Our full SEO audit detects redirect chains, loops and www/HTTPS issues on your site — free, in 60 seconds.

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