Are you seeing a “Redirect Error” or “Submitted URL is a Soft 404 / Server Error (5xx)” in Google Search Console?
This guide reveals the hidden truths, step-by-step fixes the redirect error in Google Search Console, and expert strategies to resolve redirect errors permanently, so your site stays indexed and ranks well in Google.
Diagnosing and resolving "Redirect errors" in Google Search Console—step-by-step guidance to restore your site's health and improve search performance.🚨 What Is a Redirect Error in Google Search Console?
A redirect error occurs when Google tries to crawl a page that redirects to another URL — but something goes wrong along the way.
You might see messages like:
- “Submitted URL is a soft 404”
- “Redirect error”
- “Server returned unusual HTTP response code”
- “Crawl anomaly: Redirect loop detected”
These warnings mean Google couldn’t successfully reach the intended destination — which can hurt indexing, rankings, and user experience.
🧠 Hidden Truth #1: Not All Redirects Are Treated Equally
Many assume any redirect works fine. But here's what most guides won't tell you:
Google treats 301, 302, 307, and 308 differently — and using the wrong one at the wrong time can break your SEO.
Redirect Types Explained
| Redirect Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 301 – Moved Permanently | Tells Google the page has moved permanently | Permanent URL changes |
| 302 – Found | Temporary redirect | A/B testing, short-term moves |
| 307 – Temporary Redirect | Preserves request method | Secure temporary redirects |
| 308 – Permanent Redirect | Like 301 but preserves method | Used in API calls or POST requests |
🛠️ Hidden Truth #2: Redirect Chains Are Silent Killers of SEO
Even if all your links are correct, a chain of multiple redirects could be slowing down your site and confusing Google.
Example:
https://www.seozain.com/old-page → https://www.seozain.com/newer-page → https://www.seozain.com/newest-page
Google has to follow each step — and sometimes gives up after 5+ hops.
🔁 Hidden Truth #3: Redirect Loops Are More Common Than You Think
A redirect loop happens when a URL redirects to itself or endlessly bounces between URLs.
Example:
Page A → Page B → Page C → Page A → ...
Googlebot sees this and logs a “Redirect loop” error in Search Console.
🔍 Hidden Truth #4: Soft 404 Errors Are Often Misdiagnosed
A soft 404 is when a server returns a 200 OK status for a page that doesn't exist — often showing a generic 'Not found' message without actually returning a real 404.
Google thinks the page exists, users get confused, and your crawl budget gets wasted on dead ends.
⚙️ Hidden Truth #5: Server Configuration Mistakes Are the Real Culprit
Most redirect errors come from misconfigured servers — not bad content.
Common mistakes include:
- Improper .htaccess rules
- Faulty CDN settings
- Conflicting caching or security plugins
- Incorrect canonical tags or meta refreshes
🧪 Hidden Truth #6: Test Every Redirect Like Google Does
Google uses Googlebot to crawl and render pages. If Googlebot sees something different than a real user, you’ll get inconsistent crawl results.
What You Should Do:
- Use Google Search Console’s "URL Inspection"
- Test with Chrome DevTools Network tab
- Try online header checker tools
📦 Hidden Truth #7: Broken Internal Links Can Cause Redirect Errors Too
Even if your server is perfect, internal links pointing to outdated URLs can trigger redirect chains or loops.
Pro Tip: Use an internal link checker tool like Screaming Frog to audit internal links across your site.
🛡️ Hidden Truth #8: Monitor and Maintain Redirects Like Infrastructure
Treat your redirects like plumbing — they work until they don’t.
Best Practices:
- Keep a spreadsheet of all active redirects
- Set up monitoring via UptimeRobot or Dead Link Checker
- Review redirect logs monthly
- Remove unused redirects to reduce complexity
✅ Step-by-Step: How to Fix Redirect Errors in Google Search Console
- Identify the Affected URLs: Go to GSC > Coverage Report > Filter by Redirect Error or Soft 404
- Crawl Internally: Use Screaming Frog or Sitebulb to test how your server handles the redirect.
- Correct Redirect Logic: Update the redirect to point directly to the live page. Avoid chaining or looping.
- Fix Soft 404s: Ensure non-existent pages return a real 404 or 410 header
- Submit for Reindexing: In Google Search Console, click “Request Indexing” after fixing the issue.
🧩 Bonus: Original Framework – The Redirect Health Scorecard
Here's a simple scoring system to assess the health of your redirects:
| Criteria | Score (0–5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Directness (no chains) | 5 = direct, 0 = 5+ hops | |
| Status Code Accuracy | 5 = correct code used | |
| Final Destination Validity | 5 = working page, 0 = broken | |
| Crawl Time < 5s | 5 = fast, 0 = slow | |
| No Redirect Loops | 5 = no loops, 0 = loop detected |
Total Score = 25 max
Use this scorecard to prioritize fixing the worst offenders first.
📌 Final Checklist: Prevent Future Redirect Errors
- ✔️ Use only necessary redirects
- ✔️ Always redirect to relevant content
- ✔️ Minimize redirect chains
- ✔️ Monitor server headers regularly
- ✔️ Clean up old redirects quarterly
- ✔️ Update internal links after URL changes
- ✔️ Use real 404 responses for deleted content
