HTTP 301 Moved Permanently — What It Means & How to Fix It

The HTTP 301 Moved Permanently status code indicates the requested resource has been permanently moved to a new URL, and all future requests should use the new URL. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: This is the most important redirect status code for SEO, as it passes link equity to the new URL.. Search engines will update their index to replace the old URL with the new one.. Browsers and clients should cache this redirect and not request the old URL again.. The new URL is specified in the Location header.. A 301 may change the request method from POST to GET in some clients.. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: A website changed its URL structure or moved to a new domain.. A page was renamed or reorganized in a site restructure.. HTTP to HTTPS migration using permanent redirects.. A vanity URL or shortened URL pointing to the canonical location.. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Check the Location header for the new URL of the resource.. Update bookmarks, links, and references to use the new URL.. For SEO, ensure all old URLs have 301 redirects to their new equivalents.. Verify redirect chains are not too long (ideally no more than one hop).. Update internal links to point directly to the new URL.. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our HTTP Status Codes collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.