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301 Redirect

In this article, you'll learn what a 301 redirect is, what it's used for, and how to set it up in Onepage.

Written by Vanessa Haack

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirection from one URL to another. This means that when a visitor accesses a specific subpage, they are automatically redirected to a new page.

Example: If a page is renamed from /old-prices to /prices, every request to the old address onepage-site.com/old-prices is automatically redirected to onepage-site.com/prices.


​Typical use cases:

  • A page has been renamed

  • A URL has changed

  • Content has been moved to a new page

  • SEO signals should be transferred to a new page

Why this is important: Broken links can lead to fewer visitors and may negatively impact your Google rankings. Redirects ensure that existing URLs continue to work and that users are reliably directed to the correct page.

This is especially important during website migrations, such as moving from WordPress to Onepage, where many existing links need to remain functional.

📌 Please note: In addition to 301 redirects, you can also set up 302 redirects. These are considered temporary redirects and are suitable, for example, for short-term changes or testing.


Setting up 301 Redirects

Step 1: Open the project

Open the Onepage project where you want to set up the 301 redirect.

Step 2: Open Settings

Go to "Settings" and then to the "Redirects" tab.

Step 3: Create a redirect

Click on "Create" to set up the 301 redirect.

Step 4: Create a redirect

Now set up the redirect between the URLs:

  • From: e.g., /old-path

  • To: e.g., /new-path

​Select redirect type:

  • 301 (permanent) - if the old path has been permanently replaced

  • 302 (temporary) - if the redirect is only temporary

For example, /test will be automatically redirected to /test1.

📌 Please note: After entering the redirect, you must press Enter to save it.

If you later notice a mistake, you can simply click (or double-click) the entry to edit it again, make the necessary changes, and then press "Enter" once more to save the update.


Rules for Redirect Paths

To ensure redirects are processed correctly, paths must follow these rules:

  • The path must always begin with a "/"

  • Only internal redirects are allowed (external URLs are not supported)

  • Characters such as "?" and "#" are not allowed

  • Allowed characters are: letters, numbers, and / _ - . ~ * $

  • The maximum length is 2048 characters

  • All paths are automatically converted to lowercase

  • A trailing slash ("/") is not allowed at the end of the path


Wildcards (*) and Placeholders ($1, $2, $3)

1. Wildcards (*)

A * acts as a placeholder for an entire section within a URL.


Examples:

  • /blog/* → applies to all URLs under /blog/

  • /blog/*/comments → matches a specific structure within the blog section

  • /shop/*/item/* → supports more complex URL structures with multiple dynamic segments

2. Placeholders ($1, $2, $3)

Placeholders allow you to reuse content captured by wildcards and dynamically insert it into the destination URL.

Examples:

  • From /products/* → to /$1
    Result: /products/widget/widget

📌 Please note: The target of a redirect must be a page that actually exists in Onepage.

Onepage page addresses are always single-level, they consist of a single section, with no folders or subfolders. So a page lives at /widget, never at /news/2024/spring.

If you enter a folder-style address in the "To" field, the rule will still be saved and executed, but visitors will see the "Page not found" message, because no page can exist under such an address.

The placeholders $1, $2, etc. are helpful when the result is a single-level slug that a real page uses (e.g. /$1/widget). But don't use them to rebuild a nested path.

Folder-style addresses belong on the "From" side: they usually come from your old website, which used folders. These are exactly the addresses you catch with the rules and redirect to your single-level Onepage pages.

How it works:

  • Each * is captured in order and assigned to a placeholder ($1, $2, $3, etc.)

  • The last * can capture the remainder of the URL path

  • The use of ** is not allowed

The most common case: you catch all old links under a former folder and redirect them to one new page – for example /blog/*/news.

Use $1 when each old link keeps its own name and a matching single-level page already exists (/products/*/$1).


System Warnings

Various warnings may appear in the redirect system. These warnings indicate whether a rule is working correctly or whether it needs to be adjusted.

Warning

Meaning

Works?

Disabled

The rule is disabled

No

Invalid

The rule contains an error

No

Unreachable

The rule is overridden by another rule and will never be applied

No

Chain

The rule is part of a redirect chain

Yes

Loop

The rule creates an infinite redirect loop

No

Same source/destination

The source and destination are identical

No

Duplicate

A duplicate rule already exists

Warning


Import / Export Redirects

You can not only create redirects manually, but also import them in bulk or export existing redirects. This is especially helpful if you manage a large number of URLs or want to transfer them between systems.

1. Import

Importing means you can upload multiple redirects at once.

This is done using a CSV file (max. 5 MB). Simply upload this file instead of creating each redirect individually. This is ideal for larger projects with many URLs or redirects.

Click the "Import" button in the top-right corner to upload the file.

2. Export

Exporting means: You can download your existing redirects.

This is useful for:

  • Backups

  • Transferring to other systems

  • Checking or editing the redirects

Click the "Export" button in the top right corner to export the redirects.


A CSV file will then be automatically generated and downloaded to your device.


Statistics

The statistics section provides an overview of how your redirects are being used. There, you can see:

  • how many redirects were triggered per week

  • which individual redirects were used most frequently

This allows you to quickly identify which URLs are accessed most often and how the usage of your redirects is trending.

To view the statistics, simply click the chart icon in the top right corner.


Overview of Scheduled Features

Depending on the plan you've selected, you'll have access to different numbers of call forwarding options and additional features. Here's an overview:

Feature

Free

Essential

Standard

Advanced

Expert

Total redirects per site

10

50

200

1.000

2.000

CSV import

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

CSV export

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Redirect analytics

-

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Analytics export (CSV)

-

-

Yes

Yes

Yes


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What happens if I delete a 301 redirect?

If you remove a 301 redirect, the redirect is immediately disabled.

Specifically, this means:

  • Visitors who still access the old URL will no longer be automatically redirected to the new page

  • If the page no longer exists at the old URL, visitors will see an error page instead (e.g., 404 "Page Not Found")

  • Search engines will also no longer find the redirect

This is particularly critical if the old URL is still linked somewhere (Google, other websites, social media, etc.).

When should I use a 301 redirect, and when should I use a 302 redirect?

It depends on how permanent the change is:

301 - permanent: Use this when something has changed permanently or for the long term:

  • A page has been replaced

  • A URL structure has been changed

  • An old page should permanently redirect to a new one

Google usually transfers the SEO values to the new page.

302 - temporary: Use this if the redirect is only temporary:

  • Maintenance page

  • A/B testing

  • Temporary campaigns

  • Content will return later

In this case, the original URL remains "the main page" for Google.

Do redirects affect my SEO?

Yes, definitely, but they can be beneficial if used correctly.

  • 301 redirects largely pass SEO signals (ranking, authority) on to the new page.

  • This is especially helpful when moving a website or making structural changes.

However, too many redirects or incorrectly set ones can:

  • increase loading time

  • confuse Google

  • or slightly lower your ranking

How do I delete a redirect?


Click on the three dots (⋯) by the redirect and then select Delete record.

How can I disable and re-enable a redirect?


You can easily disable a redirect by clicking the three dots (⋯) next to the corresponding redirect and selecting Disable.

You can re-enable it at any time in the same way: Click the three dots again and select Enable. The redirect will then become active immediately.


💡Do you have any feedback about this article? Please let us know through our live chat or at support@onepage.io, so we may keep it up to date. Thank you! 🙂

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