If you work with websites, you’ve probably seen lots of confusing issues pop up in Google Search Console. One error that stumps website owners and SEO professionals alike is the “Page With Redirect” error. Why does Google report this? What does it mean for your site, and how can you fix it so your web pages are properly indexed and easy for users (and search engines) to find? Today, we'll break it all down step by step in plain language.
Understanding the Page With Redirect Error in Google Search Console
Let’s start with the basics. When you see "Page With Redirect" in your Google Search Console coverage report, it means Google found web addresses (URLs) that send users to a different page instead of loading content directly. Google crawled the original link, then was forwarded somewhere else. This isn't always a problem, but it signals something you should review.
What Is a Page With Redirect?
Put simply:
A Page With Redirect is a URL that, instead of showing its own content, immediately sends you to another page.
For example, let’s say you originally had example.com/page1 for a blog post but later moved it to example.com/page2. You added a redirect from Page1 to Page2, so anyone visiting Page1 automatically lands on Page2.
This redirect helps users (and search engines) find the right content even if links haven’t been updated. But if Google keeps finding links on your website pointing to Page1, they’ll keep showing up as "Page With Redirect" in your Search Console.
Visualizing the Redirect
Here's a simple way to picture it:
User or Googlebot tries to visit:
example.com/page1The browser/server instantly forwards to:
example.com/page2
The first address never shows its own content. Google keeps running into this redirect during its crawl and marks it in the Search Console.
Why Does Google Search Console Show This?
Google tracks “Page With Redirect” to let you know your site is still linking to old URLs that don't serve their own content. Some redirected links are normal and even helpful. The trouble comes when:
You have lots of old links pointing to redirected pages instead of the final destination
Internal navigation, buttons, or text still link to outdated URLs
Google’s crawl budget is wasted checking unnecessary redirects
Remember, “Page With Redirect” is not an urgent error on its own. It’s Google telling you, “Hey, you might want to clean up your links and point them straight to the real page.”
When Does This Happen?
This issue pops up in two typical scenarios:
Manual Redirects: You, or your developer, purposely redirected an old page to a new one after a site update
System-Generated Redirects: Your website platform automatically creates new redirects when URLs or slugs change
Over time, it’s easy to lose track of internal links or buttons that point to those old URLs. That keeps the “Page With Redirect” flag high until you deal with the old links.
Key Precautions Before Using Tools for Redirect Fixes
Before you open any SEO tool or try to fix these links, it’s smart to be careful. Mistakes here can be worse than the original problem.
Be sure you:
Understand the tool’s use before making changes.
Don’t just grab a tool and start making changes unless you know what you’re doing.Know the meaning behind errors and the redirect process.
Fixing things without getting the full picture can make things worse, not better.Double-check which URLs need attention.
Don’t guess. Some redirects are necessary and intentional, and some are accidental.
Bottom line: improper use of SEO tools is risky. Spend a few minutes learning about the tool first. A little caution up front will save headaches later.
How to Identify Redirected URLs and Their Sources Using Screaming Frog
Let’s get hands-on and see how to find redirect chains and old links quickly using one of the best SEO audit tools—Screaming Frog.
What Is Screaming Frog and Why Use It?
Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a desktop program that crawls your website, just like Google’s bots do. It shows you every URL on your domain, including which ones redirect and, crucially, where those links come from. This is the fastest way to spot problem internal links that trigger the Page With Redirect error in Google Search Console.
Why Screaming Frog?
It’s fast and easy, even for large sites.
It finds all internal and external redirects.
It pinpoints exactly where old links live—right down to the source page and anchor text.
Step-by-Step Guide to Crawling Your Website
Ready to get started? Here’s how to use Screaming Frog:
Step 1: Open Screaming Frog
Download and launch Screaming Frog. If you’ve never used it, you might enjoy their free version (which limits you to 500 URLs per crawl but is enough for smaller sites).
Step 2: Enter Your Website URL
At the top bar, paste in the full address of your site (like https://yourwebsite.com).
Press the Start button to begin the crawl.
Step 3: Wait for the Crawl to Finish
Screaming Frog will go through your site’s links and collect all the important information. This may take a few minutes depending on the size of the site.
Filtering for Redirected URLs
When the crawl is done:
Click the Response Codes tab.
In the left sidebar, you’ll see a dropdown labeled All. Click on it and select Redirection (3xx).
This filter shows only the URLs on your site that result in a redirect when someone tries to visit them.
You’ll see separate tabs for Internal (links within your site) and External (links from outside). For redirect issues inside your site, focus on Internal.
Finding Out Where Each Redirected URL Is Linked
Knowing what’s redirecting is only half the story. You need to know where those redirected URLs are being linked from. Here’s how:
Select a redirected URL from the Redirection list.
At the bottom of Screaming Frog, find and click the In Links tab in the lower pane.
This pane shows all the internal pages and elements (like buttons or anchor text) that link to the redirected URL. You even get anchor texts to see exactly what the user sees as clickable text.
Why Are There Repeat Entries?
If the same page links multiple times to that redirected URL (for example, the same link appears in the menu and a button), you’ll see the source page listed multiple times. This helps you spot and fix every instance.
Example From the Video
Suppose the demo site is linking four different times to a redirected WhatsApp link (/whatsapp-in-randomnumber) from its home page. Screaming Frog’s In Links tab will show that source page four times, along with which anchor text was used each time (for example "Send Message on WhatsApp").
Verifying Links Directly in Your Browser
Want to double-check? Easy:
Right-click on the source page listed in Screaming Frog (in the In Links tab).
Select Open From In Browser.
The page opens in your browser. Use Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac) and search for the anchor text or the exact link to find it fast.
This gives you a direct path from detection to fixing the link—no guesswork.
How to Fix Page With Redirect Errors on Your Website
Once you figure out which URLs are triggering the redirect notice, fixing them is straightforward.
Common Fixes That Work
Replace old (redirected) links across your site.
Instead of linking to the outdated URL, update your buttons, menus, and internal links to point to the new, live page.Remove links to URLs that are no longer needed.
If you’re not keeping the old page for SEO, clean up its internal links entirely.Make sure important content loads directly
Critical pages, especially ones you want indexed, shouldn’t make users hop through redirects.Audit menus, sidebars, and footers
These often harbor old links that keep cropping up in Google’s reports.
The key takeaway: It’s not the redirect itself that’s the main issue. It’s that your site is still telling Google and users to visit the old address first. That’s what you want to clean up.
Why This Matters
By fixing the sources and pointing links to the correct URLs, you ensure a direct path for both users and Google. This means:
Faster site navigation
Better use of your crawl budget (which can affect SEO)
Google Search Console stops showing old URLs in the Page With Redirect report
After you’ve fixed your links, give Google a week or two. The next time their bot crawls your site, those cleaned-up pages should vanish from the Page With Redirect section.
Summary of Best Practices for Redirect Management
Do:
Use tools like Screaming Frog carefully, with a clear purpose.
Regularly audit your site for internal links that point to redirected URLs.
Update links so they always send users straight to the live page.
Focus on fixing source links, not just setting up redirects.
Pay attention to Search Console’s coverage reports for early warning signs.
Don’t:
Rush in and change redirects or links without checking where links are pointing.
Ignore intentional redirects that serve a purpose (such as tracking or user flow).
Use SEO tools if you’re not sure what the data means—ask or do more research first.
Leave your site with outdated navigation or broken internal links.
Following these habits means less confusion and less risk of Google seeing your site as hard to crawl or messy.
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