How to Create 301 Redirects in Shopify (Step-by-Step)

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that sends visitors and search engines from an old URL to a new one. In Shopify, creating 301 redirects is essential when you delete products, change URL structures, or restructure your store. These redirects preserve your SEO value and ensure customers always reach the right page.

The Doc 404 - fix broken links app automates redirect creation and can handle bulk redirects, saving you significant time compared to manual setup. The app also monitors your store for new 404 errors in real-time.

How to Create a Single 301 Redirect in Shopify

1. In your Shopify admin, navigate to Online Store, then click Navigation. In the top-right corner, you'll see a link labeled "View URL redirects." Click this to access the redirects management page.
2. Click the "Create URL redirect" button to start a new redirect. In the "Redirect from" field, enter only the path portion of the old URL, beginning with a forward slash. For example, if your old product page were yourstore.com/products/old-product, you would enter /products/old-product.
3. In the "Redirect to" field, enter the destination URL path. This should be a relevant page, such as a similar product, the parent collection, or your homepage, if no suitable alternative exists. Use the same path format starting with a forward slash, such as /products/new-product.
4. Click "Save redirect" to activate the 301 redirect immediately. The redirect takes effect immediately, and visitors who click the old URL are automatically redirected to the new destination.

Creating Multiple Redirects with Bulk Import

For stores with many redirects to create, Shopify allows CSV file imports. On the URL redirects page, look for the "Import" option. Download the CSV template, which includes two columns: one for the old URL paths and one for the new destination paths.

Fill in your redirect pairs in the CSV file, ensuring each row has the "Redirect from" path in the first column and the "Redirect to" path in the second column. Save the file, then upload it via the import function. Shopify will process all redirects in a single batch.

Shopify can also create automatic redirects when you change a product or collection URL handle. In the "Search engine listing preview" section when editing a product, check the box to create a URL redirect before saving your changes. This ensures the old URL continues to work immediately after the update.