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WordPress Forward Page: Easy Redirect Guide for Any Site

Posted on by William Zheng

Ever wished you could redirect visitors from one WordPress page to another—say, after a big content update or a website redesign? You’re not alone! Knowing how to forward a page keeps your site organized and ensures your readers always find the right information.

In this article, we’ll walk you through simple, effective ways to forward a page in WordPress. You’ll discover step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and best practices for a smooth redirect experience.

How to Forward (Redirect) a Page in WordPress: The Complete Guide

Redirecting, or forwarding, a page in WordPress is a vital skill. Whether you want to guide visitors to a new URL, fix broken links, or restructure your site, knowing how to redirect a page keeps your user experience seamless and protects your SEO rankings. Let’s break down exactly what this means, why it’s important, and most importantly—how you can do it, step by step.

What Does It Mean to Forward (Redirect) a Page in WordPress?

When you “forward” or redirect a page in WordPress, you automatically send anyone trying to visit one URL to a different one instead. Let’s say you changed a blog post’s URL or deleted a page; a redirect tells the browser, “Hey, this link moved—jump over there instead.”

You might also hear the term “URL redirection” or “page forwarding.” These mean the same thing: guiding visitors from one web address to another, typically for better organization or after a site change.

Why You Might Need to Redirect a Page in WordPress

There are several reasons you’d want to set up a redirect:

  • Updating Old Content: You’ve rewritten or moved an old post or page to a new URL.
  • Deleting Pages: You’ve removed a page but want to ensure visitors (and search engines) find a relevant alternative.
  • Fixing Broken Links: You spot 404 errors and want users to reach the right content.
  • Improving SEO: Preventing “dead ends” keeps your site healthy and helps maintain search engine rankings.
  • Rebranding: You want to forward old URLs to new ones as you update your brand or domain.

In all these scenarios, redirects keep both users and search engines happy.

Types of Redirects: What’s the Difference?

There are a few main types of redirects you might use:

  • 301 Redirect (Permanent):
  • Tells browsers and search engines the page has moved permanently.
  • Passes most SEO value (link juice) to the new URL.
  • 302 Redirect (Temporary):
  • States the move is temporary.
  • Rarely used for most site restructuring, but useful during maintenance.
  • 307 Redirect (Temporary, HTTP/1.1):
  • Similar to a 302 but with strict protocol adherence.
  • Meta Refresh Redirect:
  • Not ideal for SEO, as it uses a timed refresh within HTML.

For most WordPress sites, you’ll use a 301 redirect.

How to Forward (Redirect) a WordPress Page: Step-by-Step

You have two primary options: using a plugin or editing your site’s files manually. The plugin method is recommended for most users—it’s safer, faster, and doesn’t require code knowledge.

Method 1: Redirecting WordPress Pages With a Plugin

Plugins are the easiest, safest, and most flexible way to manage redirects in WordPress. Here’s how:

1. Choose a Redirection Plugin

Popular choices include:

  • Redirection
  • Simple 301 Redirects
  • Rank Math
  • Yoast SEO Premium

These plugins handle most redirect needs from a friendly dashboard.

2. Install and Activate Your Chosen Plugin

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
  3. Search for the plugin by name, click Install, then Activate.

3. Set Up a Redirect

  1. Access your plugin’s settings (usually found under Tools or its own menu).
  2. Click Add New or Create Redirect.
  3. Enter the Source URL (the URL you want to redirect FROM).
  4. Enter the Target URL (the page you want visitors to go TO).
  5. Select the redirect type (301 for permanent, 302 for temporary).
  6. Save or publish.

Example:

  • Source URL: /old-blog-post
  • Target URL: /new-blog-post

And you’re done! All visitors now land on the new page.

Pros of Using a Plugin

  • No coding required.
  • User-friendly interface.
  • Bulk redirects and logs often available.
  • Safely manages redirects without touching core files.

Tips for Managing Redirects With Plugins

  • Check logs for failed redirects or errors.
  • Delete unused or unnecessary redirects.
  • Test immediately after creating a redirect.
  • Keep the plugin updated for security.

Method 2: Redirecting a WordPress Page Manually (Without a Plugin)

If you prefer not to use plugins, you can set up redirects manually by editing server files. This approach is more technical and should be done with caution.

1. Edit the .htaccess File (For Apache Servers)

Most WordPress sites run on Apache servers. The .htaccess file controls how URLs are processed.

How to Set Up a 301 Redirect:

  1. Connect to your site using FTP (like FileZilla) or your hosting file manager.
  2. Locate the .htaccess file in your site’s root directory (where “wp-content” lives).
  3. Download a backup in case of errors.
  4. Open .htaccess in a text editor.
  5. Add the following line at the end:
Redirect 301 /old-page-url/ /new-page-url/
  • Replace /old-page-url/ with the path you want to redirect from.

  • Replace /new-page-url/ with the destination.

  • Save the file and re-upload if using FTP.

Important: Be careful. A wrong entry can break your site.

2. Edit functions.php (Advanced, Not Recommended for Most)

You can technically add redirects via your theme’s functions.php file with PHP code. This is risky and affects site performance as it runs on every page load.

Example:

function custom_redirect() {
    if (is_page('old-page')) {
        wp_redirect(home_url('/new-page/'), 301);
        exit();
    }
}
add_action('template_redirect', 'custom_redirect');

Stick to plugins or .htaccess unless you’re comfortable with PHP.

Pros and Cons of Manual Redirects

Pros:

  • No extra plugin needed.
  • Direct server control.

Cons:

  • Riskier—mistakes can break your site.
  • No logging or easy management.
  • Not as beginner-friendly.

Best Practices for Redirecting Pages in WordPress

Redirects are powerful but must be used wisely. Here are top tips to keep your site healthy and SEO-friendly:

  • Use 301 Redirects for Permanent Moves: This passes SEO value and helps search engines update their indexes.
  • Avoid Redirect Loops: Always test your redirects to avoid endless cycles that confuse browsers.
  • Limit Redirect Chains: Don’t chain multiple redirects (A → B → C)—this slows your site and harms SEO.
  • Monitor and Update Redirects Regularly: Old or unused redirects can clutter your site. Clean them up periodically.
  • Document Your Redirects: Especially for large sites, keep a simple spreadsheet of what you’ve changed.
  • Backup First: Always take a backup before editing files like .htaccess.
  • Test After Redirecting: Use an incognito window or tools like Redirect Checker to verify everything works.

Benefits of Proper Page Forwarding in WordPress

Setting up redirects brings several strong benefits:

  • Ensures Seamless User Experience: Users never hit dead ends or error pages.
  • Protects SEO Rankings: Search engines recognize redirects, preserving your hard-earned rankings.
  • Eases Site Restructures or Rebrands: You can freely move, merge, or delete pages without disruption.
  • Fixes Broken Links from Old Campaigns or Shares: Maintain the value of external links, even if the destination changes.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

While redirects are helpful, you might face some challenges:

  • Redirect Loops: These occur when two or more URLs keep sending each other back and forth. Double-check for typos or incorrect mappings.
  • Too Many Plugins: Relying on multiple redirect plugins can cause conflicts. Use only one reliable plugin.
  • Slow Site Speeds: Chains of redirects slow down user experience. Try to redirect old URLs directly to the latest page.
  • Forgotten Redirects After Updates: When changing your site, remember to set up new redirects for every URL change.

Being attentive to these issues helps keep your site fast, healthy, and user-friendly.

Practical Advice and Tips

  • Plan Ahead: Before restructuring or deleting a page, decide where users should go instead.
  • Prioritize SEO: Use 301 redirects when possible for maximum SEO benefit.
  • Communicate Internally: If you have a team, notify them about redirects and how to request them.
  • Choose Reliable Hosting: Fast, secure hosting often makes file edits and plugin use safer and more efficient.
  • Check Analytics: Watch for spikes in 404 errors—these often point to missing redirects.

Bonus: Redirecting to External URLs in WordPress

What if you want visitors to leave your site and land on an external page? The same methods apply:

  • Add the full external URL in your plugin’s “Target URL” field.
  • In .htaccess, use:
Redirect 301 /old-url/ https://externalwebsite.com/destination-page/

This is helpful for rebranding or affiliate campaigns.

Page Forwarding Costs: What to Know

If you’re worried about costs, here’s the good news:

  • Redirect Plugins: Most are free (like Redirection), though advanced SEO plugins may require a premium subscription.
  • Manual Redirects: Cost nothing beyond your regular hosting, but do take time and caution.
  • Developer Help: If you’re not comfortable, hiring a WordPress professional may cost between $25–$100 for simple redirects, more for complex sites.
  • No Shipping or Product Costs: Redirecting is a digital, code-based process with zero shipping or fulfillment involved.

In Summary

Forwarding (redirecting) pages in WordPress is straightforward once you know how. Using a plugin is best for most users, offering a safe, easy way to manage redirects, fix broken links, and safeguard your SEO. Manual methods give you deeper control—but require more caution.

Whatever method you choose, always plan, test, and monitor your redirects for a healthy, user-friendly website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I redirect a WordPress page without a plugin?

You can manually redirect a page by editing the .htaccess file in your site’s root directory. Use the following format:

Redirect 301 /old-page/ /new-page/

Make sure to back up the .htaccess file before making changes and test your redirect immediately after.

Do redirects affect my site’s SEO?

Yes, but when done correctly (especially using 301 redirects), most of your SEO value passes to the new URL. Redirects help maintain search rankings when you move or delete content.

What’s the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?

A 301 redirect is for permanent moves, signaling search engines to update their index. A 302 redirect is temporary, indicating that the original URL will return soon. For most changes, use a 301 redirect.

Will setting up too many redirects slow down my website?

Yes, chaining multiple redirects (where each one points to the next) can slow down page loading. Always redirect directly from the old URL to the final destination, minimizing unnecessary steps.

Are there free tools to help manage redirects in WordPress?

Absolutely! The “Redirection” plugin is free, popular, and beginner-friendly. Many all-in-one SEO plugins also include basic redirect management features at no extra charge.

With these steps and tips, you can confidently manage all your WordPress redirects—making your site more user-friendly and protecting your search engine rankings. Happy redirecting!

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