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| Blogger SEO |
Is your Blogger site suffering from redirect errors that are killing your search rankings? Don’t panic—these issues are common and fixable! In this guide, we’ll break down what redirect errors mean, why they hurt your SEO, and how to resolve them step by step.
Understanding Redirect Errors & Their Impact on SEO
What Are HTTP Redirects?
Redirects are like digital forwarding addresses—they guide users and search engines from one URL to another. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common types:
301 Redirect (Permanent Move) – Tells search engines that a page has permanently moved, transferring SEO value to the new URL.
302 Redirect (Temporary Move) – Indicates a short-term change; search engines may not pass full ranking power.
Meta Refresh & JavaScript Redirects – Less reliable for SEO; best avoided for critical pages.
Why Redirect Errors Hurt Your Blog
Pages Not Indexed – Googlebot gets confused and may skip indexing your content.
Slow Load Times – Redirect chains (A → B → C) delay page loading, frustrating visitors.
Broken User Experience – Redirect loops (A → B → A) can crash browsers with "Too Many Redirects" errors.
Pages Not Indexed – Googlebot gets confused and may skip indexing your content.
Slow Load Times – Redirect chains (A → B → C) delay page loading, frustrating visitors.
Broken User Experience – Redirect loops (A → B → A) can crash browsers with "Too Many Redirects" errors.
How to Diagnose Redirect Errors in Google Search Console
1. Check the "Page with Redirect" Report
Google Search Console (GSC) flags redirect issues under Indexing > Pages. Export the affected URLs to investigate further.
2. Use the URL Inspection Tool
Enter problematic URLs into GSC’s URL Inspection Tool to see:
The exact redirect path Googlebot followed.
Whether the page is indexed.
If the correct canonical URL is recognized.
3. Watch Out for Blogger’s Mobile Redirects (?m=1)
Blogger automatically redirects mobile users with ?m=1 in the URL. This is normal if:
Your theme has the correct canonical tag (
<link expr:href='data:view.url.canonical' rel='canonical'/>).Desktop versions are indexed properly.
⚠️ Don’t block ?m=1 URLs—this can break mobile indexing!
Step-by-Step Fixes for Blogger Redirect Errors
1. Clear Browser Cache & Check Redirect Paths
Clear your cache (Ctrl+Shift+Del in Chrome).
Use Chrome DevTools (F12) > Network Tab to see if redirects are looping.
Clear your cache (Ctrl+Shift+Del in Chrome).
Use Chrome DevTools (F12) > Network Tab to see if redirects are looping.
2. Optimize Blogger’s Redirect Settings
Go to Settings > Errors and redirects > Custom Redirects
Ensure only URL slugs (e.g., /old-post) are used, not full URLs.
Use 301 (Permanent) for long-term changes.
Go to Settings > Errors and redirects > Custom Redirects
Ensure only URL slugs (e.g.,
/old-post) are used, not full URLs.Use 301 (Permanent) for long-term changes.
3. Fix HTTPS & WWW Settings
Enable HTTPS:
Go to Settings > HTTPS > HTTPS Availability = Yes
Turn on HTTPS Redirect
Set WWW Preference:
Go to Settings > Publishing > Redirect domain = ON
Enable HTTPS:
Go to Settings > HTTPS > HTTPS Availability = Yes
Turn on HTTPS Redirect
Set WWW Preference:
Go to Settings > Publishing > Redirect domain = ON
4. Verify DNS Records (For Custom Domains)
If using a custom domain (e.g., www.yourblog.com), check:
CNAME Records – Point
wwwtoghs.google.com.A Records – Redirect the naked domain (
yourblog.com) to Google’s IPs:216.239.32.21 216.239.34.21 216.239.36.21 216.239.38.21Disable DNSSEC if HTTPS keeps failing.
5. Check for Theme & Code Conflicts
Avoid hardcoded http:// links – Update to https:// or //.
Remove unnecessary JavaScript/Meta redirects – They can create loops.
Avoid hardcoded http:// links – Update to https:// or //.
Remove unnecessary JavaScript/Meta redirects – They can create loops.
6. Test Across Devices & Networks
Try accessing your blog on different devices (mobile, desktop).
Disable Cloudflare Proxy (if used)—it can interfere with Blogger’s redirects.
Try accessing your blog on different devices (mobile, desktop).
Disable Cloudflare Proxy (if used)—it can interfere with Blogger’s redirects.
Pro Tips to Keep Your Blog Indexable
✅ Monitor Google Search Console regularly for new redirect errors.
✅ Link to canonical URLs (final versions) in your posts.
✅ Keep your Blogger theme updated to avoid conflicts.
Final Thoughts
Redirect errors don’t have to ruin your blog’s SEO. By following these steps—checking GSC, fixing HTTPS/DNS settings, and avoiding redirect chains—you can get your pages indexed and ranking again.
Need more help? Drop a comment below or check out Google’s Blogger Help Forum.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blogger Redirect Errors
Q1: What is a redirect error, and why is it bad for my Blogger website?
A1: A redirect error occurs when your website tries to send a visitor or a search engine crawler from one page to another, but the process gets stuck in a loop or leads to a broken link. This is bad because it prevents Google from "reading" and indexing your content, making your blog invisible in search results.
Q2: My Google Search Console shows a "Page with redirect" for URLs ending ?m=1. Is this a problem?
A2: No, usually not! The ?m=1 is Blogger's way of showing mobile versions of your pages. Google understands this and typically processes it correctly using canonical tags, so you usually don't need to fix this specific "redirect."
Q3: What are the most common causes of redirect errors on Blogger with a custom domain?
A3: The most frequent culprits are incorrect DNS (Domain Name System) settings at your domain registrar (like wrong CNAME or A-records), or misconfigurations with your HTTPS (SSL) settings within Blogger, such as pending SSL certificates or the HTTPS redirect not being properly enabled.
Q4: How can Google Search Console help me find and fix redirect errors?
A4: Google Search Console (GSC) is crucial. In the "Pages" report, look for "Redirect error." You can then use the "URL Inspection Tool" on specific problematic URLs to see exactly what kind of redirect Google encountered and where it's leading. After fixing, use GSC to "Validate Fix" and tell Google to re-crawl.
Q5: I've corrected my domain's DNS settings. How long until the redirect error disappears?
A5: DNS changes can take time to propagate across the internet, typically from a few minutes to up to 48 hours. After this, Google Search Console might still take a few days to a few weeks to re-crawl and update its reports. Patience is key!
Q6: My HTTPS isn't working on my custom Blogger domain, causing a redirect error. What should I do?
A6: First, ensure "HTTPS availability" and "HTTPS redirect" are both set to "Yes" in your Blogger settings. If it's "Pending" or not working, try toggling "HTTPS availability" off and then back on. Also, double-check your domain's DNS for any conflicting A-records or missing CAA records (for letsencrypt.org).
Q7: Can internal redirects in Blogger cause problems?
A7: Yes. If you've used Blogger's "Custom redirects" feature for old post URLs, ensure they point to existing pages and don't create long chains or loops. Always make sure to check "Permanent" for 301 redirects if the old page is gone forever.
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