What it should look like
All four versions end up at the same address, and that address starts with https://. Whether you choose the version with or without www is a matter of taste. What matters is that there is exactly one. Otherwise Google sees two websites with the same content, and visitors may land on an unencrypted page.
Common problems
- http is not redirected: the site is reachable without encryption. Browsers mark it as “not secure”.
- One version is unreachable: usually the DNS record for
wwwis missing or the certificate does not cover that version. - Two different targets: with and without www show different pages, often the old and the new website.
- Long chains: every extra redirect costs loading time. Ideally there is at most one hop to the target.
How to set up the redirect: Redirect http to https.
Frequently asked questions: Redirect Checker
How do I check whether my site redirects correctly from http to https?
Enter your domain into the redirect checker. We request http and https, each with and without www, and show where every version ends up. Ideally all four versions redirect to the same https address in a single step.
What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect?
A 301 is a permanent redirect, so search engines adopt the new address. A 302 is temporary, and Google may keep the old address in its index. For http to https and www redirects, always use 301.
Are redirect chains bad for SEO?
Every extra redirect costs loading time, and search engines do not follow very long chains to the end. Ideally there is at most one hop from every version to the final address.