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How to Set Up 301 Redirects for WordPress Posts or Pages Using cPanel

ajith June 17, 2025

Have you ever changed the URL of a blog post or deleted a page on your WordPress website, only to realize users are landing on a “404 Page Not Found” error? That’s where 301 redirects come in. They are crucial for maintaining website SEO and ensuring your visitors always reach the right content even after URLs change.
If your website is hosted with cPanel, you can easily manage 301 redirects without relying on external plugins. This article will walk you through what a 301 redirect is, when to use it, and how to implement it safely using cPanel tools.

What is a 301 Redirect?

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from one URL to another. It tells both browsers and search engines that the original page has moved permanently.

Example:

  • Old URL: https://example.com/old-blog-post

  • New URL: https://example.com/new-blog-post

Once you apply a 301 redirect, anyone visiting the old URL will be automatically taken to the new one.

Why It’s Important:

  • Prevents broken links (404 errors)

  • Retains SEO rankings from old pages

  • Improves user experience

  • Maintains search engine indexing consistency

When Should You Use a 301 Redirect?

You should use a 301 redirect in the following cases:

  • You’ve changed a post or page URL (slug)

  • You’ve deleted old content and want to redirect to a relevant page

  • You’ve merged two articles into one

  • You’ve moved to a new domain or folder structure

  • You’re rebranding pages (e.g., changing “services” to “solutions”)

Methods to Set Up 301 Redirects in cPanel

There are two common methods to set up 301 redirects using cPanel:

🔸 Method 1: Using cPanel Redirects Tool (Simple and Safe)

This method is ideal for non-technical users.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Log into your cPanel account

  2. Scroll to the “Domains” section and click “Redirects”

  3. Choose the Type: Select Permanent (301)

  4. Choose the Domain where the redirect will apply

  5. In the “/” field, type the old path (e.g., old-blog-post)

  6. In the “Redirects to” field, type the full new URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/new-blog-post)

  7. Select whether to apply the redirect to:

    • Only the specified URL

    • All files under the directory (useful for folders)

  8. Click Add

Done! The change is instantly applied and the redirect will start working.

🔸 Method 2: Editing the .htaccess File (Advanced but Flexible)

This method gives you more control but should be done carefully. One small mistake can cause website issues.

 Important: Always back up your .htaccess file before making changes.

How to Edit .htaccess:

  1. Go to File Manager in cPanel

  2. Navigate to your website’s root folder (usually public_html)

  3. Find and right-click .htaccess, then choose Edit

    • If you don’t see it, enable “Show Hidden Files” in File Manager settings

  4. Add the redirect rule at the top of the file:

Redirect 301 /old-blog-post https://yourdomain.com/new-blog-post

  1. Click Save Changes

This line tells the server to permanently redirect anyone visiting /old-blog-post to the new URL.

Best Practices for Using 301 Redirects

Tip Why It Matters
Use 301 (not 302) for permanent changes Tells Google the change is permanent, preserving SEO value
Don’t create redirect chains A chain (A ➝ B ➝ C) slows down page loading and hurts rankings
Keep .htaccess clean Too many redirects can clutter your file and confuse browsers
Document your changes Helps track updates over time and troubleshoot easily
Test your redirects Visit the old URL to confirm it’s properly forwarding to the new one

What If You’re Using Pretty Permalinks in WordPress?

If your site uses WordPress-friendly URLs (like /about-us/), the .htaccess file is already being used by WordPress. You can safely add your redirects above the # BEGIN WordPress section to avoid conflicts.

Example:

Redirect 301 /old-page https://yourdomain.com/new-page

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
…
</IfModule>
# END WordPress

How to Check If a 301 Redirect Works

After adding your redirect:

  • Visit the old URL in a browser. It should instantly take you to the new URL.

  • Use online tools like httpstatus.io to verify the HTTP status code.

    • A successful redirect should return a 301 status.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake Impact
Using the wrong URL format May result in redirect loop or broken redirect
Mixing up 301 and 302 redirects Google may not update the indexed URL
Forgetting to remove outdated redirects Old entries can clutter performance and affect crawlability
Redirecting to irrelevant content Confuses users and hurts engagement
Not testing the result Leads to unexpected errors or infinite loops

Conclusion

Setting up 301 redirects using cPanel is not just a technical task it’s a smart move for anyone serious about website quality and SEO. Whether you’re reorganizing content or fixing broken links, 301 redirects help preserve your traffic and ensure users always land in the right place.
You don’t need to install extra plugins or mess with your WordPress settings. cPanel provides everything you need, and with a little care, even non-technical users can manage it effectively.
Start using 301 redirects today and take control of your website’s structure and user experience one redirect at a time.