How to Fix Infinite Redirect Loops with .htaccess Wildcard Redirects and Exceptions
Dealing with website redirects can be a tricky business, especially when you're trying to set up a wildcard redirect to a new domain. One common issue that can arise is an infinite redirect loop, where the user gets stuck in a never-ending cycle of redirects.
In this article, we'll explore a real-world example of this problem and walk through the steps to fix it using .htaccess rules and exceptions. Whether you're a WordPress user or working with a different web platform, these techniques can help you resolve those pesky infinite redirect loops.
Understanding the Problem: Infinite Redirect Loops
Imagine you have a website called domainexamplenew.com
, and you want to set up a wildcard redirect to move all traffic from the old domain, domainexample.com
, to the new one. You might create an .htaccess rule that looks something like this:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^domainexample.com [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.domainexmaple.com
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://domainexamplenew.com/$1 [L,R=301]
This rule seems straightforward enough – it checks if the incoming request is for the old domain (domainexample.com
or www.domainexmaple.com
) and redirects it to the new domain (domainexamplenew.com
). However, the problem arises when the user tries to access the new domain directly.
When the user opens domainexamplenew.com
, the rule still applies because the HTTP_HOST
condition matches the new domain. This triggers another redirect back to domainexamplenew.com
, starting an infinite loop.
The user is now stuck in a never-ending cycle of redirects, unable to access the website. This can be a frustrating and confusing experience for your visitors, and it can also negatively impact your website's SEO and performance.
Fixing the Infinite Redirect Loop
To resolve this issue, we need to add an exception to the .htaccess rule that allows direct access to the new domain without triggering the redirect. Here's how you can do it:
RewriteEngine On
# Redirect old domain to new domain, except for the new domain itself
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www\.)?domainexample\.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://domainexamplenew.com/$1 [L,R=301]
# Allow direct access to the new domain
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www\.)?domainexamplenew\.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
Let's break down the updated .htaccess rule:
-
Redirect old domain to new domain, except for the new domain itself:
- The first
RewriteCond
checks if the incoming HTTP_HOST
matches the old domain (domainexample.com
or www.domainexample.com
).
- The
RewriteRule
then redirects the request to the new domain (domainexamplenew.com
).
- The
[L]
flag ensures that the rule stops executing once the redirect is complete.
- The
[R=301]
flag specifies a permanent (301) redirect.
-
Allow direct access to the new domain:
- The second
RewriteCond
checks if the incoming HTTP_HOST
matches the new domain (domainexamplenew.com
or www.domainexamplenew.com
).
- The
RewriteRule
simply passes the request through, allowing direct access to the new domain.
- The
[L]
flag ensures that the rule stops executing once the pass-through is complete.
The key difference here is that we've added a specific condition to allow direct access to the new domain, domainexamplenew.com
. This means that when a user visits the new domain directly, the redirect rule won't apply, and they'll be able to access the website without getting stuck in the infinite loop.
Real-World Example: Fixing Infinite Redirects on a WordPress Site
Let's consider a real-world example of how this .htaccess rule can be applied to a WordPress website.
Imagine you have a WordPress site hosted at domainexample.com
, and you've decided to migrate to a new domain, domainexamplenew.com
. You want to set up a permanent redirect from the old domain to the new one, but you're running into the dreaded infinite redirect loop.
Here's how you can fix the issue using the .htaccess rules we discussed:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the Settings > Permalinks page.
- Copy the current permalink structure, as you'll need to include it in the .htaccess rules.
- Access your website's root directory (usually via FTP, SFTP, or your hosting provider's file manager).
- Locate the
.htaccess
file (if it doesn't exist, you may need to create it).
- Open the
.htaccess
file and add the following rules:
RewriteEngine On
# Redirect old domain to new domain, except for the new domain itself
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www\.)?domainexample\.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://domainexamplenew.com/$1 [L,R=301]
# Allow direct access to the new domain and preserve WordPress permalinks
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www\.)?domainexamplenew\.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php?%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
The additional lines at the end of the second RewriteRule
ensure that WordPress's permalink structure is preserved when users access the new domain directly.
- Save the
.htaccess
file and upload it back to your website's root directory.
Now, when a user tries to access domainexample.com
, they'll be permanently redirected to domainexamplenew.com
. However, if a user directly visits domainexamplenew.com
, they'll be able to access the website without getting stuck in the redirect loop.
This approach can be applied to any website, not just WordPress. The key is to create an exception in your .htaccess rules that allows direct access to the new domain, while still redirecting traffic from the old domain.
By following these steps, you can effectively resolve the infinite redirect loop issue and provide a seamless user experience for your website visitors.
Flowpoint.ai can help you identify any other technical issues that might be impacting your website's conversion rates and provide tailored recommendations to fix them.
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