The SUpal Redirect Guide
When you rename a page or move content, the old link stops working. Use this guide to "forward" those old links to your new pages so you don't lose visitors or upset Google.
The "Magic" Auto-Redirect: In most cases, if you simply rename a page's URL alias while editing a page, Drupal is smart enough to create this redirect for you automatically. You usually only need this guide if you’ve deleted a page or are fixing an old mistake.
Where to Find the Redirect Settings
Think of this as the master list of all your "forwarding addresses."
- Log in to your site as an administrator.
- In the top menu, click Configuration.
- Look for the Search and metadata section and click URL redirects.
Creating a New Redirect
If you have a specific link that is broken, follow these steps to fix it:
- Click the + Add redirect button.
- Path (The "Old" Address): Enter the part of the URL that no longer works.
- Example: If the old link was mysite.com/about-us-old, just type about-us-old.
- To (The "New" Address): Start typing the name of your new page, and Drupal will suggest it for you. You can also paste a full link here if you want to send people to a different website entirely.
- Redirect Status: This tells Google how long this change will last.
- 301 (Moved Permanently): Use this 99% of the time. It tells Google, "This page has moved for good, please update your records."
- 302 (Temporary): Use this only if you’re doing a short-term test (like a holiday promotion) and plan to turn the old link back on later.
- Save: Click the Save button. Your new link is now active!
Simple Tips for Success
- Don't overthink the "Path": You don't need to type https:// or your website name in the first box. Just the "slug" (the part after the slash) is enough.
- Test it! Once you hit save, try visiting the old link in your browser. If it automatically "jumps" to the new page, you did it perfectly.