WordPress Redirect Issues Across Multiple Websites

Experiencing redirect loops or unwanted redirects on multiple WordPress sites? Here’s a guide to diagnosing and fixing the problem.

Common Causes & Fixes

1. Incorrect WordPress URL Settings

Check if the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) are correctly set.

Fix: Update URLs in wp-config.php if access to the dashboard is lost.

define('WP_HOME', 'https://yourwebsite.com');
define('WP_SITEURL', 'https://yourwebsite.com');

Replace yourwebsite.com with your actual domain.

2. Redirects from .htaccess File

Misconfigured .htaccess rules can cause infinite redirects.

Fix: Reset .htaccess by replacing its content with the default WordPress rules.

# BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
# END WordPress

3. Conflicting Plugins Causing Redirects

SEO, security, or redirection plugins may be forcing unwanted redirects.

Fix: Disable all plugins via FTP by renaming the plugins folder:

• Connect via FTP/SFTP.
• Go to wp-content.
• Rename the plugins folder to plugins-disabled.
• Check if the issue is resolved.

4. Force HTTPS Redirect Issues

Improper HTTPS settings may cause redirect loops.

Fix: Modify .htaccess for proper HTTPS enforcement.

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

5. Incorrect Redirect Rules in Database

Manual redirects in the database may be interfering.

Fix: Run the following SQL query via phpMyAdmin to find redirects:

SELECT * FROM wp_options WHERE option_name LIKE '%redirect%';

If any incorrect rules are found, update them manually or delete unnecessary ones.

6. Cloudflare or CDN Issues

If using Cloudflare or a CDN, incorrect page rules may trigger redirects.

Fix: Disable Cloudflare’s “Always Use HTTPS” setting and check redirect rules.

7. Theme Issues

Some themes have built-in redirects that might cause conflicts.

Fix: Switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four) and check.

Final Checks

• ✔ Clear browser and server cache.
• ✔ Use https://redirectdetective.com to trace redirect chains.
• ✔ Test on different devices and networks.

Still facing issues? Let me know the specific redirect behavior!