Do your redirects make unnecessary stops?
It finds redirect loops, longer chains and internal links pointing at a redirect.
What Check Engine measures
A recorded redirect loop produces a critical finding. Chains with at least 2 hops produce a medium finding. Exactly 1 hop with internal links to its starting address produces a low finding. For example, a menu link that redirects once can need an update to its final URL. These tests use recorded server redirects.
The check reads redirect history from the full page set. Incoming links show which old addresses the site still links to. Repair those links at the page or template that supplies them.
How to read the result
The report distinguishes a loop that prevents resolution from a working chain and a working redirect still used by internal links. A valid address move can remain intentional even when the links pointing to its old location need updating.
Why it matters
Each recorded hop is another request before the destination is reached. A loop has a different effect from a successful move, so the code keeps the most disruptive case separate from routine link cleanup.
How to fix it
Resolve loops first by choosing a final destination and removing rules that send requests back. Shorten chains where an old address can point directly to that destination. Update internal links to the final relevant URL. Retest both the original address and the destination to catch rules that vary by scheme or host.
What we found in field audits
Problems in Crawlability & indexing were found on 12 of the 14 sites we audited. These are area totals. Read the field-audit method.
Method note
backend/seo_engine/checks/indexability.py, redirects, revision 0bb8e8d3.
Common questions
How many redirect hops count as a chain finding?
At least 2 hops reaches the medium chain result. A working move still needs review before changing a useful redirect.
Can a single redirect be reported when my menu uses the old address?
Yes. Exactly 1 hop can trigger the low result when internal links still point to its start. Update links you control.
How serious is a redirect loop?
A recorded redirect loop is critical. It is kept separate from a working chain or an outdated internal link.