---
title: Fixing broken links with redirects
excerpt: Point an old, moved, or broken web address at the right page using the Redirection plugin.
tags: [redirects, broken links, 404s, urls]
target: client:brentwood
---

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<p>When a page is renamed, moved, or removed, its old address stops working — anyone who visits it lands on a "not found" error instead of the page they wanted. A <strong>redirect</strong> fixes this by sending visitors from the old address straight to the right page. You manage redirects under <code>Tools → Redirection</code> in the left-hand menu.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What is a redirect and when do I need one?</h2>
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<p>A redirect is a simple rule: "if someone asks for this old address, send them to this new one instead." You'll typically need one when:</p>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>You rename or move a page and its address changes.</li>
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<li>You delete a page and want visitors sent to a related page instead.</li>
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<li>Someone tells you a link that used to work now shows "not found."</li>
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<div class="wp-block-group bw-callout"><!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"bw-callout-label"} -->
<p class="bw-callout-label">Note</p>
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<p>The old Brentwood website's links were already redirected in bulk during the migration. This guide is for new, day-to-day fixes going forward — for example after you rename or remove a page.</p>
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<div class="wp-block-group bw-callout bw-callout-warning"><!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"bw-callout-label"} -->
<p class="bw-callout-label">Important</p>
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<p>Changing a page's address in WordPress doesn't create a redirect for you automatically. If you rename or move a page, add a redirect from its old address — otherwise anyone who had the old link gets a "not found" error.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How do I add a redirect?</h2>
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<!-- BWG-SHOT id="redirects-add-new" path="/wp-admin/tools.php?page=redirection.php" region="the Add New Redirection panel at the top of the Redirects tab — Source URL, Target URL and the Add Redirect button" caption="Add a redirect by pointing an old address at a new one." -->

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<ol class="wp-block-list bw-steps"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Go to <code>Tools → Redirection</code>.</li>
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<li>On the <strong>Redirects</strong> tab, find the <strong>Add New Redirection</strong> box at the top.</li>
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<li>In <strong>Source URL</strong>, type the old address, starting with a slash — e.g. <code>/admissions/old</code>.</li>
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<li>In <strong>Target URL</strong>, type the new page's address — e.g. <code>/admissions</code>.</li>
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<li>Click <strong>Add Redirect</strong>.</li>
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<p>The redirect works immediately — there's no publish step. It applies as soon as you click <strong>Add Redirect</strong>.</p>
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<div class="wp-block-group bw-callout bw-callout-success"><!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"bw-callout-label"} -->
<p class="bw-callout-label">Tip</p>
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<p>To check it worked, open the old address in your browser. It should take you straight to the new page instead of showing "not found."</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How do I find broken links people are hitting?</h2>
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<!-- BWG-SHOT id="redirects-404-log" path="/wp-admin/tools.php?page=redirection.php&sub=404s" region="the 404s tab list, showing not-found addresses and how many times each was hit" caption="The 404s tab shows real broken links visitors have hit on the live site." -->

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<p>Redirection keeps a log of "not found" addresses that visitors actually hit on the live site — from an old bookmark, an outside website, or a search engine result. Use it to catch broken links you didn't know about.</p>
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<ol class="wp-block-list bw-steps"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Go to <code>Tools → Redirection</code>.</li>
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<li>Click the <strong>404s</strong> tab.</li>
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<li>Look through the list of addresses that don't exist on the site — each shows how many times it's been hit.</li>
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<li>For one worth fixing, click it and choose <strong>Add Redirect</strong> — its address is already filled in as the Source URL, so you only need to add the Target URL.</li>
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<div class="wp-block-group bw-callout"><!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"bw-callout-label"} -->
<p class="bw-callout-label">Note</p>
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<p>The 404 log only keeps entries for about a week, so it's worth a quick check every week or two rather than waiting.</p>
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