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The ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error is a common issue that many WordPress users encounter. When this error appears, it tells you your website is stuck in an infinite loop of redirects, preventing visitors from accessing your content. This can be incredibly frustrating for you and your site visitors, as it disrupts the user experience and can lead to lost traffic and decreased SEO rankings.
Resolving this error is crucial to maintain your site’s accessibility and performance whereas ignoring it can lead to prolonged downtime, which might harm your site’s reputation and search engine rankings. Fixing it quickly ensures your visitors have a smooth browsing experience and helps maintain your site’s credibility.
In this tutorial, we’ll cover everything you need to know to fix the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error. We’ll explain what causes this error, provide step-by-step solutions, and offer preventive measures to avoid it. By the end, you’ll have the knowledge and tools to get your site back on track and keep it running smoothly.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error occurs due to a redirect loop, preventing website access.
- Common causes include misconfigured WordPress settings, plugin conflicts, incorrect HTTPS settings, and issues with third-party services like CDNs.
- Clear browser cookies and cache to remove outdated redirect information.
- Use tools like Redirect Checker and cURL to identify the nature of the redirect loop.
- Verify and correct HTTPS settings to avoid conflicting redirects.
- Ensure the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) are correctly set.
- Properly configure third-party services, such as Cloudflare, to prevent redirect conflicts.
- Disable faulty plugins.
- Addressing these issues promptly can restore website functionality and improve user experience.
Table of Contents
What Is ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS Error?
The NET::ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error, also known as a redirect loop, happens when your website keeps redirecting from one URL to another in a continuous cycle (e.g., URL1 to URL2 and URL2 to back URL1), preventing the page from loading. This occurs when your site’s server configurations or settings create a loop that it can’t resolve.
This error also surfaces due to misconfigured URL settings, conflicting plugins, incorrect HTTPS settings, or issues with your server. When your site’s server gets caught in a loop of redirects, it cannot find a valid page to display, resulting in the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS message.
| Error Code | ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS |
| Error Type | Code Error/Browser Error |
| Error Variations | This page isn’t working. yourdomain.com redirected you too many times. ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS The page isn’t redirecting properly Safari Can’t Open the Page This page isn’t working right now |
Now, does this impact website functionality and visitor experience? Yes, because when this error occurs, your website becomes inaccessible to visitors, leading to a poor user experience. Prolonged downtime causes decreased traffic, lower search engine visibility, and potential revenue loss.
The error’s representation can vary, depending on your web browser. Different browsers display this error message differently. Let’s explore how it appears on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
Google Chrome
The Chrome browser shows a “This page isn’t working” message with an ERR_TO_MANY_REDIRECTS error code, indicating that the domain name you’re trying to access has redirected you too many times. It also suggests you delete your cookies and provide a Reload button to refresh the page if the error is a temporary glitch.
Microsoft Edge
The Edge browser displays the NET::ERR_TO_MANY_REDIRECTS error like Chrome. However, the message at the top differs in wording: “This page isn’t working right now.”
Mozilla Firefox
If you are a Firefox user, you may see a message that reads, “The page isn’t redirecting properly,” which means you are encountering the ERR_TO_MANY_REDIRECTS error.
This message is user-friendly because it says an error occurred during a connection to yourdomain.com rather than showing an error code. Furthermore, it discloses the possible cause and provides a Try again button to refresh the page.
Causes of ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS Error
Understanding the causes of the NET::ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error is essential to fix it effectively. Here are some common reasons why this error occurs:
Misconfigured WordPress Settings:
If your WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) aren’t correctly set, this will create a redirect loop. Ensure both URLs match and are accurately configured.
Plugin Conflicts:
Certain plugins, especially those related to redirects or security, can conflict with each other and cause this error. Identifying and deactivating the problematic plugin can resolve the issue.
Incorrect HTTPS Settings:
If your site has an SSL certificate but the settings are misconfigured, it can lead to redirect loops. Ensure your HTTPS settings are properly set up and avoid forcing HTTPS if your site isn’t fully ready.
Browser Cache/Cookies Issues:
Sometimes, your browser’s cache or cookies can hold onto outdated redirect information, causing an ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error. Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies can help resolve the problem.
Third-Party Services Issues (e.g., CDNs):
Services like Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) can sometimes cause redirect loops if they are not configured correctly with your WordPress site. Check your CDN settings to ensure they are properly integrated.
Server Settings Misconfiguration:
Your server’s redirect rules, such as those in the .htaccess file for Apache servers or Nginx config files, can cause loops if not set correctly. Reviewing and correcting these settings can stop the loop.
Issues After Website or Domain Migration:
If you recently moved your site to a new server or domain, incorrect migration settings can lead to redirect loops. Ensure all settings, especially URLs and redirects, are updated correctly.
We hope you now understand what the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS is, and why it is caused. Now, it’s time to learn how to fix redirect errors on your WordPress site, ensuring it remains accessible and user-friendly.
How to Fix ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS Error
Here are some recommended things to check to resolve the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error.
Delete Cookies on the Affected Site
Cookies are small data items your browser stores to remember information about your website visits. When cookies contain old redirect data, they can force your browser into a continuous loop, trying to redirect you to pages that lead back to the same place, resulting in the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error.
To fix this, delete cookies on the site you’re trying to access. Here are step-by-step instructions for deleting cookies on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox:
Google Chrome
Click on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and select Settings.
Select Privacy and security from the left menu. Scroll down a bit and click on Site Settings.
Navigate to the Content section and click on the Third-party cookies.
On the next screen, click on See all site data and permissions.
Search your site (domain) where you’re facing the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error. Then, you can delete the cookie(s) that are currently stored on your PC for that domain name.
Finally, try visiting your website again.
Microsoft Edge
Open Microsoft Edge and navigate to three horizontal dots → Settings.
Choose Cookies and site permissions, then click on Manage and delete cookies and site data.
Click See all cookies and site data.
Search your site. Then, click the downward arrow (v) to delete cookies for your searched website. The good thing is that you can also filter by first-party, third-party, or all. Moreover, you can sort by name, most cookies, most data, and last modified.
Mozilla Firefox
Launch the Firefox browser. Click on the Settings gear.
A new window will slide in from the right; click on Manage more settings.
Locate Privacy & Security from the left and click on it. Then, navigate to the Cookies and Site Data section and smash the Manage Data button.
Type the domain in the search box. Select it when it appears. After that, hit Remove Selected to delete cookies and site data for your chosen website. Finally, click Save Changes to apply modifications.
By following these steps, you can clear the cookies that might be causing the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error, helping your site load correctly without redirect loops.
Enhance your website’s reliability and user experience.
Consider WordPress Hosting with Hosted for optimal website performance.
Clear WordPress, Server, Proxy, and Browser Cache
As we said above caches store temporary data to help websites load faster. However, outdated or corrupted cache data can cause the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error by holding onto old redirect information. Clearing these caches can often resolve the error.
Clear WordPress Cache
Clearing the WordPress cache is also known as Page Cache and Site Cache. Depending on the redirect loop type, you may have access to your WordPress dashboard.
If so, log in to your WordPress admin panel. Then, navigate to the settings of your caching plugin to clear the site cache. For this tutorial, we explain the process using three popular caching plugins: W3 Total Cache, Cache Enabler, and WP Super Cache.
Using W3 Total Cache
W3 Total Cache is a free and popular performance optimization plugin for WordPress websites. It implements various caching mechanisms and optimization techniques to improve a website’s loading speed and overall performance.
To clear the WordPress cache using W3 Total Cache, click on the Performance tab and choose Purge All Caches.
Alternatively, you can navigate to Performance → Dashboard → Empty All Caches.
Using Cache Enabler
The Cache Enabler plugin is a lightweight and free caching plugin for WordPress that helps enhance site performance by generating static HTML files and serving them to users. This process reduces the need for PHP and database queries, resulting in faster load times.
Clearing the WordPress site cache is straightforward with this plugin. You only need to click Clear Site Cache at the top-right of your WordPress dashboard.
Using WP Super Cache
WP Super Cache is another free WordPress plugin; it produces static HTML files from your dynamic WordPress blog. This helps improve site performance by reducing server load and speeding up page load times, making your site faster for visitors. It’s useful for high-traffic websites as it serves static files instead of processing PHP scripts repeatedly.
When using this plugin, click the Delete Cache option at the top bar of your WordPress admin panel to clear your site’s cache.
Important: You must have these plugins installed to clear the WordPress cache using them. If you haven’t installed any yet, go to WordPress Dashboard → Plugins → Add New Plugin → Search Your Desired Plugin → Click Install → Click Activate. Make sure to install a good plugin with maximum downloads, 4+ or 4.5+ reviews, and it should be compatible with your WordPress version.
Clear Server Cache
If clearing the site cache didn’t work as you don’t have access to the WordPress admin panel, you should log in to your web hosting account to clear the server cache. The steps may vary depending on your host.
However, if you’re a Hosted client, navigate to cPanel → Advanced → LiteSpeed Web Cache Manager.
Click Flush All. Then, hit OK when pop-up.
Important: This will remove all cache files under /home/yourdirectory/lscache. Be aware that it will clear the cache for all owned LSCache-enabled sites. If you want to flush LSCache for a single site, please do so through that site’s administrator dashboard.
Clear Proxy Cache
If you’re using a third-party reverse proxy service clearing the cache on their side can also be helpful.
- To purge or clear the Cloudflare cache, get into their dashboard.
- Select your domain and account.
- Select Purge Everything under Purge Cache.
- A warning window will appear; select Purge Everything if you agree.
Clear Browser Cache
If clearing the site, server, and proxy cache didn’t resolve the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error, you might have issues with the browser cache. However, before you clear your browser cache, we recommend visiting your site in Incognito Mode. You can open it using Ctrl + Shift + N hotkey combination.
If you cannot visit your site in Incognito Mode, you don’t need to clear your web browser cache because it’s not causing the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error.
In contrast, if you successfully access your site in Incognito Mode, you should clear your browser cache. Here’s how to do it using Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
On Google Chrome, press Ctrl + Shift + Del. Make sure the Cached images and files is checked. Optionally, check Browsing history and Cookies and other site data. Lastly, click Delete data.
The process is similar for other browsers. To clear the browser cache in Edge and Firefox, press the same hotkey combination, Ctrl + Shift + Del. Then, you can select the required options to clear your browser cache.
By following these steps to clear caches in WordPress, servers, proxy services, and browsers, you can eliminate outdated data that could cause the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error and ensure your website loads correctly.
Determine the Nature of the Redirect Loop
If none of the previous fixes work, then you should check the nature of the redirect loop. To identify where the loop is located, use tools like Redirect Checker and cURL. Let’s start with the first tool.
Use Redirect Checker Tool
Navigate to the Redirect Checker tool’s site, and enter your domain. Don’t forget to add http:// or https:// on your URL. Then, hit analyse.
This will take a moment and will display the full redirect chain, showing each URL the browser is redirected to until it hits the loop.
For instance, according to the following results, the site has a 301 redirect loop back to itself, causing a large chain of faulty redirects. You can go through all the redirects and check whether it’s looping back to itself or perhaps is an HTTP to HTTPS loop.
Use cURL Tool
cURL is a command-line tool used to transfer data. It can help you see the redirect chain. To use this, open your terminal or command prompt. Type the following command and press Enter:
curl -I -L https://www.yourdomainname.comEach “Location” header in the response shows a redirect step. Look for patterns or repeated URLs indicating a loop.
You can also find the number of redirects followed via the cURL tool.
Use Redirect Path Chrome Extension
Alternatively, you can use the Redirect Path Chrome extension to gain insights into your website’s redirects. To use it, add this extension to Chrome. Type your site’s URL in the web browser’s address bar. Then, click on this extension’s icon to see details.
Use these tools to pinpoint exactly where the redirect loop starts and address the specific cause, whether it’s a plugin, setting, or server configuration. This will help you resolve the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error efficiently.
Check HTTPS Settings
Proper HTTPS settings are crucial for your website’s security and functionality. In our experience, incorrect settings can cause the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error. You can also face this error when you migrate your website to HTTPS. In any of these situations, you can try the following fixes.
Ensure Correct HTTPS Setup
Ensure your website is correctly configured to use HTTPS. To do this, you need a valid SSL certificate, and your URLs should start with https://.
There are two ways to ensure your SSL certificate is installed and valid. You can check this via your hosting provider’s control panel or an online SSL checker tool. Let’s explore both.
If you’re hosting your site on Hosted, go to cPanel → Security → SSL/TLS Status. You should see a green lock that indicates the active SSL certificate with an expiry date.
Alternatively, you can use the SSL Checker tool. To use this, provide the server hostname (site’s URL). Then, click Check SSL to see all details about the SSL certificate, including:
- Is the SSL installed correctly?
- Is there any issue with SSL intermediate certificate files?
- Is the certificate valid?
Furthermore, go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Settings → General, and ensure both the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) start with https://.
If you can’t access your dashboard, you can override the settings in the wp-config.php file. To do this:
1. Use an FTP client or your hosting file manager to access your WordPress files.
2. Locate the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
3. Add the Following Lines:
define('WP_HOME','https://yourwebsite.com');
define('WP_SITEURL','https://yourwebsite.com');4. Save the changes. Remember, if you’ve used an FTP client like FileZilla, you should upload the modified file to your server.
Avoid Forced HTTPS Without an SSL Certificate
If you force HTTPS without having an SSL certificate, it can cause a redirect loop. Avoid forcing HTTPS unless you have a valid SSL certificate:
To fix this, disable Force HTTPS plugins. If you have a plugin that forces HTTPS (e.g., Really Simple SSL), ensure your SSL certificate is valid before enabling it.
The above method works if you have access to the WordPress admin panel. Otherwise, navigate to Hosted’s cPanel → Files → File Manager.
Go to the WordPress installation’s root directory and locate the .htaccess file. If you’re a Hosted customer, find this file in the /home/public_html directory. Once you locate it, click View to see if there are any conflicting rules.
For example, the following screenshot has conflicting rules, which must be removed to fix the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error.
Update Hard-Coded Links and Server Redirects
Your SSL certificate is valid and you’re not forcing HTTPS without having SSL. Then, the hard-code links or incorrect server redirects might be causing redirect loops. Here’s how to update them:
Ensure all internal links in your content, themes, and plugins: use https:// instead of http://. You can employ a plugin like Better Search Replace to update these links. Furthermore, review your .htaccess file to check server redirects. Make sure they are set up correctly to avoid loops.
At Hosted we use an Apache server, so you can easily redirect the HTTP traffic to HTTPS by writing the following code to your .htaccess file. It’s the recommended approach for redirecting WordPress running on Apache server.
RewriteEngine On
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]Important: There are a few free SSL WordPress plugins like Really Simple SSL to redirect to HTTPS automatically. However, this is a temporary solution because third-party tools solve the issue; however, they may raise another set of problems. So, we don’t recommend this. Instead, update your hard-coded links.
Check Third-Parth Services
If none of the previous solutions resolved the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error, you should check if you’re using reverse proxy services like Cloudflare. Cloudflare acts as an intermediary between your site and visitors, caching content to improve load times.
If there’s a misconfiguration, it can create redirect loops. For example, if your server and Cloudflare are set to force HTTPS, it can result in conflicting redirects. This usually happens when the Flexible SSL encryption mode is enabled, and you already have installed an SSL certificate with your WordPress host.
Why? When Flexible is selected, all requests to your web hosting server are sent over HTTP. Your web host server may have a redirect from HTTP to HTTPS, and therefore, a redirect loop occurs.
To fix it, log in to the Cloudflare dashboard, and choose your account and domain. Go to SSL/TLS, then select an encryption mode. If you have a valid SSL certificate, ensure the SSL setting shows Full or Full (strict). Avoid using the Flexible setting if your server already forces HTTPS.
Furthermore, go to the Rules → Page Rules section and ensure you find no conflicting redirect rules. You can also temporarily disable Cloudflare to see if the error is resolved. If it does, the issue is likely with Cloudflare’s configuration. Re-enable it and adjust settings as needed.
Use Cloudflare DNS Only
If you want to use Cloudflare’s DNS rather than their proxy/WAF service, you should ensure your DNS records are set to DNS only. To do this, click Edit and toggle off the proxy status.
This will make the clouds “grey” instead of “orange,” as shown below.
Temporarily Deactivate WordPress Plugins
Are you using WordPress plugins to implement redirects? If so, deactivating plugins can be a quick solution for you. How? Sometimes, updates or settings to these plugins can conflict with redirects you might already have set on your server, generating a redirect loop.
To fix this, log in to your FTP client (FileZilla) and rename the plugins folder to something else. This way, you can disable all plugins at once. Remember, disabling plugins won’t affect or lose data.
If you’re a Hosted user, you can rename the plugins folder from your hosting account.
After renaming the plugins folder, you should access the website. If so, then you need to test each plugin. For this, rename the folder back to plugins, and then rename each plugin’s folder inside it. Repeat the process for each plugin, one by one, until you find the incompatible or faulty plugin.
Important: You can also rename plugins on a staging site first.
FAQs
What is the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error?
The ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error occurs when a website gets caught in a continuous loop of redirects, preventing the page from loading.
Why does this error occur?
It usually occurs due to misconfigured URLs, plugin conflicts, incorrect HTTPS settings, cache issues, or problems with third-party services like CDNs.
How can I clear my browser cookies to fix the error?
Open your browser and press Ctrl + Settings + Del, find the option to clear cookies and site data, then hit the delete or clear button.
What tools can help identify the redirect loops?
Tools like Redirect Checker and cURL can help trace the redirect paths and identify where the loop starts.
How do I check my WordPress URL settings?
Log in to your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings → General, and verify that the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) are correct.
What should I do if a plugin causes the error?
To find the problematic plugin, deactivate all plugins and then reactivate them singly. Once identified, replace or reconfigure the plugin.
How do HTTPS settings cause this error?
If HTTPS is forced incorrectly or there are SSL certificate issues, it can create redirect loops. Ensure HTTPS settings are properly configured.
Can server settings cause this error?
Yes, misconfigured server redirect rules in .htaccess or Nginx config files can cause redirect loops and this error. Review and correct these settings.
How do I configure Cloudflare to avoid this error?
In your Cloudflare account, ensure SSL settings are set correctly, avoid conflicting redirect rules, and check Page Rules for conflicts.
What should I do if the error persists after troubleshooting?
If the error continues, contact your hosting provider for assistance. There could be server-level issues that require professional attention.
Other Blogs of Interest:
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– How To Fix ERR_CONNECTION_RESET
– How To Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error
– How to Fix 502 Bad Gateway Error in WordPress
– How To Fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Rhett isn’t just a writer at Hosted.com – he’s our resident WordPress content guru. With over 6 years of experience as a content writer, with a background in copywriting, journalism, research, and SEO, and a passion for websites.
Rhett authors informative blogs, articles, and Knowledgebase guides that simplify the complexities of WordPress, website builders, domains, and cPanel hosting. Rhett’s clear explanations and practical tips provide valuable resources for anyone wanting to own and build a website. Just don’t ask him about coding before he’s had coffee.