What does Error 301 Moved Permanently mean?

The short answer

Error 301 Moved Permanently means the web page you’re trying to visit has been permanently moved to a different URL, and your browser should go to the new address instead.

Why does it happen?

A 301 is actually a behind-the-scenes instruction from one website address to another. Common reasons a page gets moved:

  • The site changed its URL structure — for example, a page moved from example.com/old-page to example.com/new-page
  • The site moved to a new domain — the whole website relocated from one address to another
  • A page was renamed — the content still exists, just at a different address
  • HTTP to HTTPS switch — the site upgraded to a secure connection and redirects all old links to the new secure version

Most of the time, your browser handles 301 redirects automatically. You’ll be sent to the new page without even noticing. You only see the error when something goes wrong with the redirect.

How to fix it

If you’re stuck on a 301 error instead of being redirected properly:

  1. Clear your browser cache — your browser may have cached a bad redirect. Clear your cache and try again
  2. Check the URL — make sure there are no typos in the address you’re visiting
  3. Try a different browser — this helps rule out a browser-specific caching issue
  4. Remove the page from bookmarks and re-save it — your bookmark may point to the old URL that’s no longer redirecting correctly
  5. Search for the page — search the site name and topic on Google to find the current, working URL

When should you worry?

  • If you get redirected automatically, there’s nothing to worry about. The 301 did its job
  • If you’re stuck in a redirect loop (the page keeps loading over and over), the website has a configuration problem on their end
  • If you run your own website and see 301 issues, check your server’s redirect rules to make sure they point to valid, live pages