In short. Enable automatic alias-change redirects in Redirect and configure Pathauto to replace the old alias so its previous address redirects to the content.
Definition: A Drupal URL alias is a readable alternative path for content. Keeping an old alias reachable after a change involves creating a redirect, an instruction that sends requests from the old address to the content's current address.
Key facts
- As of October 2026, the Drupal CMS Clean URLs guide describes Redirect creating a redirect to the current alias when an alias is updated manually.
- Redirect's configuration form provides the checkbox “Automatically create redirects when URL aliases are changed.”
- Pathauto's settings form offers an update action that replaces the old alias and explains that Redirect settings control redirect creation.
- Redirect's installation configuration enables automatic redirects and sets the default redirect status to 301.
Which Pathauto update action preserves access through old URLs?
Pathauto generates aliases automatically. Its settings form offers “Create a new alias. Delete the old alias.” For a replacement URL with redirection from the previous address, this action works together with Redirect's automatic redirect setting. Both modules must be enabled before the alias changes.
The label describes replacement of the alias. Pathauto's alias storage implementation updates and saves the existing alias record when this action is selected. Redirect can then process that change.
The other update actions serve different purposes: one retains the existing alias without generating a replacement; another creates an additional alias while keeping the existing alias functioning. Selecting the replacement action makes the intended URL change explicit.
What happens when the alias changes?
Redirect's alias update handler checks whether automatic redirects are enabled. When the alias changes, it uses the previous alias as the redirect source and the content's internal path as the destination. It also records the previous alias's language and uses the configured default status.
This internal destination matters: the stored target identifies the content independently of its readable alias. Redirect's configuration form also provides a canonical URL setting, which redirects requests to a page's preferred URL, including its alias. The automatic alias-change checkbox controls creation of the historical redirect; the canonical setting controls URL normalization.
How can the result be checked or repaired?
The Drupal CMS Clean URLs guide gives these administration paths for the redirect list and settings:
/admin/config/search/redirect
/admin/config/search/redirect/settings
A practical check is to record an existing alias, change it, then inspect the redirect list and open the old address. The expected result is the same content at its current alias. The guide also describes the separate Redirect 404 module, which lists requested missing URLs for review and redirect creation.
For an old address that needs a manual entry, Redirect's README instructs administrators to select Add redirect, enter the old path in Path, and choose the content in To. The status menu includes 301 Moved Permanently. Saving adds the redirect; the README also identifies a URL Redirects group on the content edit page.
Related terms
- How do I configure URL alias patterns in Drupal?
- How do I generate aliases for existing Drupal content?
- How do I create redirects with Drupal's Redirect module?
- HTTP redirects
FAQ
Which setting should I check when automatic redirects are missing?
Check the automatic alias-change checkbox in Redirect and the replacement update action in Pathauto. The Pathauto settings form explicitly connects alias replacement with Redirect's settings.
Can I add an old URL manually?
Yes. The Redirect README documents Path for the old address and To for the destination, including content selected by title.
What status does a newly installed Redirect module use?
The installation configuration sets 301 as the default. You can review the site's current Default redirect status setting before changing aliases.
Sources
- Drupal CMS User Guide, "Clean URLs", n.d.
- Drupal Redirect project, "RedirectSettingsForm.php", n.d.
- Drupal Pathauto project, "PathautoSettingsForm.php", n.d.
- Drupal Redirect project, "redirect.settings.yml", n.d.
- Drupal Pathauto project, "AliasStorageHelper.php", n.d.
- Drupal Redirect project, "redirect.module", n.d.
- Drupal Redirect project, "README.txt", n.d.
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