In short. Use Match query strings for parameter-sensitive rules and a flexible redirect variable to carry a named query value into the destination URL.
Definition: A query string is the part of a URL after
?, containing parameters such aspromo_code=12345. As of October 2026, HubSpot provides query-string matching and flexible redirect patterns that can reuse a parameter value in the destination URL.
Key facts
- HubSpot's redirect management guide lists Match query strings under More options; the checkbox is cleared by default.
- HubSpot's flexible redirect guide requires query-string matching for redirects that include query parameters.
- HubSpot's email link troubleshooting guide explains that email click tracking adds information to link URLs.
Where is query-string matching configured?
HubSpot's redirect documentation gives this settings path:
Content > Domains & URLs > URL Redirects
For an existing rule, Actions > Edit opens the redirect panel. More options exposes Match query strings. With that option selected, additional parameters beyond the entered original URL prevent the redirect from applying. Update URL redirect saves the change.
The same documentation limits these redirects to domains connected to and hosted in HubSpot. An externally hosted domain needs redirect configuration through its hosting infrastructure.
How is a parameter passed to the destination?
A flexible redirect uses a named variable to capture part of the incoming URL and insert it into the destination. HubSpot's documented query-parameter example uses these field values:
Original URL:
http://www.example.com/certification?promo_code=:promocode
Redirect to:
http://www.example.com/enrollment?promo_code={promocode}
The Flexible redirect type and Match query strings are selected for this configuration. The original pattern captures promocode; the destination substitutes that value. HubSpot illustrates the result with promo_code=12345 on both the certification and enrollment URLs.
This is an explicit mapping of a named parameter. The cited guides leave automatic forwarding of every incoming parameter undocumented.
What changes for tracked email links?
HubSpot's email troubleshooting documentation recommends clearing Match the query string when a link to a redirected HubSpot page produces an error. Tracking can add parameters beyond those entered in the rule.
The same guide lists hsenc, _hsmi, hsCtaTracking, and utm_source among the parameters an external destination may need to accept. It also recommends linking directly to the final destination: copying a URL from an already sent email can carry existing tracking information into another tracked link.
For review, compare the original email link with the destination URL and check whether the intended parameter remains present. This checks the actual link used in the campaign alongside the redirect configuration.
Related terms
- URL parameters
- How do I create a HubSpot URL redirect?
- How do I create a pattern-based URL redirect in HubSpot?
- How do I keep campaign parameters through redirects?
FAQ
Should I enable matching for a flexible parameter rule?
Yes. HubSpot's flexible redirect instructions say to enable Match query strings when the redirect includes query parameters, including the promo_code example above.
Can extra tracking parameters stop an exact match?
Yes. HubSpot's advanced redirect options state that additional parameters prevent the redirect from applying when query-string matching is enabled.
What should I check when an email link fails?
HubSpot's email link guide recommends checking the matching checkbox and using the final destination URL. For an external destination, check whether its server accepts the tracking parameters.
Sources
- HubSpot, "Create and manage URL redirects", 21 May 2026
- HubSpot, "Set up a flexible pattern URL redirect", 10 February 2026
- HubSpot, "Links in emails or legacy CTAs lead to an error page", 22 June 2026
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