Does importing a redirect CSV replace existing MyKinsta rules?

Definition: No. Kinsta documents MyKinsta CSV imports as additive: imported rules are added to the existing redirect list. The list is then organized by domain, so the display order groups rules by domain while preserving the order in which relevant fields were added within those groups.

Key facts

• Kinsta says that importing adds to the list of redirects and does not overwrite or change existing redirects in MyKinsta's redirect rules documentation.
• Imported rules are organized by Domain: rules for all domains appear first, followed by specific domains in alphabetical order.
• Fields such as Traffic From and Redirect From keep the order in which they were added, while the rules remain grouped under their domains.
• The CSV fields are status code, domain, redirect from path, redirect to URL, optional country, and optional city.
• Kinsta documents a maximum import size of 100KB and says that 5000 redirects can be imported at a time.

What does additive import mean?

Kinsta's documentation, updated 18 February 2026, states that importing adds to the redirect list. An import therefore keeps the rules already in MyKinsta and adds the imported rules to the same configuration. The import operation is separate from deleting rules.

For a replacement workflow, Kinsta documents selecting the Domain checkbox to select all domains, or selecting individual rules, and then using Delete redirects before importing an updated list. When the list spans more than one page, the documentation says that selecting all selects only the current page, so the selection and deletion must be repeated for each page.

How are imported rules grouped?

The imported rows do not form one flat display sequence. Kinsta organizes the resulting rules by Domain. Rules that apply to all domains appear at the top; specific domains follow in alphabetical order. Within those domain groups, fields such as Traffic From and Redirect From maintain the order in which they were added.

This produces two ordering levels: domain grouping determines where a rule appears in the list, while the added order is retained for the named fields inside the corresponding group. Kinsta's redirect guide also describes bulk import as a way to add multiple rules by pasting CSV-formatted data.

What does the CSV contain?

Kinsta lists the CSV columns in this order: status code, domain, redirect from path, redirect to URL, country, and city. Country and city are optional. Each redirect rule occupies a new line, and www subdomains should be entered as separate lines. The import supports regular expressions.

301,all,^/oldpath/?$,https://newlocation.com/newpath
301,www.domain.com,^/oldpath/?$,https://newlocation.com/newpath
302,domain.com,^/oldpath/?$,https://newlocation.com/newpath,HU,Hungary
302,domain.com,^/oldpath/?$,https://newlocation.com/newpath,AL,Albania,Ballsh

The first field selects the redirect status, and the second identifies the domain scope. The example shows all, a specific www subdomain, optional country and city fields, and regex anchors in the source path. Kinsta's older redirect guide identifies 301 and 302 as the available redirect rule types in its MyKinsta workflow.

How can you check the result?

Kinsta provides an Export to CSV option for offline editing and re-importing. After an import or update, its documentation recommends checking the HTTP status and redirect chain of each URL with Kinsta's HTTP status and redirect checker. That check exposes the response headers and redirect chain produced by the current rules.

The documentation does not specify which rule wins when an imported source pattern duplicates an existing source pattern. The documented behavior establishes additive import and domain grouping, so duplicate handling remains an open point for a test or Kinsta support question.

Related terms

• Can MyKinsta redirects match a URL's query string?
• Why can an unanchored MyKinsta redirect cause a loop?
• How can a MyKinsta redirect match uppercase and lowercase paths?

FAQ

Will an import delete the redirect rules already in MyKinsta?

No. Kinsta states that importing adds to the list and does not overwrite or change existing redirects.

Does CSV row order control the whole MyKinsta list?

No. Kinsta groups the rules by domain, puts all-domain rules first, and places specific domains in alphabetical order. The added order is retained within the corresponding domain groups for fields such as Traffic From and Redirect From.

How do you prepare a replacement import?

Delete the existing rules first, using the Domain checkbox or individual selections, then import the updated CSV. If the rules span multiple pages, repeat the selection and deletion for each page.

Sources

1. Kinsta Docs, "Redirects", 18 February 2026
2. Kinsta, "WordPress Redirect Best Practices to Maximize SEO and Page Speed", 11 March 2026

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