How do I configure canonical redirects in PrestaShop?

Definition: In PrestaShop 8, as documented in October 2026, the canonical redirect setting controls whether alternate page addresses redirect to the preferred, or canonical, URL. Its modes are no redirection, permanent 301 and temporary 302.

Key facts

• PrestaShop's SEO and URLs documentation recommends the permanent 301 option once URL modifications are complete.
• The URL settings form labels the control Redirect to the canonical URL and associates it with PS_CANONICAL_REDIRECT.
• Google's redirect documentation describes permanent redirects as a signal that the destination should be canonical.

Where is the setting?

The PrestaShop URL form source places this control under Shop Parameters > Traffic & SEO > SEO & URLs, in Set up URLs. The form presents canonical redirection as a choice field alongside the Friendly URL and Accented URL switches.

Configuration consists of opening that section, selecting the required redirection mode and saving the form. The section template contains a Save button specifically for Set up URLs.

Which redirection mode fits the change?

PrestaShop's SEO and URLs guide lists these choices:

• No redirection leaves the canonical redirect disabled; duplicate URLs can remain.
• 301 Move Permanently points to the main URL permanently. PrestaShop recommends this after modifications are finished.
• 302 Moved Temporarily points to the main URL while indicating that it may change later.

As of October 2026, Google's redirect guidance says Googlebot follows both permanent and temporary redirects. Its indexing pipeline uses a permanent redirect as a canonical selection signal. A temporary redirect leaves the destination eligible for indexing through other canonical signals. A settled choice of preferred URL therefore fits the permanent mode; a reversible move fits the temporary mode.

How can the response be checked?

A useful check requests a known alternate URL and examines the returned HTTP status and Location header, which identifies the redirect destination. The curl manual documents --dump-header - for displaying headers and --output /dev/null for discarding the response body. This illustrative command uses a placeholder address:

curl --dump-header - --output /dev/null 'https://example.com/alternate-product-url'

For the permanent setting, the expected redirect status is 301; for the temporary setting, it is 302. The destination should match the intended main URL. Opening that destination also allows inspection of its HTML canonical link. PrestaShop's guide says the rel="canonical" link depends on correct theme implementation.

Related terms

• Canonical URL
• HTTP redirects
• How do I enable friendly URLs in PrestaShop?
• Where do I set the shop domain in PrestaShop?

FAQ

Which option should I choose once URL changes are finished?

Choose 301 Move Permanently for a settled main URL. PrestaShop's SEO and URLs guide recommends that option once modifications are done.

What should I check for product combinations?

Check the destination against the default combination. The same guide says that the product canonical URL points to the default combination when combinations exist.

Sources

1. PrestaShop, "SEO and URLs", undated
2. PrestaShop, "SetUpUrlType.php", version 8.1.7
3. PrestaShop, "set_up_urls_configuration.html.twig", version 8.1.7
4. Google Search Central, "Redirects and Google Search", undated
5. curl, "curl man page", undated

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