In short. In Rank Math’s 404 Monitor, select Redirect on an error row, keep Exact matching, enter the replacement destination URL, and save with Add Redirection.
Definition: A redirect sends requests for one URL to another address. As of 17 October 2026, Rank Math documents creating one from its 404 Monitor by selecting an error's Redirect action, entering a destination, and saving the rule.
Key facts
- Rank Math's error monitoring guide says the selected error automatically fills the Source URL field.
- Rank Math's redirection setup guide defines a 301 redirect as a permanent move to a new address.
- Google's HTTP status documentation, dated 4 February 2026, identifies 404 as “not found” and says Google processes the final redirect target's content.
Where is the Redirect action?
The monitoring guide starts in the WordPress menu's 404 Monitor. Hovering over an error row reveals the Redirect link. Selecting it opens the redirection form with the missing address already entered.
Rank Math's setup guide requires the Redirections module to be enabled. The module appears in Rank Math's Advanced mode. Its documented location is:
WordPress Dashboard > Rank Math SEO > Dashboard > Modules
How is the replacement destination entered?
For a single missing address, the monitoring guide keeps Match set to Exact. The form's Destination URL receives the replacement address. The guide saves the rule with Add Redirection.
The setup guide recommends a complete destination address, including its protocol and domain. It accepts destinations on the same website or another website, including files such as PDFs. For a permanent replacement, 301 represents the move; 302 is available for a temporary change when the original address is expected to return. Status controls whether the rule is active. An immediately active rule uses Activate.
How can the saved rule be checked?
Rank Math's setup guide locates saved rules under Rank Math SEO > Redirections. The Hits column counts accesses to each redirect, including requests from people and bots. The last accessed column records the most recent access.
For an unexpected destination, the same guide documents Debug Redirections in the redirection settings. After enabling it and saving, an administrator opening a redirect sees an intermediate screen with Manage This Redirection, which opens the responsible rule for editing.
Related terms
- HTTP redirects
- How do I enable Rank Math's missing-page monitor?
- How do I create a redirect in Rank Math?
- How do I debug a redirect handled by Rank Math?
FAQ
Can I select several errors together?
Yes. The monitoring guide supports selecting entries, choosing Redirect under Bulk actions, and clicking Apply. All selected addresses share one destination; use separate operations for different destinations.
What if the deleted page has no replacement?
Google's missing-page guidance treats 404 and 410 responses as missing content. For Google Search, previously indexed URLs returning these statuses leave the index, and newly encountered 404 pages receive no further processing.
Sources
- Rank Math, "Fixing 404 Errors with Rank Math", undated
- Rank Math, "How to Set Up Redirections", undated
- Google, "How HTTP status codes affect Google's crawlers", 4 February 2026
Check how a page reads to answer engines. Open the GEO score analyzer