In short. Enable Debug Redirections, test the source URL as an administrator and use Manage This Redirection to open the responsible rule.
Definition: Rank Math's redirect debugger displays a temporary diagnostic screen between a source URL and its destination. As of 17 October 2026, Rank Math documents administrator-only access and a link to the rule responsible for the redirect.
Key facts
- Rank Math's redirection setup guide states that the diagnostic screen appears for five seconds before the redirect proceeds.
- Its General Settings documentation recommends enabling Debug Redirections only while diagnosing redirects.
- The mode-switching guide places the Easy/Advanced mode selector in the top-right corner of the Rank Math dashboard.
How is the debugger enabled?
The Redirections module must be enabled under WordPress Dashboard → Rank Math SEO → Dashboard → Modules. Rank Math's setup guide specifies that Advanced Mode is required for this module to appear.
The mode-switching instructions describe two ways to select Advanced Mode: during the Setup Wizard or through the dashboard's mode selector. The dashboard route also allows switching modes after initial setup.
Once the module is active, the General Settings documentation gives this settings path:
Rank Math SEO → General Settings → Redirections
The Debug Redirections setting enables the diagnostic screen. The setup guide instructs administrators to enable it and save the settings.
How does the screen identify the responsible rule?
A source URL is the address a redirect starts from; the destination URL is the address it sends the visitor to. Rank Math's setup guide instructs administrators to return to Rank Math SEO → Redirections, right-click a redirect link and open it in a new tab.
The diagnostic screen appears before the redirect completes. Its Manage This Redirection link opens the edit window for the exact rule that triggered the redirect. The rule can then be changed and saved there. The guide identifies overlapping redirects for the same URL as a situation where the debugger is useful.
Why might the diagnostic screen be missing?
Rank Math's setup guide restricts the debugger to website administrators. Testing therefore requires a logged-in administrator session. Regular visitors continue through the redirect without seeing the diagnostic screen.
The screen also disappears after five seconds, when the actual redirect is processed. The same guide identifies this short display period as a possible reason for missing it even when debugging is enabled.
Related terms
- How do I create a redirect in Rank Math?
- How do I write a regex redirect in Rank Math?
- HTTP redirects
FAQ
Can visitors see the debugger when I enable it?
Rank Math's General Settings documentation says that the diagnostic screen is visible only to administrators. Your regular visitors do not see it.
Should I leave Debug Redirections enabled?
The same documentation recommends keeping it disabled except when performing redirect diagnostics. After checking your rule, turn Debug Redirections off.
Sources
- Rank Math, "How to Set Up Redirections", undated
- Rank Math, "Rank Math General Settings", undated
- Rank Math, "How to Switch From Easy to Advanced Mode", undated
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