In short. Create a redirect under Content > Menus > View URL Redirects, enter the old URL and destination, then save it; the source must be a broken URL.
Definition: A URL redirect in Shopify sends visitors from an old, broken URL to a destination URL. As of 17 October 2026, Shopify documents redirect creation in the admin under Content > Menus > View URL Redirects.
Key facts
- Shopify's URL redirect guide says redirects work only from broken URLs, including pages that return a 404 error.
- Shopify's UrlRedirect reference defines the source as the old path that visitors request.
- Shopify's UrlRedirectInput reference defines the target as the location to which visitors are redirected.
How is a redirect created in the admin?
Shopify's creation instructions describe this sequence:
- The administrator goes to Content > Menus in the Shopify admin.
- The administrator clicks View URL Redirects, then Create URL redirect.
- The Redirect from field receives the old URL.
- The Redirect to field receives the destination URL.
- The administrator clicks Save redirect.
The same documentation states that redirects start working immediately. A source URL that still loads an active page prevents the redirect from working, so source eligibility matters before the redirect is saved.
What belongs in the source and destination fields?
A relative URL is a path such as /collection/shirts; a full URL includes the domain, such as http://www.example.com/collection/shirts. Shopify's destination guidance specifies a relative URL for redirects within the store's primary domain and a full URL for redirects outside that domain.
The same guide gives a seasonal collection example. The fall collection's Online store visibility is set to Hidden, and a redirect connects these paths:
Redirect from: /collections/fall
Redirect to: /collections/summer
In that example, hiding the fall collection makes its URL return a 404 error, allowing the redirect to work. Restoring the collection to Visible automatically deletes the redirect. The guide also describes making product URLs eligible by setting products to Draft or removing them from all sales channels.
How is a redirect checked when it fails?
Shopify's troubleshooting instructions call for checking both fields for typing errors and confirming that the source has no active page. They also call for checking source restrictions: fixed paths such as /products and /collections cannot be redirected, and prefixes such as /cart and /orders are excluded.
The same instructions recommend clearing the browser cache and testing again, or trying another device. This check is relevant after a redirect changes because browsers and search engines cache permanent redirects, which Shopify describes as 301 redirects.
Related terms
- HTTP redirects
- How do I change a Shopify product's URL handle?
- Can a Shopify redirect replace a URL that still serves content?
FAQ
Can I redirect an old URL to the store's home page?
Yes. Shopify's creation instructions say to enter / in Redirect to for the home page.
Can I edit a saved redirect?
Yes. The same guide says you can open Content > Menus > URL redirects, select the redirect, enter changes and click Save redirect.
Why does a deleted redirect still work in my browser?
Shopify explains that cached 301 redirects can continue working in a browser until its cache expires. You can clear the browser cache or test on another device.
Sources
- Shopify Help Center, "Creating and managing URL redirects", undated, accessed 17 October 2026
- Shopify Developers, "UrlRedirect", undated, accessed 17 October 2026
- Shopify Developers, "UrlRedirectInput", undated, accessed 17 October 2026
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