Search visibility and performance
How do you protect old Shopify links with URL redirects?
Send the old URL to the closest useful destination and test it. Redirecting everything to the homepage often loses the reason someone clicked.
Choose the destination by intent
A discontinued item may have a replacement or a relevant collection; an old article may need an updated explanation. Record the original URL, target and reason. Check Shopify’s current restrictions before assuming a rule applies to an active path. Open real older campaign links and watch where they end up. Update internal links to the final destination, and avoid unnecessary chains that make future migrations harder to understand.
Collect the URLs that matter
Export or record old product, collection and article URLs, especially those receiving traffic or external links. Add a destination and reason for each mapping. A discontinued product may need a suitable replacement or a useful explanation; the homepage is not automatically the right target.
Respect redirect behaviour
Review Shopify’s current restrictions and URL handling before assuming a rule will apply. Some paths and active pages do not behave like deleted destinations. Test a small set of representative URLs first, including links with the trailing-slash or domain forms your customers actually use.
Verify beyond the setup screen
Open the old URL and inspect where it leads. Avoid a chain of unnecessary hops, and update internal links to the final destination. Keep the mapping file for future migrations. Monitor errors after launch so unexpected old campaign links can be repaired with relevant targets.
Send visitors to the closest useful page
Map each changed address to the page that best continues the original intent. Test the full destination rather than only the presence of a redirect. Sending every removed product to the homepage may leave people confused; preserve context where a relevant replacement or category exists.
Official references
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