Htaccess Redirect
Generate www or non-www .htaccess redirect rules from a domain name.
Htaccess Redirect Generator for Canonical Host Rules
Htaccess Redirect creates a small .htaccess rewrite block for a domain that should resolve through one preferred host version. You enter a domain name, choose the visible redirect direction, and the tool returns Apache-style rewrite code that can be copied into an .htaccess file or saved as a TXT file. The page is useful when a site needs a single canonical host, such as choosing between the www and non-www version of the same domain.
The tool does not try to build every possible redirect pattern. It is focused on host-level redirection between www and non-www. That narrow scope is important. A host redirect is different from an old-page-to-new-page redirect, a trailing-slash rule, or an HTTP-to-HTTPS migration. When the only task is choosing the preferred hostname, a short generated rule is easier to review than writing rewrite conditions from memory.
The result is code, not a live server change. You still need to test the rule in your own hosting environment because Apache, LiteSpeed, control panels, existing rewrite blocks, and HTTPS configuration can affect how redirects behave. If you also need to inspect the server response after implementation, use the HTTP Header Checker to confirm the final status and location header.
How to Use Htaccess Redirect
- Enter the domain in the Domain Name URL field using the visible domain input.
- Select one of the two redirect direction options: Redirect From www to non-www or Redirect From non-www to www.
- Select Get Your HtAccess Code to generate the rewrite block.
- Review the result area and read the generated RewriteEngine, RewriteCond, and RewriteRule lines before using them.
- Use Copy to Clipboard when you want to paste the rule directly, or use Save as TXT when you want a local text copy.
The visible form accepts a domain-style value, not a full migration plan. Keep the entry simple and avoid mixing several unrelated rules into the same task. After the code appears, check that it represents the host direction you intended before pasting it into a production .htaccess file.
If your site already has rewrite rules, place the new code carefully. Existing WordPress, Laravel, CMS, cache, or security rules may already use RewriteEngine On and may depend on rule order. The generated result gives you a starting block; your server configuration decides how that block interacts with the rest of the file.
What the Generated .htaccess Code Is For
The result is intended for canonical host consistency. A site can often be reachable at both example.com and www.example.com. That may create duplicated URLs, inconsistent sharing links, analytics fragmentation, and avoidable confusion in technical audits. A redirect rule tells visitors and crawlers which host version should be used.
| Task | What this tool helps with | What to check afterward |
|---|---|---|
| Choose a preferred host | Generate a rule for the selected www or non-www direction. | Open both host versions and confirm only the preferred version remains. |
| Prepare a hosting update | Create a readable rewrite block before editing the server file. | Back up the existing .htaccess file before pasting changes. |
| Reduce duplicate access paths | Send alternate host requests toward one canonical hostname. | Confirm status codes and final URLs with a header checker. |
For sitemap discovery or crawling support, a host redirect is only one part of the setup. After the preferred hostname is stable, the XML Sitemap Generator can help prepare a sitemap from the final URLs you want search engines to use.
When a www or Non-www Redirect Matters
A www versus non-www redirect is most useful during launch, migration, cleanup, or domain standardization work. The problem is not that either version is automatically better. The problem is inconsistency. If marketing pages, social profiles, emails, and internal links mix both forms, users may still reach the site, but reports and crawlers can show two versions of the same address.
- New site launch: choose the public hostname before publishing internal links and sitemaps.
- Website cleanup: standardize links after older content has used mixed host versions.
- SEO review: reduce duplicate host access before deeper indexing and metadata checks.
- Client handoff: give a developer or host support team a compact rule to review.
- Technical documentation: save the generated TXT file as a record of the intended redirect direction.
Do not use this page as a substitute for a full redirect map. If pages have moved, slugs changed, or a domain migration is underway, you will need page-level redirect planning in addition to any host canonicalization rule.
Practical Checks Before Editing .htaccess
A small rewrite rule can have a large effect because .htaccess files are evaluated on real requests. Before you paste the generated code, download or copy the existing file so you can restore it if the site returns errors. Make the change during a low-risk period, then test the home page, several internal pages, and a missing-page URL.
Check protocol details as well. The generated host rule is about www and non-www. If your production site must force HTTPS, verify that your HTTPS redirect is handled by the host, control panel, server configuration, or a separate rule. Avoid stacking several untested redirect rules at once, because a loop is harder to diagnose when multiple changes were made together.
After implementation, test both host versions in a browser and with a response-header utility. A healthy permanent redirect should send the alternate host to the preferred host without bouncing back and forth. If you are also reviewing whether the page is reachable, the Ping Website tool is a separate quick check for connection availability, not a replacement for redirect validation.
Who Benefits From This Redirect Tool
Developers can use the page to create a starter rule quickly instead of typing rewrite syntax from memory. Site owners can use it to understand the difference between the two public host versions before asking hosting support to apply the change. SEO specialists can use the generated block as part of a canonical-host cleanup checklist, especially when audits show duplicate www and non-www access.
The tool is also useful for small maintenance jobs where opening a full server configuration reference would slow the task down. It keeps the decision visible: enter the domain, choose the redirect direction, generate the code, and test the result after applying it. That sequence is simple enough for routine site management but still requires careful review before production use.