How to Remove a Redirect from Your Website on Bluehost

Is your website redirecting visitors when it shouldn’t be? If you’re using Bluehost and need to remove a redirect, you’re in the right place! Redirects are a useful tool for SEO and user navigation, but they can sometimes cause problems if they’re no longer needed or were set up incorrectly. In this guide, we’ll show you how to quickly and easily remove a redirect from your Bluehost-hosted website, ensuring your users land on the right pages and improving your site’s performance.

What Are Redirects and Why Remove Them?

Redirects are instructions that automatically send visitors from one URL to another. For example, if you change the URL of a blog post, you might set up a redirect so that anyone trying to access the old URL is automatically taken to the new one. While redirects can be beneficial, having too many or incorrect redirects can lead to issues such as:

• SEO Impact: Search engines may penalize your site if they find an excessive number of redirects, leading to a drop in rankings.
• User Experience: Redirects can slow down page loading times and frustrate users, especially if they encounter unexpected loops or errors.
• Broken Links: If a redirect points to a URL that no longer exists, it can lead to 404 errors, negatively affecting your site’s credibility.

By removing unnecessary redirects, you enhance your site’s performance, improve user experience, and maintain better SEO standings.

How to Remove a Redirect from Your Website on Bluehost

Removing a redirect on Bluehost can be done through different methods, depending on how the redirect was set up (e.g., through the Bluehost control panel, .htaccess file, or WordPress settings). Here’s a straightforward approach to help you remove redirects efficiently:

Method 1: Using the Bluehost Control Panel

1. Log in to Your Bluehost Account:
   • Navigate to the Bluehost website and log in with your credentials.
2. Access the Domains Section:
   • From your Bluehost dashboard, locate the “Domains” tab on the left sidebar. This section displays all your registered domains.
3. Manage Your Domain:
   • Find the domain for which you want to remove a redirect. Click on the “Manage” button next to the domain name.
4. Check Redirects:
   • Scroll down to the “Redirects” section. Here, you’ll see a list of all existing redirects associated with your domain.
5. Remove the Redirect:
   • Identify the redirect you wish to remove and click on the “Delete” or “Remove” option next to it. Confirm the action when prompted.
6. Clear Browser Cache:
   • After removing the redirect, clear your browser cache or check the site in incognito mode to ensure the changes have taken effect.

Method 2: Editing the .htaccess File

If you’ve manually added redirects in your .htaccess file, you’ll need to edit this file to remove them:

1. Access the File Manager:
   • From your Bluehost dashboard, go to the “Advanced” tab and select “File Manager.”
2. Locate the .htaccess File:
   • In the root directory of your website (usually in the public_html folder), find the .htaccess file. If you don’t see it, ensure that hidden files are visible.
3. Edit the .htaccess File:
   • Right-click on the .htaccess file and select “Edit.” This opens a code editor where you can see all the rewrite rules.
4. Identify the Redirect:
   • Look for lines that contain Redirect or RewriteRule directives that correspond to the redirect you want to remove.
5. Remove the Redirect Code:
   • Delete the specific lines associated with the redirect you want to remove. Be careful not to alter other important rules.
6. Save Changes:
   • After editing, save the changes and close the editor.
7. Test Your Website:
   • Visit your website to ensure the redirect has been successfully removed.

Method 3: Removing Redirects in WordPress

If your website runs on WordPress and you’ve used a plugin to set up redirects, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard:
   • Access your WordPress admin area.
2. Go to Redirect Plugin Settings:
   • Navigate to the settings of the redirect plugin you’re using (e.g., Redirection, Simple 301 Redirects).
3. Locate the Redirect:
   • Find the specific redirect entry you want to remove.
4. Delete the Redirect:
   • Click the “Delete” or “Remove” option next to the redirect. Confirm any prompts to complete the action.
5. Check for Successful Removal:
   • After removing, check the old URL to ensure it no longer redirects to the new one.

Imagine you own an online store, and a few months ago, you decided to change your website URL from www.mystore.com/products to www.mystore.com/shop to better reflect your brand. To make sure your customers weren’t lost, you set up a 301 redirect so anyone who visited the old /products URL would be sent to the new /shop page.

Now, some time has passed, and your search engine rankings are dropping. You’ve noticed your site is taking longer to load, and your SEO reports are showing that your old redirects are causing problems. You no longer need that old redirect, but how do you remove it?

By logging into your Bluehost control panel and navigating to the Domains section, you can easily find and remove that outdated redirect. This stops the unnecessary detour your visitors are taking and ensures that everyone (including search engines) lands directly on your new /shop page without any issues.

Conclusion

Removing a redirect from your website on Bluehost is a simple yet crucial task that can improve your site’s performance and user experience. By following the outlined methods, you can efficiently manage redirects and ensure your website remains accessible and well-optimized for search engines.

Regularly reviewing and updating your redirects is essential, especially as your site evolves. Keeping your URLs clean and functional will not only enhance SEO but also provide your users with a seamless browsing experience.

If you encounter any issues or have further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Bluehost support for assistance. By mastering your site’s redirects, you’re one step closer to effective website management!