How to Check Redirects in Your Browser
Step-by-step guide to viewing redirect chains in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari using developer tools and extensions like Redirect Path.
Every major browser has built-in tools to inspect redirects. You do not need to install anything — just open developer tools and look at the Network tab. Here is how to do it in every browser, plus when extensions make sense.
Chrome: Network Tab Method
Chrome's DevTools give you the clearest view of redirect chains.
Open DevTools
Press F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Option+I (Mac). Click the Network tab.
Enable Preserve Log
Check the Preserve log checkbox at the top of the Network panel. Without this, Chrome clears the network log on navigation — and the redirect request disappears before you can see it.
Navigate to the URL
Type or paste the URL into the address bar and press Enter. Watch the Network panel populate.
Read the redirect chain
The first entry (or entries) will show a Status of 301, 302, 307, or 308. Click any redirected request to open the detail pane. Under Response Headers, the Location header shows where it redirects to.
Check the final response
The last request in the chain should return 200 OK. If it returns another 3xx, you have an unresolved chain. If it returns 404, your redirect is pointing to a dead page.
Filter by document type
In the Network tab, click Doc (or Document) to filter out images, scripts, and stylesheets. This isolates the HTML document requests and makes redirect chains much easier to spot.
Reading the Status Column
Here is what each status code means when you see it in the Network tab:
| Status | Meaning | SEO Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 301 | Permanent redirect — URL has moved for good | Passes ~95-99% of link equity |
| 302 | Temporary redirect — original URL will come back | May not pass link equity reliably |
| 307 | Temporary redirect (HTTP/1.1) — preserves request method | Same as 302 for SEO purposes |
| 308 | Permanent redirect (HTTP/1.1) — preserves request method | Same as 301 for SEO purposes |
Firefox: Network Tab Method
Firefox's process is nearly identical to Chrome.
Open Developer Tools
Press F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I. Navigate to the Network tab.
Enable Persist Logs
Click the gear icon in the Network panel toolbar and check Persist Logs. This is Firefox's equivalent of Chrome's "Preserve log."
Navigate and inspect
Enter the URL and watch the requests appear. Firefox shows redirected requests with the status code in the Status column. Click any request to see the full headers.
Firefox bonus feature
Firefox highlights redirected requests with a small arrow icon in the Transferred column. This makes chains easier to spot visually.
Edge: Network Tab Method
Edge uses Chromium under the hood, so the process is identical to Chrome. Press F12, go to Network, enable "Preserve log," navigate, and inspect. The UI is nearly pixel-for-pixel the same.
Safari: Network Tab Method
Safari requires an extra step to enable developer tools.
Enable the Develop menu
Go to Safari > Settings > Advanced and check Show features for web developers. This adds the Develop menu to the menu bar.
Open Web Inspector
Press Cmd+Option+I or go to Develop > Show Web Inspector. Click the Network tab.
Enable log preservation
In the Network tab, check the Preserve Log option in the toolbar. Safari clears the network log on navigation by default.
Navigate and inspect
Enter the URL. Safari shows redirect chains similarly to Chrome — look for 3xx status codes and check the Location response header.
Browser Extensions for Redirect Checking
If you check redirects frequently, extensions save time by showing redirect information inline — no need to open DevTools.
Redirect Path (Chrome)
The most popular redirect-checking extension. It adds a small icon in the toolbar that shows the redirect status for every page you visit:
- Green icon with status code for successful loads
- Red icon for 4xx/5xx errors
- Shows the full redirect chain when clicked
- Displays
Locationheaders and response times
Other Extensions Worth Knowing
Link Redirect Trace (Chrome/Firefox)
Shows redirect chains, canonical URLs, and meta robots tags in a side panel. More detailed than Redirect Path but heavier.
HTTP Header Live (Firefox)
Displays live HTTP headers for all requests. Not redirect-specific, but useful for debugging redirect issues alongside other header problems.
Requestly (Chrome/Firefox/Edge)
Primarily a request modification tool, but includes redirect debugging features. Useful if you also need to test redirects by modifying request headers.
Extension permissions matter
Redirect-checking extensions need access to all your web traffic to function. Only install from trusted sources, and disable them when not actively debugging. Some extensions have been compromised in the past.
Trace your redirect chains
Find redirect loops, broken chains, and unnecessary hops instantly.
When Browser Tools Are Not Enough
Browser-based checking has real limitations:
- One URL at a time — You cannot batch-check hundreds of URLs after a migration
- Your network only — You see redirects from your location, ISP, and cached DNS. Users elsewhere may get different results.
- No historical comparison — DevTools show what is happening right now. They do not tell you if a redirect changed since last week.
- Cookie and session influence — Your browser state (cookies, login status) can affect redirect behavior. Incognito mode helps, but does not fully isolate this.
For anything beyond quick spot checks, combine browser inspection with command-line tools like cURL or a dedicated redirect monitoring service.
Quick Reference: Keyboard Shortcuts
| Browser | Open DevTools | Network Tab Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome | F12 / Ctrl+Shift+I / Cmd+Option+I | Ctrl+Shift+E (direct to Network) |
| Firefox | F12 / Ctrl+Shift+I | Ctrl+Shift+E (direct to Network) |
| Edge | F12 / Ctrl+Shift+I | Ctrl+Shift+E (direct to Network) |
| Safari | Cmd+Option+I | No direct shortcut — open Web Inspector first |
Related Articles
Open DevTools, check "Preserve log," and watch the chain unfold. It takes ten seconds.
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