Is your PrestaShop store generating 404 errors? Are you migrating your products, redesigning your catalog or switching to HTTPS? You need redirects.
Redirects must be handled with the utmost rigor. An oversight, poor syntax or incorrect logic can ruin your SEO. And above all, you can lose sales.
In this article, I explain everything there is to know about redirects, with concrete examples, methods and tested modules.
Redirects: why are they crucial for your PrestaShop store?
What is a redirect?
A redirect is a sign that tells your browser: “This page has moved, follow me.” It sends a visitor (or a Google robot) to a new URL. On the face of it, it’s a simple operation, but a strategic one.
Why it’s essential
- To preserve your SEO: without redirection, the backlinks you’ve accumulated are useless.
- To avoid 404 errors: a visitor landing on a dead page is a potential customer leaving.
- To manage changes: redesigning the site, deleting products, reorganizing the catalog… A well-thought-out redirection ensures fluidity for the web user.
Types of redirects (and when to use them)
301 redirect: permanent
This is the one used in 90% of cases. It indicates that the page has changed permanently. It also transfers all the SEO value of the old page to the new one. This is the redirect recommended by Google in most cases.
302 redirect: temporary
It is used when a page is temporarily moved (maintenance, A/B testing). But beware: it does not transmit SEO power. Use with caution.
Other redirections: 303, 307, 308
They are useful in very specific cases (POST methods, security, APIs). You probably won’t need them for a classic store. But it’s worth keeping them in mind, especially when auditing third-party modules or complex implementations.
Three ways to create redirects in PrestaShop
Via .htaccess file
This is the manual method. It has the advantage of total control over redirections. It relies on Apache.
The procedure is as follows:
- FTP server connection.
- Download “.htaccess” file to PrestaShop root.
- Create lines like this:
Redirect 301 /old-product.html https://www.maboutique.fr/nouveau-produit.html
- Test each line to make sure it doesn’t break anything.
- Save the file before each modification.
Advantages: fast, lightweight, module-free.
Disadvantages: not suitable for non-technical users, source of errors if badly managed.
Via a PrestaShop module
If you want more autonomy, a redirection management module can help you get the job done. Here are two I’ve tested and can recommend.
Easy Redirect
- Easy creation of 301/302 redirects.
- 404 error tracking.
- Clear interface, integrated into the back-office.
Redirections Manager (Smart-Plugs)
- Automatically generate redirects when you delete a product or change a URL.
- Very useful after a store migration.
- Compatible with PrestaShop 1.6 and 1.7.
Advantages: easy to use, no risk to the site.
Disadvantages: dependence on a module, sometimes chargeable.
Via product/category sheet
PrestaShop natively offers a redirection option when you delete a product or category.
In the administration interface :
- Go to the product page
- Select “Redirect on deactivation”.
- Choose destination URL
It’s limited, but sufficient for occasional needs.
Managing 404 errors
Why monitor 404 errors?
An e-commerce site generates errors. That’s to be expected. But ignoring them is like letting your customers bang on a closed door. Bad experience. Loss of trust. Bad signal for Google.
How to identify them?
- With Google Search Console: check error reports regularly.
- With SEO tools like Screaming Frog or SEMrush: to crawl all URLs and detect dead pages.
- With PrestaShop modules: some redirection modules automatically record 404 errors encountered by visitors.
What to do with a 404 error
- If the old page had an equivalent: redirect to 301.
- If it no longer exists: you can redirect to the category page or the home page.
- If it doesn’t deserve to exist: you can leave the 404 (in some cases, this is useful for Google’s crawl).
Best practices to be applied systematically
Before a redesign or migration
It’s important to prepare a complete redirection plan. All old URLs are analyzed. An Excel sheet, for example, can be used to keep track, with the old link, the new link, and the type of redirect.
Ideally, everything should be tested on a pre-production environment, so that there are no surprises at launch.
Avoiding classic mistakes
- Redirection loops (URL A to B to A).
- Chains that are too long (A to B to C to D).
- Redirects to irrelevant pages.
Every redirect must make sense. It’s a compass for your user, not a detour.
Document everything
It’s a good idea to keep a log of all your redirections. This enables you to anticipate bugs, correct them quickly if necessary, and implement a true quality approach.
A few case studies
Case 1: mass product discontinuation
A customer in the furniture sector eliminated over 300 obsolete products.
Result: hundreds of 404 errors.
What to do:
- Analysis of old URLs via Search Console
- Setting up an automatic redirection module
- Manual creation of redirects for the most frequently visited products
- Final report to customer with most redirected URLs
Result: 0 404 errors after a few days. Stabilized SEO traffic.
Case 2: HTTP to HTTPS migration
When switching to HTTPS, the client had forgotten about redirects.
Result: duplication of content (HTTP and HTTPS active at the same time).
What to do:
- Global 301 redirection via “.htaccess”:
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
- Control with Screaming Frog
- Check in Google Search Console
To conclude on Prestashop redirects
Redirects in PrestaShop are a fairly technical subject, but vital nonetheless. They protect your SEO, ensure smooth navigation and reinforce your store’s credibility. A well-done redirect doesn’t show. And that’s exactly the point. The user continues on his way. So does Google.
Do you have discontinued products? Redesigning your catalog? Not sure how best to redirect your products? Get in touch with me. I’ll help you set up a clear, effective and sustainable redirection strategy.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to take advantage of my advice on setting up your redirects in Prestashop.
