{"id":6980,"date":"2025-02-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cueforgood.com\/blog\/?p=6980"},"modified":"2025-11-13T15:57:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T10:27:05","slug":"how-to-find-redirect-chains-using-screaming-frog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cueforgood.com\/blog\/how-to-find-redirect-chains-using-screaming-frog\/","title":{"rendered":"How to find redirect chains using Screaming Frog"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If a site has existed for a couple of years, there\u2019s a good chance that you will find redirect chains on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a redirect chain?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In simple terms, a redirect chain is formed when URL A redirects to URL B and URL B may further redirect to URL C. This could continue for N number of times. The number of intermediate redirects is commonly called redirect hops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The processes described below assume you have some basic familiarity with Screaming Frog and how to set up a crawl on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to find redirect chains using Screaming Frog in Spider or List Mode<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  1. Go to Configuration > Spider > Advanced.<\/strong> Check Always Follow Redirects<\/strong> to true. Set up the rest of the settings as you feel necessary. For details check out Screaming Frog\u2019s official how to guide<\/a>.<\/li>
  2. Set Max Redirects to Follow <\/strong>number to what you prefer. 5 is default and fine. Run the crawl after all settings are configured.<\/li>
  3. Go to Configuration > Spider > Crawl > Crawl Behavior<\/strong> and\u00a0set Check Links Outside of Start Folder<\/strong> to true OR set Crawl Outside of Start Folder<\/strong> to true.

    Checking either of these 2 settings works but the setting \u201cCrawl outside the start folder\u201d is the one.

    Run the crawl after all settings are configured.<\/li>
  4. Go to Reports > Redirects > Redirect Chains<\/strong> and export your file in the desired format.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"Enable
    Enabl<\/em>e Check Links Outside of Start Folder<\/strong> to true OR set<\/em> Crawl Outside of Start Folder<\/strong> to true under <\/em>Configuration > Spider > Crawl > Crawl Behavior<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Why this setting is important when finding redirect chains with Screaming Frog<\/strong>
    Imagine the two cases of redirect chains below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • http:\/\/seotesting.CueForGood.com\/blog\/how-to-be-awesome \u2192 http:\/\/seotesting.CueForGood.com\/blog\/how-to-become-awesome \u2192 http:\/\/seotesting.CueForGood.com\/blog\/you-are-awesome \u2192
      http:\/\/seotesting.CueForGood.com\/index.html

      <\/li>
    • http:\/\/seotesting.CueForGood.com\/blog\/how-to-be-amazing \u2192 http:\/\/seotesting.CueForGood.com\/blog\/how-to-become-amazing \u2192 http:\/\/seotesting.CueForGood.com\/resources\/you-are-amazing \u2192
      http:\/\/seotesting.CueForGood.com\/index.html<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      In both cases, the redirect chain goes through 3 hops to reach the final destination. However, if you run it in screaming frog and do not set Crawl Outside of Start Folder<\/strong> to true, then Screaming Frog will read the first case as 3 redirects and the second one as 2 redirects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Case #1 Result – Without enabling \u201cCheck Outside of Start Folder\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n