If you are a WordPress user, you may have come across an issue where your website displays an error message that says “too many redirects”. This can be frustrating and can make your website inaccessible to your visitors. In this article, we will explore what causes this error and how to fix it.
What causes the "too many redirects" error in WordPress?
The “too many redirects” error in WordPress is usually caused by a misconfiguration in your website’s settings or plugins. When a user tries to access your website, WordPress sends a redirect command to the browser to take them to the appropriate page. However, if there is a misconfiguration in your website’s settings or plugins, this process can create an infinite loop of redirects that eventually causes the error.
How to fix the "too many redirects" error in WordPress?
There are several ways to fix the “too many redirects” error in WordPress. Here are some of the most common methods:
Method 1: Clear your browser's cache and cookies
Sometimes, the “too many redirects” error is caused by a cache or cookie issue in your browser. To fix this, you can try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies. Here’s how to do it:
- For Google Chrome: Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of your browser window, then click “More tools” > “Clear browsing data”. Check the boxes for “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files”, then click “Clear data”.
- For Mozilla Firefox: Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of your browser window, then click “Options” > “Privacy & Security”. Scroll down to the “Cookies and Site Data” section and click “Clear Data”. Check the boxes for “Cookies and Site Data” and “Cached Web Content”, then click “Clear”.
Method 2: Check your website's URL settings
Another common cause of the “too many redirects” error is an incorrect URL setting in your WordPress dashboard. To fix this, you can follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Click on “Settings” > “General”.
- Make sure that the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) fields are set correctly. If they are not, update them to the correct URLs.
- Click “Save Changes” to save your settings.
Method 3: Deactivate your plugins
If the above methods don’t work, it’s possible that one of your plugins is causing the “too many redirects” error. To test this, you can try deactivating your plugins and see if the error goes away. Here’s how to do it:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Click on “Plugins” > “Installed Plugins”.
- Select all of your plugins and click “Deactivate”.
- Try accessing your website again to see if the error is gone.
- If the error is gone, reactivate your plugins one-by-one until you find the one that is causing the error.
Method 4: Check your .htaccess file
The .htaccess file is an important file in your WordPress installation that controls many aspects of your website’s functionality. If there is a problem with your .htaccess file, it can cause the “too many redirects” error. Here’s how to check your .htaccess file:
- Log in to your website’s cPanel or FTP account.
- Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation.
- Look for the .htaccess file and download a copy of it to your computer.
- Open the file in a text editor and check for any errors or misconfigurations.
- If you find any errors or misconfigurations, fix them and re-upload the file to your website’s root directory.