What you’ll need
Rules, a test URL, optional referrer and server name.
SEO TOOL · FREE TO USE
.htaccess Rewrite Tester
Trace supported rewrite and redirect rules before publishing.
Free to use · No saved inputs01Crawling workspace
- 1 Add your input
- 2 Run the tool
- 3 Get your results
Rules, a test URL, optional referrer and server name. New here? Start with “Try an example”.
What this result can tell you
A first-pass trace of supported document-root rules. The full file is checked before tracing. Subdirectory rules, encoded paths and server-specific behaviour need Apache; no complete-server validation is implied.
More settings (optional)
Local processing · No sign-up
How it works
Preflight the full file, then trace supported document-root rules for the first rewrite pass. Unsupported syntax stops evaluation.
Know the limits
Not an Apache runtime. Supports a documented subset; unknown directives never produce a passing result.
GET FROM A QUESTION TO A NEXT STEP
Check a redirect before it sends visitors to the wrong URL
A redirect copied from a forum can match the wrong path, drop a tracking parameter or send a visitor somewhere unexpected. This .htaccess tester lets you inspect supported rules against a specific URL before changing a live server. It is a quick first check for a migration or URL cleanup, with an explicit stop when your configuration requires features the simulator cannot evaluate.
How to use .htaccess Rewrite Tester
Paste the complete rule block, including RewriteEngine and any conditions. Enter the old URL with its real path and query string.
If your rules depend on a referrer or server name, supply those values too. Test both a matching URL and one that should be left alone.
Run the trace and follow the conditions, rule match and resulting URL. Resolve unsupported syntax before relying on the result.
What do the results mean?
A redirect result describes this supported first-pass simulation, not every Apache processing round or hosting configuration. An unsupported directive is not a pass. Query-string behavior matters: preserving an old query, appending it and discarding it are different actions.
What to do next
Test the final configuration on a staging Apache server and confirm the real status code, destination and query string before rollout.
Keep the scope in mind
Not an Apache runtime. Supports a documented subset; unknown directives never produce a passing result.
Common questions about .htaccess Rewrite Tester
Can I paste any Apache configuration?
You can paste it for preflight, but only the documented subset is simulated. Filesystem checks, unknown directives and other unsupported constructs stop evaluation rather than being ignored.
Does a correct result rule out redirect loops?
No. A live loop can involve later passes, other files, the application or the CDN. Use this trace to understand the supported rule path, then check the complete live redirect chain separately.