Redirects and custom error pages

A redirect sends visitors from one address to another, for example from an old page to its new address. A custom error page is what visitors see when a page doesn't exist (error 404). You set up both in cPanel.

Watch the video (1 min 55 s, with narration) – or follow the steps below.

Add a redirect

1. Log in to cPanel (see Log in to cPanel from the client area). In the section Domains, click Redirects.

2. Under Add Redirect, fill in:

   1. Type – Permanent (301) for an address that has moved for good (search engines take over the new address), Temporary (302) for a short time.
   2. The domain the old address belongs to, for example mallawebstudio.co.za.
   3. The rest of the old address after the domain, for example old-page. Leave it empty to redirect the whole domain.
   4. Redirects to – the full new address, starting with https://.
   5. www. redirection – usually Redirect with or without www., so that both versions of the address are redirected.
   6. Click Add.
   

Your redirects are listed below the form under Current Redirects, where you can also remove them.

Make your own error page

1. In the section Advanced, click Error Pages.

   1. Under Managing, choose the domain.
   2. Click the error page you want to change, usually 404 (Not found).
   

2. The editor for 404.shtml (Not found) opens:

   1. The buttons under Select Tags to Insert add details to the page, for example Requested URL (the address the visitor tried to open).
   2. Type the text or HTML of your error page in the editor, for example a short apology and a link to your home page.
   3. Click Save.
   

If you use WordPress or another program that has its own error page, you don't need this – the program shows its own page.

Related articles

• Always open your site with https://
• Add another domain or a subdomain
• Upload files with File Manager

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