WWW to non www redirect

The WWW to Non-WWW Redirect .htaccess Generator creates 301 redirect code that unifies your website under a single URL format. Search engines treat www.example.com and example.com as separate websites, splitting your link equity and creating duplicate content issues. ToolsPivot's generator produces Apache-compatible .htaccess code instantly, eliminating manual coding errors and ensuring proper SEO configuration for your domain.

ToolsPivot's WWW to Non-WWW Redirect .htaccess Overview

Core Functionality

This tool generates RewriteRule code for Apache servers that permanently redirects all www traffic to the non-www version of your domain. Enter your domain name, select your preferred redirect direction, and the generator outputs properly formatted .htaccess code ready to paste into your server configuration. The tool handles the mod_rewrite syntax, RewriteCond patterns, and 301 status codes automatically.

Primary Users & Use Cases

Website administrators, SEO professionals, and developers use this tool when consolidating domain variations. Common scenarios include launching new websites, migrating domains, fixing duplicate content penalties, and implementing canonical URL structures. E-commerce stores, blogs, and corporate sites all require this configuration to maintain search ranking integrity.

Problem & Solution

Without proper redirects, visitors reaching www.example.com and example.com see identical content but search engines index both as separate pages. This dilutes backlink value, confuses crawlers, and can trigger duplicate content filters. The ToolsPivot generator creates the exact .htaccess code needed to consolidate all traffic to your preferred URL format, preserving SEO value through proper 301 permanent redirects.

Key Benefits of WWW to Non-WWW Redirect .htaccess

Eliminates Duplicate Content Consolidating www and non-www versions prevents search engines from indexing the same page twice, avoiding ranking penalties and content dilution.

Preserves Link Equity 301 redirects pass approximately 90-99% of link authority to the destination URL, ensuring backlinks to either domain version benefit your rankings.

Instant Code Generation Skip manual coding and potential syntax errors. Enter your domain and receive properly formatted .htaccess rules in seconds.

Works with HTTPS The generated code integrates with SSL configurations, allowing you to combine www/non-www and HTTP/HTTPS redirects in one .htaccess file.

No Technical Expertise Required Website owners without Apache server experience can implement proper redirects simply by copying and pasting the generated code.

Improves Crawl Efficiency Search engine bots access your content through a single URL path, reducing wasted crawl budget on duplicate pages.

Consistent User Experience Visitors always land on the same URL format regardless of which version they type, reinforcing brand consistency and bookmark reliability.

Core Features of WWW to Non-WWW Redirect .htaccess

Bidirectional Redirect Options Choose between www to non-www or non-www to www redirects based on your preferred canonical URL structure.

301 Permanent Redirect Code Generates proper 301 status codes that signal permanent moves to search engines, ensuring full PageRank transfer.

RewriteEngine Syntax Produces correct Apache mod_rewrite module syntax including RewriteEngine On, RewriteCond, and RewriteRule directives.

Case-Insensitive Matching Includes [NC] flags to handle URLs regardless of capitalization, catching all variations of your domain.

Full Path Preservation The generated rules maintain complete URI paths, so www.example.com/page redirects to example.com/page rather than the homepage.

Copy-Paste Ready Output Code appears in a formatted text box ready for direct transfer to your .htaccess file without additional editing.

HTTP Host Detection Uses %{HTTP_HOST} conditions to accurately identify incoming domain formats before applying redirect rules.

Regex Pattern Matching Employs tested regular expression patterns that capture all request URIs correctly without breaking special characters.

Apache Server Compatible Designed specifically for Apache web servers using .htaccess configuration files in the document root.

Clean Code Output Generates minimal, efficient code without unnecessary comments or redundant rules that could slow server processing.

How ToolsPivot's WWW to Non-WWW Redirect .htaccess Works

1. Enter Your Domain - Type your domain name in the input field without the http:// or https:// prefix (example: yourdomain.com).

2. Select Redirect Direction - Choose either "www to non-www" or "non-www to www" depending on your preferred canonical URL.

3. Generate Code - Click the generate button to produce the .htaccess redirect rules instantly.

4. Copy the Output - Use the copy button or manually select the generated code from the output box.

5. Paste into .htaccess - Add the code at the beginning of your website's .htaccess file via FTP or your hosting file manager.

6. Test the Redirect - Visit both URL versions in your browser to confirm proper redirection is working.

When to Use WWW to Non-WWW Redirect .htaccess

The redirect generator becomes essential whenever you need to standardize your website's URL structure for SEO and user experience purposes.

Launching a New Website Configure redirects from day one to prevent search engines from ever indexing duplicate domain versions.

Fixing Search Console Warnings Google Search Console flags duplicate content issues that proper redirects immediately resolve.

After Installing SSL Certificates Combine www/non-www redirects with HTTPS enforcement for complete URL standardization.

Domain Migration Projects When moving content between domains, establish clear canonical URLs on the new server from the start.

SEO Audit Remediation Technical SEO audits frequently identify missing redirects as a priority fix for improving rankings.

Multi-Domain Configurations Websites with multiple TLDs need consistent redirect patterns across all domain variations.

WordPress and CMS Installations Content management systems often require manual .htaccess configuration beyond their built-in settings for full redirect control.

Edge cases include servers running Nginx instead of Apache, which require different configuration syntax, and hosts that restrict .htaccess modifications, requiring alternative redirect methods through control panels.

Use Cases / Applications

E-Commerce Store Launch

Context: An online retailer launching a new Shopify-alternative store needs unified URLs before marketing campaigns begin.

Process:

• Enter store domain into the generator
• Select non-www as the canonical format
• Add generated code to .htaccess before any content indexing
• Update Google Search Console with preferred domain

Outcome: All product pages and category URLs resolve to a single domain format, concentrating link equity from future backlinks and social shares.

Blog Migration from Subdomain

Context: A company moving their blog from blog.example.com to example.com/blog needs redirect consistency.

Process:

• Generate www to non-www redirect rules
• Combine with subdomain redirect configuration
• Test all legacy blog URLs for proper forwarding
• Monitor broken links during transition

Outcome: Historic backlinks pointing to the old subdomain with www prefix correctly reach the new URL structure without 404 errors.

Agency SEO Client Onboarding

Context: A digital marketing agency auditing a new client discovers duplicate content from missing redirects.

Process:

• Use the generator to create proper redirect code
• Document the change in the client's technical SEO report
• Implement via hosting control panel access
• Verify through website SEO checker tools

Outcome: Client's site consolidates authority within two weeks as search engines process the permanent redirects.

International Website Configuration

Context: A multinational corporation needs consistent redirect patterns across regional domains.

Process:

• Generate redirect code for the primary .com domain
• Adapt the pattern for .co.uk, .de, and .fr variations
• Implement identical www preference across all regions
• Test with server status checker for each country

Outcome: Global brand maintains URL consistency across markets while preserving regional SEO benefits.

Understanding .htaccess Redirect Codes

The .htaccess file controls Apache server behavior at the directory level without modifying main server configuration. Redirect rules within this file use the mod_rewrite module to examine incoming requests and apply transformations before serving content.

RewriteEngine On activates the rewrite module for the current directory. This directive must appear before any RewriteRule or RewriteCond statements. Without it, all subsequent rules are ignored.

RewriteCond sets conditions that must be true for the following RewriteRule to execute. The %{HTTP_HOST} variable contains the domain name from the request header, enabling rules to fire only for specific domain formats.

RewriteRule defines the actual URL transformation. The pattern ^(.*)$ captures the entire request URI, while $1 references this captured content in the destination URL. The [L,R=301] flags mark the rule as the last to process and specify a 301 permanent redirect status.

Common Flag Meanings:

• [NC] - Case-insensitive matching
• [L] - Last rule, stop processing
• [R=301] - Permanent redirect status code
• [QSA] - Append query strings to destination

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Server configuration problems can prevent redirects from working correctly even with valid .htaccess code.

Redirect Loop Errors occur when rules conflict with existing server configuration. Check for duplicate redirect rules in virtual host settings or other .htaccess files in parent directories. Remove conflicting rules and test incrementally.

Internal Server Error 500 typically indicates syntax errors in the .htaccess file. Verify all directives are spelled correctly, quotes are balanced, and no invisible characters were copied from formatted text. Use a code difference comparison tool to identify hidden problems.

Rules Not Executing may result from mod_rewrite being disabled or AllowOverride restrictions. Contact your hosting provider to confirm mod_rewrite is enabled and .htaccess files are permitted. Some shared hosts require specific configurations.

Mixed Content Warnings appear when HTTPS redirects are incomplete. Combine www/non-www rules with HTTP to HTTPS enforcement to eliminate security warnings. Check SSL configuration to verify certificate coverage for both domain variations.

Related Tools

Complete your website configuration with these complementary ToolsPivot tools:

• WWW Redirect Checker: Verify your redirects are functioning correctly after implementation
• Robots.txt Generator: Create proper search engine crawler instructions for your unified domain
• Sitemap Generator: Build XML sitemaps with your canonical URL format
• Meta Tag Generator: Generate SEO metadata using your standardized URLs
• Domain Age Checker: Review domain history when planning redirect strategies
• WHOIS Lookup: Verify domain ownership information before configuration
• DNS Lookup: Check DNS records affecting your redirect behavior
• PageSpeed Insights Checker: Ensure redirects don't negatively impact load times

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between www and non-www domains?

The www prefix is technically a subdomain while the non-www version represents the root domain. Search engines treat these as separate websites unless properly redirected. There is no SEO advantage to either format; consistency matters most.

Why should I use a 301 redirect instead of 302?

A 301 signals a permanent move to search engines, transferring link equity and updating their index. A 302 indicates a temporary redirect that preserves the original URL in search results, providing no SEO benefit for domain consolidation.

Will this redirect work with HTTPS?

Yes, the generated code works with both HTTP and HTTPS. For complete URL standardization, combine the www/non-www redirect with separate HTTPS enforcement rules or use a combined redirect that handles both transformations.

Where do I find my .htaccess file?

The .htaccess file is located in your website's root directory, typically public_html or www folder. Access it through FTP clients like FileZilla or your hosting control panel's file manager. The file may be hidden by default.

Can I use this with WordPress?

WordPress sites benefit from .htaccess redirects because the built-in Settings URL configuration doesn't create proper 301 redirects. Add the generated code above the WordPress rewrite rules in your .htaccess file for correct execution order.

What happens if I make a mistake in the code?

Syntax errors typically result in a 500 Internal Server Error. Keep a backup of your original .htaccess file before making changes. If errors occur, restore the backup and verify the generated code was copied completely and correctly.

Does this work on all web servers?

This tool generates Apache-specific .htaccess code. Nginx servers require different configuration syntax in nginx.conf files. Microsoft IIS servers use web.config files with URL Rewrite module. Check your hosting environment before implementing.

How long until search engines recognize the redirect?

Search engines typically process 301 redirects within days to weeks during their normal crawling cycle. Use Google Search Console to request indexing of important URLs and monitor the redirect's effect on your site's coverage reports.

Should I choose www or non-www for my site?

Neither format provides SEO advantages. Choose based on preference, existing backlink profiles, or technical requirements. Non-www URLs are shorter and increasingly common. If you have significant existing backlinks to one version, keep that as canonical.

Can redirects slow down my website?

A single redirect adds minimal latency, typically under 100 milliseconds. Multiple chained redirects or redirect loops significantly impact performance. Use page speed checker tools to measure actual impact on your site.

How do I test if the redirect is working?

Enter both www and non-www versions of your URL in a browser. The address bar should change to your preferred format. Use curl commands or online redirect checker tools to verify the 301 status code is returned correctly.

What if my hosting doesn't allow .htaccess changes?

Some managed hosting environments restrict .htaccess modifications. Check your hosting control panel for built-in redirect features, contact support about alternative configuration methods, or consider a hosting provider that offers full server access.