3 Methods to Redirect SharePoint Site to New URL Flawlessly

Apart from several tasks, the SharePoint administrator also creates and manages the redirections in SharePoint. When the SharePoint site is moved to another site because of some requirements. In those situations, administrators need to redirect SharePoint site to new URL. It helps to make the organization’s workflow seamless without affecting the productivity of users. However, some of the administrators are still unaware of the process to set up redirects in SharePoint. If you are also one of those or want to explore more solutions to create redirects, then you have reached the right place.

So, let’s start discussing all of the methods in a detailed manner

Why You Should Redirect Sites to New URLs?

There are several reasons why you should redirect the old sites to new URLs. Let’s discuss some major ones.

1. To improve the user’s experience and to protect the SharePoint errors, it is required to redirect the SharePoint site to a new URL.
2. If the SharePoint site is moved to another location and users are still unaware of the updated URL, then you should redirect the old URL of the site to the new one. 
3. Redirections allow to create the custom URLs instead of using the original ones. 
4. Redirects in SharePoint also handle the external links efficiently. 

Method 1. How to Redirect SharePoint Site to New URL Using Site Swap Feature?

SharePoint offers the site swap option to simplify the redirection in SharePoint. Using this feature, SharePoint administrators can easily redirect the old SharePoint site to the new one. You can also create a SharePoint site if you haven’t not decided which would be the new URL. Now, follow the below steps to set up a permanent redirection in SharePoint.

• Step 1. Launch your SharePoint application.
• Step 2. Finalize both the sites: the old one or the new SharePoint site URL where the users are going to redirect.
• Step 3. Now, move to the old SharePoint site.
• Step 4. Click on the Settings option and select the option of site swap.
• Step 5. In the Site swap settings, click on the destination or new SharePoint site URL where the users will be redirected.
• Step 6. Lastly, click on the Swap, and then redirection of the SharePoint site to new URL will be done.

Method 2. Redirect Old Site to New SharePoint Site Using News Links

You can also redirect the sites to new URLs using the news link options. It will help you to create a temporary redirect between the old and new SharePoint sites. Let’s see how.

1. After opening the SharePoint application, navigate to the Source or old SharePoint site.

2. Now, click on the New option and select the News Link option.

3. Provide the new URL where the site is going to redirect.

4. Also, enter the Title and Description for the news links. Then hit the Post button to create the news link for redirection.

5. Now, open the Pages, and navigate to the newly created page using the News link.

6. Press right-click on it and select the option of Make homepage.

Now, all the users will be redirected to the new SharePoint site just after opening the old SharePoint site.

Method 3. Redirect SharePoint Site to New URL Using PnP PowerShell

You can also the PnP PowerShell commands to create a new page and then add it to the Source SharePoint site. By using the single command only, you can also set it as the home page. But make sure, you are good at the PowerShell commands because it can also affect the SharePoint file structures if the source or new URL is modified.

Connect-PnPOnline -Url "Enter New URL" -Interactive

$NewRedirectPage = Add-PnPPage -Name "SPSalesDoc.aspx" -LayoutType RepostPage -Title "Sales Report"
$NewRedirectPage.RepostSourceUrl = "Provide here"
$NewRedirectPage.Save()
$NewRedirectPage.Publish()

Set-PnPHomePage -RootFolderRelativeUrl SitePages/SPSalesDoc.aspx

Challenges & Solutions While Redirecting SharePoint Site to New URL

When you redirect SharePoint site to new URL, then you might encounter numerous challenges. Some of them are as follows.

• There might be the possibility of picking the wrong Source SharePoint site because of the same naming conventions of the sites. Therefore, do not make the sites with similar names. Cross-check the source SharePoint to avoid such mistakes.
• Added the incomplete URL of the destination SharePoint site. So, to make the correct redirection test it after setting it up.

All of the above are common challenges that you might face. But if you are new to SharePoint administration backup SharePoint Online to local storage or the cloud would be the best way to avoid data loss. It can be achieved by the Reliable SharePoint Migration Tool. This tool can help you move your SharePoint data to another account effortlessly.

Final Words

Creating redirects in SharePoint is not a tough task, but it should be handled with care. Incorrect redirections can interrupt the user’s workflow. But from now onwards you can redirect SharePoint site to new URL without any interruption. Choose your best-suited method wisely for an error-free redirection in SharePoint Online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1.  What is the best way to redirect my old site to a new URL in SharePoint?

A – Apart from the several methods, site swapping is the best solution for setting up redirection in SharePoint. To do so, you need to 

1. Choose both sites: old or new.
2. Open the old site and then its settings.
3. Choose the Site Swap option.
4. Hit the destination site and then click on the Swap button. 

Q2. How do I set up a temporary redirect in SharePoint?

A – To setup a temporary redirect in SharePoint, you can use the news link option.

1. Navigate to the old SharePoint site.
2. Hit the New option then News Link.
3. Enter the destination URL and hit the Post button.
4. Open the newly created pages.
5. Then make it the homepage.

Q3. Why do I need to redirect my SharePoint site to a new URL?

A – You need to redirect SharePoint site to new URL to avoid the SharePoint errors and for driving the traffic to the right destination.