What Is a 302 Redirect?

A 302 redirect is a temporary detour sign on the web—it tells browsers and search engines that a page has moved to a new location for a short time, but the original address will be back soon. This HTTP status code, officially called “302 Found” (and previously “302 Moved Temporarily”), is the standard way to redirect users temporarily without permanently discarding the original URL .

Whether you’re running a promotional campaign, performing A/B tests, or temporarily taking a page offline for maintenance, understanding the 302 redirect ensures you use the right tool for the job—and avoid hurting your SEO in the process.

TL;DR

• A 302 redirect signals a temporary move—the original URL is expected to return, so search engines keep it indexed .
• Unlike a 301 redirect, a 302 does not pass “link equity” or ranking power to the new page .
• Common use cases include A/B testing, website maintenance, promotional sales pages, and location-based offers .
• If a 302 is left in place too long, Google will eventually treat it as a 301 permanent redirect .
• For temporary use, stick with 302—but always switch to a 301 once the change becomes permanent .

Key Takeaways

• A 302 redirect is temporary—it preserves the original URL in search engine indexes while sending visitors to a new location .
• No SEO value transfers with a 302—the temporary page doesn’t inherit the original page’s authority or rankings .
• Use 302 for short-term situations—like sales pages, A/B test variants, maintenance notifications, and seasonal offers .
• Long-term 302s become permanent—Google will eventually treat them as 301s, so switch to 301 once your move becomes permanent .
• User experience is identical—visitors don’t notice the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect; only search engines interpret them differently .

How a 302 Redirect Works

When you visit a URL that has a 302 redirect, the server sends a specific response to your browser. Here’s what happens behind the scenes :

1. Your browser requests a page (e.g., https://example.com/old-page).
2. The server responds with an HTTP status code 302 Found and a Location header containing the new URL.
3. Your browser automatically requests the new URL and displays the page.
4. The original URL stays in your browser’s history and bookmarks.

This is what the server response looks like :

HTTP/1.1 302 Found
Location: https://www.example.com/new-page

Unlike a 301 redirect, which tells browsers and search engines to permanently forget the old URL, a 302 is designed for situations where the old URL will be restored in the future .

301 vs. 302 Redirect: What’s the Difference?

The core difference is in the permanence of the move and how search engines treat it .

Aspect	301 Redirect (Permanent)	302 Redirect (Temporary)
Purpose	Content has moved permanently	Content has moved temporarily
Search engine index	Old URL is replaced with new URL	Old URL remains indexed
Link equity (SEO value)	Passed to the new URL	Not passed to the new URL
When to use	Domain changes, site restructuring, HTTPS migration	A/B tests, maintenance, seasonal promotions
User experience	Redirected to new page	Redirected to new page

From a user’s perspective, there’s no difference—both redirect you to the new page instantly. But search engines treat them very differently .

When to Use a 302 Redirect

Because a 302 is temporary, it’s ideal for situations where you’ll eventually bring the original URL back .

A/B Testing and Experimentation

If you’re testing two versions of a landing page to see which converts better, use a 302 redirect to send a portion of your traffic to the test variant. Since the redirect is temporary, search engines won’t index the test page or split your SEO authority .

Website Maintenance

When your site is temporarily offline for updates or repairs, a 302 redirect can send visitors to a maintenance notification page. Once you’re back online, remove the redirect—your original URL retains its search rankings .

Seasonal or Promotional Pages

Running a holiday sale or limited-time promotion? A 302 redirect can send users to a dedicated sales page for the duration of the campaign. When the sale ends, the redirect is removed and the original page returns .

Location-Based Offers

If you want to show different content to users in specific regions (e.g., a Canada-only sale), you can temporarily redirect visitors from those locations to a customized page .

Gathering Feedback on a New Page

When you’re collecting feedback on a newly designed page but don’t want it to appear in search results permanently, a 302 redirect allows you to share it with select users without impacting your SEO .

SEO Implications of a 302 Redirect

Using a 302 redirect can impact your search visibility in several ways .

No Link Equity Passes Through

The temporary page doesn’t inherit any ranking power from the original URL. If you’re moving content permanently, this is bad—but for temporary use, it’s exactly what you want .

The Original URL Stays Indexed

Google and other search engines keep the original URL in their indexes. Visitors searching for your content will still find the old URL in search results, not the temporary new one .

Long-Term 302s Become Permanent

If you leave a 302 redirect in place for an extended period, Google will eventually treat it as a 301 permanent redirect. The old URL may drop out of search results, and any SEO value will transfer to the new URL—whether you wanted that or not .

Pro tip: Research shows that 4.71% of URLs in Google’s search results still use temporary 302 redirects long after the change was supposed to be temporary. Set a clear expiration date for your 302s and switch to 301 once the change becomes permanent .

AI Systems May Be Less Forgiving

Emerging research suggests that AI-powered search systems like ChatGPT are less likely to cite URLs behind long-running 302 redirects, since they can’t be sure the content is stable .

How to Implement a 302 Redirect

Using .htaccess (Apache Servers)

Add the following code to your .htaccess file :

Redirect 302 /old-page.html https://www.example.com/new-page.html

Using PHP

Add this to your PHP page before any HTML output :

<?php
header("Location: https://www.example.com/new-page.php");
?>

Using WordPress

For most WordPress users, the easiest approach is using a plugin like Redirection . Alternatively, you can use the wp_redirect() function in your theme’s code .

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using 302 for permanent moves—this prevents your new page from gaining search visibility .
• Leaving 302s in place indefinitely—Google will treat them as 301s, which may not be what you intended .
• Creating redirect chains—a 302 that points to another URL that also redirects creates a chain that slows down user experience and wastes crawl budget .
• Forgetting to remove temporary redirects—once the promotion ends or maintenance is complete, remove the 302 to restore normal traffic flow .

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 302 redirect do?

A 302 redirect tells browsers and search engines that a web page has moved temporarily to a new location. Visitors are automatically sent to the new page, but the original URL remains indexed and may be restored later .

What’s the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?

A 301 is permanent—it tells search engines to replace the old URL with the new one in their indexes and pass SEO value to the new page. A 302 is temporary—the old URL stays indexed, and no SEO value passes to the new page .

Does a 302 redirect affect SEO?

Yes, but intentionally. A 302 doesn’t pass link equity, so the temporary page won’t rank in place of the original. However, if left in place too long, Google may treat it as a 301, which can change your SEO unexpectedly .

When should I use a 302 redirect instead of a 301?

Use a 302 when the move is genuinely temporary—for example, during A/B testing, website maintenance, seasonal promotions, or location-based offers. If the move is permanent, always use a 301 .

Does a 302 redirect keep the original URL in Google’s index?

Yes. Search engines maintain the original URL in their indexes with a 302 redirect. This is the intended behavior—the new URL is considered temporary, so the original remains the canonical address .

What happens if I leave a 302 redirect up for too long?

Google will eventually treat a long-standing 302 as a 301 permanent redirect. The original URL may drop out of search results, and any SEO value will transfer to the new URL .

Sources

• MDN – HTTP Status 302 Found
• SE Ranking – 301 vs. 302 Redirects
• Ahrefs – 302 Redirect Glossary
• Seobility – HTTP 302 Status Code
• Sistrix – Status Code 302

The 302 redirect is a powerful tool for temporary changes—and using it correctly means your search visibility stays intact. Use it for short-term situations like testing, promotions, and maintenance, and always switch to a 301 once the move becomes permanent. Done right, your users and search engines will both find what they’re looking for.

Have a redirect question we didn’t cover? Drop it in the comments—we’re here to help.