# Move a site to new URLs

> Map old URLs to new ones with permanent (301 or 308) redirects, avoid chains, and keep redirects generally at least a year. For a new domain, submit Change of Address for every verified variant of the old domain. Expect ranking fluctuation for a few weeks or more; 301s don't lose PageRank.

- URL: https://geo.casa/crawling-indexing/site-moves/
- Guide · Officially documented
- Reviewed: 2026-10-25

## Before you start

- A complete map of every old URL to its new URL.
- Both old and new sites verified in Search Console, including every domain variant.

## 1. Redirect old URLs permanently

> **Officially documented:**
> Google recommends HTTP permanent redirects, such as 301 and 308, where possible. Avoid chains: Googlebot can follow up to 10 hops, but you should redirect straight to the final destination. "301 and other permanent redirects don't cause a loss in PageRank."
>
> Sources: [Google Search Central: Site moves and migrations](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/site-move-with-url-changes)

## 2. Use the Change of Address tool for a new domain

> **Officially documented:**
> For domain migrations, Google says to "submit Change of Address requests for all verified variants of the old domain (including subdomains and www/non-www versions) to the new domain". This applies even if you're not actively using those variants. It isn't needed for HTTP-to-HTTPS moves, www/non-www switches on the same domain, or path changes within a domain.
>
> Sources: [Google Search Central: Site moves and migrations](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/site-move-with-url-changes)

> **Officially documented:**
> Google added this all-variants guidance to the site move documentation on June 17, 2026, because "domain migrations work best when all variants of a site are migrated properly".
>
> Sources: [Google Search Central: Latest Google Search documentation updates](https://developers.google.com/search/updates)

## 3. Keep redirects in place

> **Officially documented:**
> "Keep the redirects for as long as possible, generally at least 1 year." This lets Google transfer signals to the new URLs, including links on other sites that point to the old ones.
>
> Sources: [Google Search Central: Site moves and migrations](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/site-move-with-url-changes)

## Verify

- Spot-check old URLs: each should return one 301/308 to the right new URL.
- Submit the new sitemap and watch indexing in Search Console for both properties.

## What to expect

> **Officially documented:**
> "Expect temporary fluctuation in site ranking during the move." For medium-sized websites, Google may take a few weeks or more to start showing the new URLs instead of the old ones. Larger sites can take even longer.
>
> Sources: [Google Search Central: Site moves and migrations](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/site-move-with-url-changes)

## Common mistakes

- Redirecting everything to the home page instead of the matching new URL.
- Removing redirects after a few weeks.
- Moving the main domain but forgetting subdomain or www variants in Change of Address.

## Sources

- [Google Search Central: Site moves and migrations](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/site-move-with-url-changes)
- [Google Search Central: Latest Google Search documentation updates](https://developers.google.com/search/updates)