URL Rewriting
Automated SEO-friendly URL generation to improve search visibility and click-through rates with keyword-rich URLs
What is URL Rewriting?
URL Rewriting automatically transforms product, collection, article, and page URLs into SEO-friendly formats that include relevant keywords. Instead of generic URLs like "/products/12345", you get descriptive URLs like "/products/blue-cotton-t-shirt-mens" that tell both users and search engines exactly what the page is about.
Keyword-rich URLs improve your visibility in Google Search results and increase click-through rates. When shoppers see a clear, descriptive URL in search results, they're more likely to click. Search engines also use URL keywords as a ranking signal, giving your pages a competitive advantage.
Key Benefits
Better Search Rankings
Keyword-rich URLs act as ranking signals for search engines
Higher Click-Through Rates
Descriptive URLs in search results attract more clicks from shoppers
Multi-Lingual Support
Auto-translate URLs for all your store languages
Bulk Updates
Update hundreds or thousands of URLs instantly with one click
Main Features
Automatically generates SEO-optimized URLs for all store content with keyword-rich formatting. Works across products, collections, articles, and pages.
Products: Product page URLs
Collections: Collection page URLs
Articles: Blog post URLs
Pages: Custom page URLs
Auto Redirects
Creates 301 redirects automatically when URLs change
Auto-Translate
Translate URLs for multi-lingual stores
Word Removal
Remove duplicate and small filler words
Character Limits
Set max URL length (default: 50 chars)
Draft Protection
Update only unpublished items to protect live pages
Customizable
Template-based URL generation
Getting Started
Optimize › URLSelect Content Type
Choose which pages to optimize: Products, Collections, Articles, or Pages
Configure Settings
Set template, character limits, and toggle Create Redirects to preserve SEO equity
Test on Single Item
Use UPDATE A PRODUCT to test on one item and verify the new URL format
Apply to All
Use UPDATE ALL PRODUCTS after confirming results work as expected
Important Settings
Create Redirects
Always enable this to preserve SEO equity and prevent broken links when URLs change
Update Published/Drafts
Set to "Unpublished Only" for existing stores to avoid disrupting indexed pages
Max Characters
Keep URLs under 50-60 characters for better search result display
Redirect Limit
Shopify has a 100,000 redirect hard limit - monitor usage in large stores
Use With Caution
Not Recommended for Established Stores
Changing URLs on pages with existing search traffic can cause temporary ranking drops and indexing issues. Only use bulk updates on new stores or pages with no traffic.
Redirect Limit Risk
Each URL change creates a redirect. Shopify limits stores to 100,000 total redirects. Large stores should skip collection redirects or update selectively to stay under the limit.
Verify Your Implementation
Check Address Bar
Visit the updated page and check the URL in your browser address bar to confirm the new format
Test Old URLs
Visit the old URL to verify the 301 redirect is working and automatically sends visitors to the new URL
Google Search Console
Monitor in Search ConsoleCheck for crawl errors and verify Google is indexing the new URLs properly