Picture this: you’re trying to access your website hosted on ava.hosting’s reliable VPS, but instead of loading, it’s trapped in an endless redirect loop, throwing the dreaded ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error. This frustrating issue, often caused by misconfigured settings, conflicting plugins, or SSL mishaps, can disrupt your site’s accessibility. Whether you’re running a WordPress blog or an e-commerce platform on ava.hosting’s robust infrastructure, this guide provides clear steps to diagnose and fix the problem, getting your site back online swiftly.

What Causes the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS Error?

  • Incorrect URL settings in WordPress or other CMS platforms.
  • Conflicting redirect rules in .htaccess, Nginx, or web server configurations.
  • Misconfigured caching causing old redirects to persist.
  • Faulty plugins or themes interfering with redirects.
  • SSL/TLS issues, especially when forcing HTTPS incorrectly.

How to Fix ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS

1. Clear Browser Cookies and Cache

Corrupted cookies and cache can sometimes cause redirect loops. Try clearing your browser’s cache:

  • In Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Clear Browsing Data
  • Remove cookies for the affected website and reload the page.

2. Check Website URL Settings

If using WordPress:

  • Go to Settings → General
  • Ensure that WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) are correct.
  • If unsure, try setting both to https://yourdomain.com (without www if needed).

If locked out of the dashboard, update URLs in the database using phpMyAdmin:

  • Open wp_options table
  • Edit siteurl and home values accordingly

3. Disable Conflicting Plugins

Faulty plugins may cause redirect loops. Disable them via FTP:

  1. Connect to your server using FTP or File Manager.
  2. Navigate to wp-content/plugins.
  3. Rename the plugins folder to plugins_disabled.
  4. Try reloading the site.
  5. If the issue is fixed, rename the folder back and reactivate plugins one by one to find the culprit.

4. Check .htaccess File (For Apache Servers)

An incorrect .htaccess configuration can cause redirection loops. Try resetting it:

  1. Connect via FTP and locate .htaccess in the root directory.
  2. Rename it to .htaccess_backup.
  3. Create a new .htaccess file and add the default WordPress rules:
    # BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
# END WordPress
  4. Save the file and check if the issue is resolved.

5. Check Redirects in Web Server Configurations

  • If using Nginx, check nginx.conf or site configuration files for conflicting return or rewrite rules.
  • If using Apache, check .htaccess, httpd.conf, or virtual host configurations for multiple Redirect or RewriteRule entries.

6. Disable CDN or Cloudflare Temporarily

If you’re using a CDN (e.g., Cloudflare), incorrect SSL settings might cause a redirect loop.

  • Log in to Cloudflare and navigate to SSL/TLS settings.
  • Change SSL mode to Flexible or Full (Strict) based on your SSL configuration.
  • Purge Cloudflare cache and try reloading the site.

7. Check for Mixed Content and Force HTTPS Correctly

If your site is forcing HTTPS incorrectly:

  • Ensure your SSL certificate is properly installed.
  • Avoid using multiple redirect rules in .htaccess or Nginx.
  • Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL to handle HTTPS redirections.

8. Reset WordPress to Default Theme

A theme with built-in redirection settings might be causing the issue.

  • Switch to a default theme (Twenty Twenty-Four) by renaming the wp-content/themes folder.
  • If the site loads, check your original theme’s settings.

Final Thoughts

The ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error can disrupt your website on ava.hosting, but with a systematic approach, you can resolve it quickly. Start by clearing your browser cache, verifying URL settings, and disabling plugins, then dive into .htaccess or server configurations if needed. For instance, resetting .htaccess might fix a loop on your ava.hosting WordPress site, or adjusting Cloudflare’s SSL settings could resolve an HTTPS conflict. By leveraging ava.hosting’s reliable VPS or shared hosting tools, like their intuitive control panel for SSL and file management, you can pinpoint the cause and restore your site’s accessibility with ease.