What happens if I set a redirect rule, but the original 404 page later gets restored?

All 404 links shown in the app were genuine 404 pages at the time they were detected. However, there’s no need to worry if the page is restored later. Shopify follows a built-in rule:

Redirects are only applied to 404 pages. Shopify never redirects live pages.

What this means in practice

• If a previously broken (404) page is restored and becomes live again, any redirect you created for that URL will automatically stop working.
• Visitors will be shown the restored page instead of being redirected elsewhere.
• No manual action is required on your end.

Example

• “Page A” was a 404 → you redirected it to the homepage.
• Later, “Page A” is restored and published again.

Result:

• The redirect to the homepage becomes inactive.
• Visitors now see the restored Page A normally.

You can safely create redirects for 404 pages without worrying about future conflicts. If the original page comes back online, Shopify will always prioritize the live page and ignore the redirect automatically.

If you need further clarification or assistance, please feel free to contact the SEOWILL Support Team.