Why is my PHP redirect not working
Jul 11, 2025 am 02:02 AMPHP redirection does not work usually result from the following reasons: 1. The header has been sent, such as spaces, HTML or include file output; 2. The header() is used incorrectly, such as syntax problems or lack of exit; 3. The logic is not triggered, such as conditional judgment errors; 4. Cache or server behavior interference. Solutions include avoiding early output, using header() correctly and adding exit, checking logical flow, clearing cache, or using tools to detect responses.
If your PHP redirect isn't working, you're probably running into one of a few common issues. The most likely culprits are headers already being sent, incorrect syntax, or output before the header()
call. Let's go over some specific scenarios and what to check.

1. Headers Already Sent
One of the most frequent problems with redirects in PHP is that something has already been output before the header()
function runs — even a single space or newline will break it.
- This includes:
- Extra spaces before
<?php
or after?>
- Echo statements or HTML before the header
- Included files that have trailing spaces or output
- Extra spaces before
What to do:

- Make sure there's no output before
header('Location: ...')
- Avoid closing
?>
at the end of PHP-only files - Use output buffering if needed (
ob_start()
at the top)
You'll often see an error like this:
Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by...
2. Incorrect Usage of header()
Even if you're using the right function, small mistakes can cause it not to work as expected.

Common issues include:
- Missing quotes or parentseses in the
header()
call - Using relative URLs without proper context
- Forgetting to exit after sending the header
Example of correct usage:
header("Location: https://example.com"); exit;
Tips:
- Always use quotes around the string (single or double)
- Use full URLs when possible to avoid confusion
- Add
exit
ordie()
after the redirect to stop further execution
3. Redirect Logic Not Triggering
Sometimes the code is fine, but the redirect never gets reached because of how the logic flows.
This usually happens when:
- The redirect is inside a conditional block that doesn't evaluate to true
- There's a typo in the condition or path
- You're testing locally and forgot the redirect was only for certain cases
What to do:
- Double-check your conditions (
if
,switch
, etc.) - Add temporary debugging output like
echo "Redirect should happen";
before the header - Make sure the script reaches the
header()
line by checking logs or adding breakpoints
4. Caching or Browser Behavior
In some cases, the redirect works, but it seems like it doesn't due to browser caching or server-level redirects interfering.
Things to try:
- Clear your browser cache or test in incognito mode
- Use tools like Postman or curl to inspect actual HTTP responses
- Check
.htaccess
or web server config for conflicting rules
So, start by checking for early output, then confirm your syntax and logic flow. If everything looks good but still not working, look into caching or server-level settings. Basically that's it.
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