Troubleshooting 'Too Many Redirects' Error Accessing WordPress Multisite Sub-site Dashboard

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When managing a WordPress multisite network, encountering issues while accessing sub-site dashboards can be frustrating. One common error is the "Too Many Redirects" message, which can prevent you from accessing the backend of a specific sub-site. This article delves into the causes of this error and provides a comprehensive guide to troubleshooting and resolving it.

The "Too Many Redirects" error, often displayed as "This page isn’t working" followed by "domain.com redirected you too many times," indicates a redirection loop. This loop occurs when a sub-site's URL repeatedly redirects to another URL, eventually exceeding the browser's limit for redirects. This prevents the page from loading and effectively locks you out of the dashboard.

Keywords: Too Many Redirects error, WordPress multisite, sub-site dashboard, redirection loop, troubleshooting WordPress

Common Causes of Redirection Loops

Several factors can trigger redirection loops in a WordPress multisite environment. Identifying the root cause is crucial for effective troubleshooting. Some of the most common causes include:

  1. Incorrect WordPress Address and Site Address URLs: Mismatched or incorrectly configured WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) settings in the sub-site's General Settings can lead to redirection loops. These settings define the URLs used for accessing your website and WordPress core files.
  2. Plugin Conflicts: Certain plugins, especially those related to security, redirection, or caching, might interfere with the default WordPress redirection behavior. Incompatible plugin settings or conflicts between plugins can cause unexpected redirects.
  3. Theme Issues: While less common, a poorly coded theme or a theme with conflicting functionalities might also contribute to redirection problems. Custom themes or themes with extensive redirection features are more likely to cause such issues.
  4. .htaccess Configuration Errors: The .htaccess file in your WordPress installation controls server-level configurations, including redirects. Incorrectly configured rewrite rules or other directives in this file can lead to redirection loops.
  5. Caching Problems: Caching plugins and server-side caching mechanisms can sometimes cache outdated redirection rules, leading to persistent loops even after the underlying issue has been resolved.
  6. SSL/HTTPS Issues: Misconfigured SSL certificates or incorrect HTTPS settings can cause redirection problems, especially when forcing HTTPS redirects.
  7. Domain Mapping Issues: If you're using domain mapping to point different domains to your sub-sites, incorrect mapping configurations can lead to redirection loops.

Keywords: WordPress Address URL, Site Address URL, plugin conflicts, theme issues, .htaccess configuration, caching problems, SSL/HTTPS issues, domain mapping

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Resolving the "Too Many Redirects" error requires a systematic approach. Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the issue:

1. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Begin by clearing your browser's cache and cookies. Cached data can sometimes interfere with the redirection process. A simple step that can often resolve temporary glitches. Cached data can sometimes interfere with the redirection process, leading to the error message. Clearing this data ensures you're accessing the most up-to-date version of the site. Additionally, try accessing the sub-site in a different browser or incognito mode to rule out browser-specific issues.

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2. Check WordPress Address and Site Address URLs

Verify that the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) settings are configured correctly for the affected sub-site. These settings are located in the General Settings of the sub-site's dashboard. However, since you're locked out of the dashboard, you'll need to access these settings through the database.

  1. Access your WordPress database using phpMyAdmin or a similar tool provided by your hosting provider.
  2. Locate the wp_options table for the specific sub-site. In a multisite installation, each sub-site has its own set of tables, usually prefixed with wp_#_, where # is the sub-site's ID.
  3. Search for the siteurl and home options.
  4. Ensure that both siteurl and home are set to the correct URL for your sub-site, including the http:// or https:// prefix. They should generally match. if there's a mismatch or an incorrect URL, update the values accordingly.

Keywords: WordPress database, phpMyAdmin, wp_options table, siteurl option, home option, multisite tables

3. Deactivate Plugins

Plugin conflicts are a frequent cause of redirection loops. To identify a problematic plugin, deactivate all plugins and then reactivate them one by one, checking for the error after each activation. You can deactivate plugins through the database if you can't access the dashboard.

  1. Access your WordPress database as described in the previous step.
  2. Locate the wp_options table for the sub-site.
  3. Search for the active_plugins option.
  4. The option_value field will contain a serialized array of active plugins. Change this value to a:0:{} to deactivate all plugins. This effectively disables all plugins for the sub-site.
  5. Try accessing the sub-site dashboard. If the error is resolved, a plugin is the culprit.
  6. Reactivate plugins one at a time through the WordPress admin (if accessible) or by modifying the active_plugins option in the database. After activating each plugin, check if the error reappears. This will help you pinpoint the conflicting plugin.
  7. Once you've identified the problematic plugin, either remove it, replace it with an alternative, or contact the plugin developer for support.

Keywords: Deactivate plugins, plugin conflicts, active_plugins option, database modification, troubleshooting plugins

4. Switch to a Default Theme

Although less common than plugin conflicts, theme-related issues can also cause redirection loops. To rule out your current theme as the source of the problem, temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three or Twenty Twenty-Two. You can do this through the database if you can't access the admin panel.

  1. Access your WordPress database.
  2. Locate the wp_options table for the sub-site.
  3. Search for the template and stylesheet options.
  4. Change the option_value for both template and stylesheet to twentytwentythree (or another default theme name). This will activate the default theme.
  5. Try accessing the sub-site dashboard. If the error is resolved, your theme is the issue.
  6. If your theme is the problem, consider updating it, switching to a different theme, or contacting the theme developer for support.

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5. Check the .htaccess File

Incorrectly configured rewrite rules in the .htaccess file can lead to redirection loops. To check the .htaccess file, you'll need to access your server's file system using an FTP client or a file manager provided by your hosting provider.

  1. Connect to your server via FTP or a file manager.
  2. Locate the .htaccess file in the root directory of your WordPress installation. If you can't find it, ensure that your FTP client or file manager is set to show hidden files (files starting with a dot).
  3. Download a backup copy of the .htaccess file to your computer before making any changes. This allows you to revert to the original file if something goes wrong.
  4. Open the .htaccess file in a text editor.
  5. Look for any custom rewrite rules or redirection directives that might be causing the loop. Common culprits include incorrect RewriteRule directives or conflicting redirection rules.
  6. Temporarily comment out any custom rewrite rules by adding a # at the beginning of each line. This disables the rules.
  7. Save the changes to the .htaccess file and upload it back to your server.
  8. Try accessing the sub-site dashboard. If the error is resolved, the issue lies within the commented-out rules.
  9. If you identify a problematic rule, carefully examine it and correct any errors. You can also try replacing the entire .htaccess file with the default WordPress .htaccess code:
    # BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
# END WordPress

Keywords: .htaccess file, rewrite rules, redirection directives, FTP client, file manager, server access, default .htaccess code

6. Investigate Caching Issues

Caching plugins and server-side caching can sometimes cause redirection loops if they cache outdated redirection rules. To address caching issues:

  1. Clear your WordPress caching plugin's cache. Most caching plugins have a button or option to clear the cache.
  2. If you're using a server-side caching mechanism (e.g., Varnish, Memcached), clear the server cache as well. Consult your hosting provider's documentation for instructions on clearing the server cache.
  3. Temporarily disable your caching plugin to see if the error persists. If disabling the plugin resolves the issue, there might be a configuration problem or incompatibility with other plugins.

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7. Review SSL/HTTPS Settings

Misconfigured SSL certificates or incorrect HTTPS settings can lead to redirection loops. If you're forcing HTTPS redirects, ensure that your SSL certificate is correctly installed and configured. You can use online SSL checkers to verify your certificate's validity.

  1. Check your SSL certificate using an online SSL checker.
  2. Verify that your WordPress settings are correctly configured for HTTPS. In the General Settings, the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) should both use https:// if you're using SSL.
  3. Examine your .htaccess file for HTTPS redirection rules. Ensure that the rules are correctly configured and not causing a loop. Common HTTPS redirection rules look like this:
    RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
  4. If you're using a plugin to manage SSL redirects, check its settings to ensure they're not causing conflicts.

Keywords: SSL certificate, HTTPS settings, SSL checker, HTTPS redirection, .htaccess HTTPS rules

8. Check Domain Mapping Configuration

If you're using domain mapping to point different domains to your sub-sites, ensure that the domain mapping configuration is correct. Incorrect mapping settings can lead to redirection loops.

  1. Review your domain mapping plugin settings or your hosting provider's domain mapping configuration.
  2. Verify that the domains are correctly mapped to the corresponding sub-sites.
  3. Check for any conflicting domain mappings that might be causing the loop.

Keywords: Domain mapping, domain configuration, sub-site mapping, conflicting mappings

The "Too Many Redirects" error in a WordPress multisite environment can be a challenging issue to resolve, but by following this comprehensive troubleshooting guide, you can systematically identify and address the root cause. Remember to proceed step by step, testing after each change to pinpoint the exact source of the problem. By understanding the common causes of redirection loops and applying the appropriate solutions, you can restore access to your sub-site dashboards and maintain a healthy multisite network.