When WordPress Shows ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS After Plugin Install — What Causes It and How to Fix Redirect Loops 

Installing plugins on your WordPress website can greatly enhance its functionality, but sometimes things can go wrong. One common and incredibly frustrating issue is the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error that suddenly appears after activating a new plugin. This error essentially locks you out of your own site and often leaves even experienced users scratching their heads. If you’ve recently installed a plugin and now your site won’t stop redirecting, this article will walk you through what’s happening and how to fix it properly.

TLDR:

The ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS issue on WordPress usually occurs after installing a plugin that interferes with the site’s redirection or URL settings. This creates a redirection loop where two or more URLs continuously redirect to each other. Fixing it generally involves disabling the problematic plugin, clearing cookies and caches, and verifying your WordPress and Site URL configurations. This guide outlines specific steps to identify the root cause and safely resolve the problem.

What Is ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS?

This browser-based error indicates that an ongoing loop of redirections was detected, and the browser has stopped trying to load the page. It’s common in WordPress when two URLs are set to redirect to each other, or when a plugin or misconfiguration forces conflicting redirects.

When this happens, your website can become completely inaccessible from both the front end and the admin dashboard. The message may vary slightly depending on the browser, but usually it’s something like:

• Google Chrome: “This page isn’t working. example.com redirected you too many times.”
• Mozilla Firefox: “The page isn’t redirecting properly.”
• Microsoft Edge: Similar messaging with “too many redirects”

What Causes This Error After a Plugin Install?

Numerous factors may lead to a redirect loop, but when it specifically follows a plugin installation, the culprit is almost always a conflict or misconfiguration introduced by that plugin. Here are common causes:

• Plugin Conflict: The new plugin may clash with another installed plugin that handles redirections or URLs.
• Forced HTTPS Redirects: A plugin designed to enforce SSL may cause issues if your site is not properly configured to use HTTPS.
• Authentication or Login Redirects: Membership or login-related plugins often redirect users after login. If redirects don’t resolve to a final destination, a loop occurs.
• Misconfigured Settings: Plugins that change your home and site URL settings can easily create a redirection loop.
• Caching Issues: Caching plugins storing old redirects or browser cookies persisting conflicting settings.

Immediate Steps to Regain Access

When faced with the redirect error, the goal is to regain access to your dashboard so you can fix the root cause. Here’s a methodical approach:

1. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

Sometimes, this issue is just the result of corrupt browser data. Always try this step first before diving into more technical solutions.

2. Access Your Site via FTP or Hosting File Manager

If you can’t access the WordPress dashboard, you’ll need to access the site files directly via an FTP client like FileZilla or your hosting provider’s file manager.

3. Disable the Plugin Manually

Navigate to the wp-content/plugins directory and rename the folder of the plugin you believe caused the error (you can also rename the entire plugins folder to plugins-old to disable all plugins).

For example, change:

redirect-plugin

to

redirect-plugin-disabled

Now try loading your site again. If the redirect loop stops, you’ve likely identified the problematic plugin.

Pinpointing the Specific Plugin Responsible

If you had to disable all plugins, activate them one by one from the dashboard (or rename their folders back via FTP) until the redirect error reappears. This process helps you identify the exact plugin responsible for the loop.

Once identified, check the plugin’s documentation or support forums to see if others have experienced similar issues and if there’s a known fix or update available.

Correcting Site URL and Home URL Settings

WordPress relies on two fundamental settings for managing URLs — your Site Address (URL) and WordPress Address (URL). If these become inconsistent, it can cause persistent redirect loops — especially following plugin installation.

To manually reset them:

Method A: Update via wp-config.php

Add these lines to your wp-config.php file, just before the line that says /* That’s all, stop editing! */:

define('WP_HOME','https://yourdomain.com');
define('WP_SITEURL','https://yourdomain.com');

Ensure the URLs match your actual domain and protocol (either HTTP or HTTPS).

Method B: Check via Database (Advanced Users)

If you have access to phpMyAdmin, you can go to your WordPress database and look at the wp_options table. The fields ‘siteurl’ and ‘home’ should contain correct, matching values.

Check for HTTPS/SSL Conflicts

If you recently installed a plugin to enforce HTTPS or added an SSL certificate, make sure your site is fully set to operate over HTTPS.

• Ensure your server is properly configured for SSL.
• Only one method of HTTPS enforcement should be used—either via plugins like Really Simple SSL or via server settings, but not both.

Having multiple sources attempting to enforce HTTPS (like both a plugin and .htaccess rules) is a common cause of redirect loops.

Caching Plugins and Server-Level Caching

Sometimes, the problem persists even after disabling the plugin due to cached redirects. Flush all forms of cache:

• Clear your website cache (if you use a plugin like WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache).
• Clear browser cache and cookies.
• If your host uses server-side caching (e.g., Cloudflare or NGINX FastCGI Cache), purge that too.

If using Cloudflare, also check the “Page Rules” section to ensure no unnecessary redirect rules are creating a loop.

Preventing Redirect Loops in the Future

To keep your site stable and avoid future redirect loops, here are some best practices:

• Test Plugin Updates and Installs on a Staging Site: This allows you to catch redirection issues before they affect your live site.
• Keep Backups: Maintain daily or weekly backups so you can quickly revert if something breaks.
• Use Reliable Plugins: Only install well-reviewed, regularly updated plugins from reputable authors.
• Watch for Duplicates: Avoid installing multiple plugins with overlap in functionality—especially anything handling redirects or SSL.

Conclusion

The ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error post-plugin install is usually the result of conflicting settings, improper URL configurations, or caching issues. While it can be disruptive, the solution usually involves disabling the plugin, correcting misconfigured settings, and clearing caches. With the steps outlined above, you should be able to diagnose and fix the redirect loop quickly — and more importantly, avoid it in the future with better practices.

Always approach plugin installation carefully, and make small changes incrementally rather than large ones all at once. That way, when problems do arise, they’re much easier to isolate and resolve.