🏠 Why the homepage cannot redirect
In WebsiteStudio, the homepage is the starting point of your site. It is connected to your main domain, such as https://example.com/, so it cannot be redirected to another page or URL from within the editor.
If you try to redirect the homepage, you may see the message: “Your home page is where the site starts, so it can't be sent elsewhere.” This is expected behavior, not an error.
🔗 Canonical tags and redirects are different
A canonical tag tells search engines which URL should be treated as the main version of a page. It does not send visitors to another URL.
A redirect automatically sends visitors and search engines from one URL to another. WebsiteStudio does not support redirecting the root homepage to another destination.
WebsiteStudio pages use self-referencing canonical URLs by default. This means each page identifies its own URL as the preferred version unless the platform provides another supported configuration.
🛠️ What you can do instead
- Keep the homepage as your main landing page: Add buttons, navigation links, or calls to action that guide visitors to the page you want them to see.
- Use a separate page for campaigns: Create a dedicated landing page with its own URL instead of redirecting the homepage.
- Update your navigation: Change the menu, logo link, or homepage content so visitors can quickly reach the intended destination.
- Use your preferred domain: If you are changing domains, update the site’s domain configuration and verify the new homepage rather than redirecting the homepage inside WebsiteStudio.
🔍 Check the correct URL
- Open the published site in a browser.
- Confirm that the homepage loads at the root domain, with no unexpected path such as /welcome.
- Open individual pages using their full URLs.
- Check that each page has the expected canonical URL and is not marked noindex.
If a page unexpectedly redirects to the homepage, cannot be opened directly, shows an incorrect canonical URL, or returns an error instead of a normal not-found page, this may indicate a site configuration or platform issue. Record the affected URL and the steps that reproduce the behavior before contacting support.
💡 Recommended homepage setup
Keep the homepage accessible at your main domain and use it to explain your site, establish your brand, and direct visitors to important pages. For SEO, make sure the homepage has a unique title, description, relevant content, and a self-referencing canonical URL.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.