How to redirect unused subdomains?

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Topic summary

A store owner initially set up separate subdomains for different markets and languages (e.g., /en-us, /en-uk) but discovered this created SEO issues due to Google indexing them as duplicate content.

Resolution taken:

  • Consolidated all international English visitors to the main page
  • Made the market-specific subdomains obsolete
  • The unused subdomains now show 404 errors

Solution implemented:
The original poster resolved the redirect issue independently (specific method not disclosed in thread).

Alternative suggestion:
Another participant recommended using a URL redirection app like SEO Wizzard, which supports wildcard redirects and is free, for handling soft 404 errors from obsolete subdomains.

The issue has been marked as solved by the original poster.

Summarized with AI on November 1. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hi,

We have a store with multiple languages and multiple markets.

Because we were unsure what best setup would be, we had created subdomains for every major market and languages (US, UK, Germany, France, etc.) - so US visitors would go to /en-us page, UK visitors to /en-uk, etc.

Now we have learned that Google would index those subdomains, view them as duplicate to the main page and create trouble with SEO. For this reason, we have changed the setting so that all international (English) visitors are send to the main page - making the /en-us & /en-uk subdomains obsolete.

But, if you still visit those subdomains you see a 404 error. How do we setup a redirect for those subdomains?

Thanks.

1 Like
2

Tell me.

1 Like
3

Share your solution here so that others can learn as well.

4

This topic can be closed as the issue is solved.

5

Hello

You can use an URL redirection app like https://apps.shopify.com/seo-wizzard for redirecting the soft 404 errors. The app also supports wildcards and it is completely free.