Before considering an HTTPS migration complete, a few specific checks catch issues a casual click-through in your regular browser (which caches redirects) would miss entirely.
Checking the redirect status code directly
curl -I http://yourdomain.comLook for 301 in the response (not 302) and confirm the Location header points to the correct https:// URL. A 302 (temporary) redirect where a 301 was intended is a common configuration mistake that undersells the migration's permanence to search engines.
Test in a private browser window
Your regular browser caches redirects aggressively — testing changes there can show stale behavior. A private/incognito window has no cached redirects and reflects exactly what a new visitor would experience.
Check every entry point, not just the homepage
Test a few inner pages, not just the homepage — some CMS or server configurations only correctly redirect the root URL and miss deeper paths, particularly on custom or legacy .htaccess setups.
Why curl catches issues a casual browser click-through would miss
curl shows you the exact HTTP status code and Location header your server returns, unfiltered by any browser caching or automatic redirect-following behavior — a browser click-through can look successful while actually involving a wrong status code (302 instead of 301) that only a direct tool like curl reveals clearly.
What checking more than just the homepage actually catches
Some CMS or server configurations correctly redirect the root domain while missing deeper URL paths due to a rule that's too narrowly scoped — testing a handful of representative inner pages, not just the homepage, catches this specific, easy-to-miss category of incomplete redirect configuration.
Why testing from a genuinely different network adds confidence beyond local testing
Testing exclusively from your own local network can occasionally mask an issue that only appears from a different geographic location or network path — using an online tool that tests from independent infrastructure adds a layer of confidence beyond what local testing alone can provide.
What automated monitoring tools can do beyond a one-time pre-launch check
Beyond a one-time pre-launch verification, ongoing automated monitoring tools can continuously check your redirect's correctness and alert you if it ever breaks due to a future configuration change, providing ongoing assurance rather than a single point-in-time check.
How to build a simple repeatable test script for future changes
A short script running the curl-based checks covered in this guide against a list of your key URLs, run manually or on a schedule, turns a one-time manual verification into a repeatable process you can rerun confidently after any future infrastructure change.
Why testing edge cases like URLs with query strings and fragments matters
A redirect rule that works correctly for a simple path can sometimes behave unexpectedly for a URL containing query string parameters or a fragment identifier — specifically testing a URL with a query string (like a search results page or a tracked marketing link) catches this less obvious category of edge case.
A final checklist worth keeping for any future infrastructure change
The specific checks covered in this guide, curl status codes, private browser testing, multi-page verification, are worth reapplying after any future infrastructure change, not just the initial migration, since each represents a distinct failure mode that a new change could inadvertently reintroduce.
What a simple pre-launch checklist template looks like end to end
A minimal pre-launch checklist covers: certificate installed and verified, redirect returns a 301 via curl, tested in a private browser window, mixed content checked on key pages, and Search Console property added — five checks covering the core verification steps from this guide.
How to involve a colleague in testing for a second, independent perspective
Having a colleague test the migrated site from their own device and network, rather than relying solely on your own testing, catches issues specific to your particular browser cache, network, or local configuration that might not represent a typical visitor's experience.