Rename and move pages

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A page can be renamed by moving it to a new title. Moving a page changes its URL and transfers its content and version history to the new title. Existing links to the old page title are not updated automatically, so consider whether a redirect is needed before moving a page.

Understand page moves

When a page is moved:

• The page title and URL change.
• The page content is displayed under the new title.
• The page's version history is transferred to the new page.
• The original page can either become a redirect to the new page or no longer be available under the original title.
  

If no redirect is created, links to the original page title no longer lead to the moved page. Existing links must then be updated manually.

Links to the original page can break without a redirectMoving a page does not automatically update links to the original page title. Before moving a page, check which pages link to it and decide whether to leave a redirect behind.

Before moving a page

Before moving a page, check which pages link to the current title.
To view the links to the page:

1. Open More page actions.
2. Select ...all actions.
3. Select What links here.

What links here page

What links here

If many pages link to the current title, leaving a redirect is generally recommended. Also consider links from external websites.
The following example shows how moving a page from "Emobile" to "Electric Vehicles" affects the original and new page titles:

Move a page

To move a page:

1. Open More page actions.
2. Select Move.

   More page actions menu with the Move option

   More page actions menu

3. Optional: Enter a reason for the move in Reason. The reason is recorded in the wiki log.
4. By default, Leave a redirect behind is selected. Clear this option if the original page should not redirect to the new page.
5. By default, Move subpages is selected. Clear this option if the page's subpages should not be moved. If the page has no subpages, this option has no effect.
6. Optional: Select Watch source page and target page to add both pages to your watchlist.
7. Select Move.
   

The page is moved to the new title.

Successful page move

Page move completed

Move with a redirect

Leaving a redirect is useful when the original page title should continue to lead to the moved page.
Consider leaving a redirect when:

• Other wiki pages contain links to the original title.
• External websites may link to the original title.
• The original title may still be used in searches.
• The original title should continue to resolve to the new page.
  

A redirect allows users and existing links to reach the page after it has been moved.

Move without a redirect

Moving without a redirect can be appropriate when the original title should no longer lead to the new page.
For example, a redirect may not be needed when:

• A spelling error in the title is corrected and only a few links to the original title exist.
• The original title should no longer appear in search results.
• An unnecessary redirect should be avoided.
  

If no redirect is created, update existing links to the original title as described in Update links after moving without a redirect.

Update links after moving without a redirect

If a page is moved without creating a redirect, existing links to the original title may need to be updated. Otherwise, these links no longer lead to the moved page.
Users with administrator permissions can use Special:ReplaceTextto find and replace references to the original page title.

Update references with Special:ReplaceText

To update references to the original page title:

1. Open Special:ReplaceText.
2. Enter the original page title under Original text.
3. Enter the new page title under Replacement text.

Special:ReplaceText page with Original text and Replacement text fields

Original and replacement text

1. Select All to search all wiki sections.

Special:ReplaceText settings with All selected

ReplaceText settings

1. Select Continue. No text is replaced at this point. A results page shows the references that were found.
2. Review the results and select the references that should be updated.
3. Select Replace to perform the replacements.

Special:ReplaceText results with references to the old page title

ReplaceText results

A confirmation page indicates that the replacements have been submitted.

Confirmation that text replacements have been submitted

Replacement confirmation

The replacements are processed in the background. Depending on the number of replacements, it may take some time before all changes are visible.