How to Fix “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” in Google Search Console

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What Is a Canonical Tag and Why It Matters
• What Does “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” Mean?
• How to Identify Affected Pages in Google Search Console
• Root Causes: Why Canonical Tag Issues Happen
• Fixing Canonical Tag Issues
• Best Practices to Avoid Canonical Tag Issues
• Conclusion

Introduction

Google Search Console (GSC) often shows technical warnings. One common one is “Alternate page with proper canonical tag.” This message may initially seem concerning. However, that doesn’t always indicate a problem.

When Google discovers two pages with nearly identical or comparable content, this notification shows. One page is selected as the main version (canonical). The other is treated as a duplicate. Google skips the duplicate in indexing. Instead, it uses the canonical version for search rankings.

Not all the time is this an issue. It is sometimes anticipated behavior. However, if important pages are being skipped, it could hurt your SEO.

For WooCommerce and WordPress websites, this issue is common. Many filters, tags, or category pages can create near-duplicate URLs. If these duplicates aren’t managed well, Google may index the wrong page.

That’s why understanding this message is important. You can’t fix what you don’t understand. Let’s examine the function of canonical tags and their significance.

What Is a Canonical Tag and Why It Matters

A canonical tag is an HTML element used to specify the preferred version of a webpage. It helps search engines in determining a page’s preferred version. Here’s how it looks:

<link rel=”canonical” href=”https://example.com/page-you-want-indexed/” />

Let’s say you have two pages:

• https://example.com/shoes?color=blue
• https://example.com/shoes

Both show the same content. You don’t want Google to index both. You want only the main version (clean URL) in search results.

This is where a canonical tag helps. By adding the canonical tag to the duplicate version, you tell Google:

“Hey, the original version is over there. Please index that.”

Confusion is avoided in this way. It also avoids problems with duplicate content. Duplicate content can hurt your rankings. It splits link value between multiple URLs. That means lost SEO strength.

Here’s what canonical tags help with:

• Avoiding duplicate content penalties
• Combining page authority to one URL
• Guiding Google to the main page
• Managing URL parameters and filters

Google prefers clean, consolidated signals. When you use canonical tags correctly, it helps your site rank better.

But if you use them wrong, it causes trouble. Google might skip pages you want indexed. That’s when the “alternate page with proper canonical tag” warning appears.

What Does “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” Mean?

There are numerous kinds of index status signals that Google Search Console can provide. “Alternate page with proper canonical tag” is among the most popular. This appears under the Pages section in GSC.

It means Google found multiple versions of similar content. One version has been selected as the canonical (main) page. Other versions are skipped for indexing. These skipped pages are labeled as alternate pages.

This isn’t necessarily a negative thing. It’s the right thing to do in many situations. For example:

• Parameter-based URLs
• Duplicate category or filter pages
• Printer-friendly or AMP pages
• Sorting options like ?sort=newest

If these versions have the correct canonical tag pointing to the main page, Google will ignore them. The phrase “with proper canonical tag” is included in the message for this reason. It confirms Google understands your preferred version.

However, this can become a problem when:

• Important pages are mistakenly skipped.
• Canonical tags point to the wrong page.
• The wrong page is selected for indexing.
• You are missing traffic from pages that should be indexed.

So, even if this status isn’t always an “error,” you should still review it carefully.

How to Identify Affected Pages in Google Search Console

Follow these updated steps to check affected URLs:

1. Open your Google Search Console account and log in.
2. Click “Pages” in the Indexing section of the menu on the left.
3. The label can be found under the Not Indexed tab:
   “Alternate page with proper canonical tag”
4. Click on it to view the list of affected URLs.

These are the pages that Google skipped indexing due to canonical signals.

To examine an individual URL further:

• Use the URL Inspection Tool
• Paste the affected URL and hit Enter
• GSC will show you:
  • If the URL is indexed
  • The canonical URL Google selected
  • Any issues preventing indexing

If the canonical tag is correct, no fix is needed. But if Google selected the wrong page, or you did not intend for the page to be excluded, you’ll need to adjust the canonical settings.

For Yoast SEO users:

• Edit the page or post in WordPress
• Scroll to the Yoast SEO meta box
• Under the Advanced tab, check the Canonical URL field
• Update it if needed and save the changes

Root Causes: Why Canonical Tag Issues Happen

Canonical tags are meant to guide Google. But sometimes, they can confuse it instead. If they are set incorrectly, Google might skip important pages. This leads to “alternate page with proper canonical tag” warnings.

Let’s explore the common causes behind these issues. The first step in resolving an issue is identifying its underlying cause.

1. Wrong Canonical URL Set by SEO Plugin

Plugins like Yoast SEO let you control canonical URLs. But if the wrong URL is entered, Google may exclude the page from indexing.

This can happen when:

• You manually set the canonical to another page
• A plugin update overrides your settings
• A developer adds a hardcoded tag in the theme

Tip: Always check if your page has a self-referencing canonical (i.e., points to itself) unless it should point elsewhere.

2. Duplicate or Similar Content Pages

Google avoids indexing duplicate content. If your site has pages that look alike, Google may group them together. It will then index only one of them and mark the rest as alternates.

Common examples include:

• Filtered product listings (?size=large)
• Tag or archive pages
• Category duplicates with or without trailing slashes

Even slight differences in content may not be enough to convince Google both pages are unique.

3. URL Parameters and Session IDs

Some sites create new URLs based on filters, tracking tags, or user sessions. These URLs may show the same content as the original.

Examples:

• example.com/shoes?utm_source=ad
• example.com/shoes?ref=homepage

Usually, these have a canonical tag that points to the clean version:

• example.com/shoes

If they don’t, they may be flagged as alternate pages.

4. HTTP and HTTPS Conflicts

This generates two versions of every page if your website is accessible via both HTTP and HTTPS. One might be the primary page and the other an alternate, according to Google.

Always make sure:

• HTTPS is enforced
• Canonical tags point to the HTTPS version
• Old HTTP pages are redirected with 301 redirects

5. Trailing Slashes or WWW Variants

URL variants like:

• example.com/page
• example.com/page/
• www.example.com/page

…may cause duplicate issues if not handled well.

Use one format across your site. Canonical tags should reflect your preferred structure.

Google might disregard pages you truly want indexed if these problems accumulate. The good news? You can fix them all with the right setup.

Fixing Canonical Tag Issues

Important pages may be left out of Google’s index due to canonical tag problems. These problems are often easy to fix once you understand their cause. In this section, we’ll walk through the correct ways to update or set canonical tags — whether you’re using WordPress with Yoast SEO or working on a custom-built website.

Fixing Canonical Tags with Yoast SEO (WordPress)

If you are using WordPress and the Yoast SEO plugin, updating canonical tags is straightforward. Within the WordPress editor, you have direct control over each page’s canonical URL.

To use Yoast SEO to correct a canonical tag:

1. In the WordPress editor, open the page or post.
2. To access the Yoast SEO meta box, scroll down.
3. Click the “Advanced” tab.
4. Locate the Canonical URL field.
5. If the field is blank, Yoast will automatically add a self-referencing canonical tag (which is usually correct).
6. If needed, enter the correct canonical URL — the version you want Google to index.
7. Update or publish the page to save changes.

If the page should be indexed because it is unique, use a self-referencing canonical. Only enter a different canonical URL if the current page is a duplicate or variation of another one.

Avoid mistakenly pointing multiple pages to the homepage or unrelated URLs. Doing so can cause Google to ignore important content or lower the page’s ranking potential.

Fixing Canonical Tags on Custom Websites (Manual Method)

If your site is not built with WordPress or does not use SEO plugins, you can manually add canonical tags in the HTML of each page.

To do this:

• Open the HTML file for the page.
• Find the <head> section.
• Add this line of code:

<link rel=”canonical” href=”https://example.com/your-preferred-url/” />

• Save the file and upload it to your server.

Make sure the canonical URL you add is the one you want search engines to index. Avoid adding tracking parameters or unnecessary variations. Canonical tags should always point to the clean, correct version of the content.

This method works well for:

• Static HTML websites
• PHP-based custom websites
• Platforms that don’t offer SEO plugins

Use 301 Redirects for Removed or Merged Pages

In some cases, it’s better to remove the page entirely and redirect it to another version. This applies when the content is outdated, merged into another page, or no longer useful.

Search engines are informed when a page has changed permanently by a 301 redirect. It transfers link equity to the new page and prevents indexing of the old URL.

To apply a 301 redirect in WordPress:

• Install a plugin like Redirection or use Yoast SEO Premium.
• Set the source URL (old page).
• Set the target URL (new page).
• Choose the 301 redirect type and save it.

For non-WordPress users, redirects can be added through server configuration or the .htaccess file.

Use 301 redirects when:

• The page no longer exists.
• You have merged two or more pages.
• The old URL is thin or low quality.

Submit Pages for Reindexing in Google Search Console

After fixing canonical tags or setting up redirects, submit the updated URLs for reindexing. This helps Google see the changes faster.

To do this:

1. Go to Google Search Console.
2. Use the URL Inspection Tool.
3. Enter the updated URL.
4. Click “Request Indexing”.

This speeds up the process and ensures Google indexes the correct version of the page.

Best Practices to Avoid Canonical Tag Issues

The next step after resolving current canonical issues is to make sure they don’t occur again. Canonical errors can quietly return during site changes, content updates, or plugin conflicts. That’s why proactive monitoring is key to long-term SEO health.

The following best practices will assist you in avoiding canonical tag problems in the future:

1. Use Consistent URL Formats

Stick to one preferred URL version across your site:

• Always choose between www or non-www
• Enforce HTTPS and redirect HTTP to HTTPS
• Keep trailing slashes consistent (/page vs page/)

Inconsistent URLs can create duplicate content and confuse Google.

2. Add Self-Referencing Canonical Tags

Every indexable page should have a self-referencing canonical tag by default. This signals to search engines that the page is the primary source.

If using Yoast SEO, this happens automatically — unless manually overridden.

3. Avoid Thin and Duplicate Pages

Pages with very similar content should either:

• Be merged into a single, powerful page.
• Or refer to the primary version using canonical tags.

Common duplicates to review:

• Filtered category pages (/shoes?color=blue)
• Tag archive pages
• Print-friendly versions
• Staging site URLs accidentally indexed

4. Audit After Major Site Changes

After any of these events, review your canonical setup:

• Website redesign
• URL structure changes
• Switching themes or page builders
• Adding or removing SEO plugins

To crawl your website and verify canonical tags, use tools such as Ahrefs, Sitebulb, or Screaming Frog.

5. Monitor Indexing in Google Search Console

Check the Pages report regularly under the Indexing tab in GSC.
Watch for increases in:

• “Alternate page with proper canonical tag”
• “Duplicate, Google chose different canonical than user”

These indicators might highlight problems before they have an impact on rankings.

6. Avoid Unnecessary Canonical Overrides

Only override canonical tags when absolutely needed. Avoid setting canonical tags to unrelated or less relevant pages. This may cause Google to de-index the correct version.

Conclusion

In order to direct search engines to the appropriate material, canonical tags are essential. Misconfigurations can quietly harm your visibility, impact indexing, and dilute search performance. Staying on top of canonical setups ensures that your key pages remain discoverable and competitive in search results. Whether you’re running a blog, online store, or service site, technical SEO hygiene is non-negotiable.

Need help managing canonical tags or resolving Search Console indexing issues?
Visit WooHelpDesk.com — your trusted partner in WordPress SEO fixes, technical audits, and expert support. Our team helps businesses like yours keep their websites clean, fast, and search engine–friendly.

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