Navigating the “Alternate web page with correct canonical tag” error in Google Search Console typically seems like a sport of high-stakes covert ops for SEO professionals.
Fortunately, you’re seemingly simply coping with duplicate content material or parameter URL challenges, not life-or-death conditions.
Earlier than you begin predicting the answer for this error, let’s dive into some insider (declassified) data on how Google interprets these Google Search Console errors. Google has seen some issues.
How do I repair an ‘Alternate web page with correct canonical tag’ error in Google Search Console?
1. Export the pattern pages flagged within the Google Search Console report
First, within the “Alternate web page with correct canonical tag” report in Google Search Console, export your pattern pages from Google Search Console right into a spreadsheet.
To entry the report, go to Google Search Console > Pages > and look underneath the part Why pages aren’t listed.
When you’ve received the export in a spreadsheet, you wish to search for just a few issues.
2. Determine parameter URLs
Begin by including a knowledge filter to your spreadsheet to extract all URLs with ? within the URL. Sometimes, parameter URLs embody a ? to begin the parameter question.
If all of your URLs listed within the export stem from parameter URLs, you’ll be able to cease right here.
Consider this second as a present.
Parameter URLs will at all times sign this “Alternate web page with correct canonical tag” error in Google Search Console.
To triple-check, select 8-10 URLs to examine in Google Search Console manually.
You wish to see that your parameter URL exhibits the non-parameter URL because the user-declared canonical tag.
Instance:
- A: Parameter URL =
/desktop/purchase/?full - B: Non-parameter URL =
/desktop/purchase/
You need choice B (/desktop/purchase/) listed within the user-declared canonical tag.
The search engine marketing business is beginning to see engines like google like Google deal with parameters higher.
Google’s John Mueller and Gary Illyes have been speaking on the Search Off the Record podcast, the place Illyes talked about:
- “We principally should crawl first to know that one thing is completely different, and we now have to have a big pattern of URLs to make the choice that, ‘Oh, this these parameters are ineffective.’”
There was additionally discuss bringing the URL parameter software (or a variation of it) again into play. The URL parameter tool was decommissioned in April 2022.
Dig deeper: Canonicalization and SEO: A guide for 2025
3. Examine your language subfolders
One other widespread purpose this “Alternate web page with correct canonical tag” error pops up in Google Search Console is wrong processing of language subfolders.
Instance:
https://web site.com/111674/https://web site.com/en/111674/
If each URLs are in the identical language (English), then it’s duplicate content material. The identical content material exists on two separate URLs.
Within the above instance, Google has chosen the /en/ subfolder because the canonical tag as an alternative of the canonical tag offered by the web site.
Why does Google select your canonical tag?
As a result of one web page is healthier than the opposite. That means it’s extra authoritative.
If this occurs to you, replace the canonical tag to the popular Google model and redirect the user-declared canonical tag to the Google-selected canonical tag.
Additionally, Illyes mentioned localized variations of your web site get their very own indicators. It’s important to handle as when you have two separate web sites.
4. Add trailing slash to URLs
One other perpetrator that creeps its ugly head into the “Alternate web page with correct canonical tag” error report is URLs with no trailing slash.
Instance:
- A:
https://web site.com/options/huey - B:
https://web site.com/options/huey/
You need URL B with the trailing slash exhibiting within the user-declared canonical tag and the Google-selected canonical tag.
The excellent news when you have URLs with a trailing slash declared in your canonical tags, you merely have to arrange 301 redirects to resolve this error.
5. Search for uppercase URLs
You wish to guarantee engines like google deal with your uppercase and lowercase URLs equally.
In the event that they aren’t, each URLs might be seen as duplicates.
Instance:
- A:
https://web site.com/occasions/ - B:
https://web site.com/Occasions/
On this instance, the URL with the uppercase is just not listed due to the user-canonical tag. That’s good!
Mueller acknowledged:
- “By definition, URLs are case sensitive, and likewise issues like slashes on the finish do matter. So, technically, sure — these items matter. They make URLs completely different.”
For those who run into a problem the place you see each the uppercase and lowercase listed, arrange a 301 redirect from the uppercase URL to the lowercase URL.
Then, change the settings in your server to make sure engines like google deal with them the identical.
Optimize your duplicate content material to keep away from the ‘Alternate web page with correct canonical tag’ error in GSC
There isn’t any fast repair or solution to scheme the system to keep away from the “Alternate web page with correct canonical tag” error in Google Search Console.
And let’s be actual: search engine marketing professionals are getting higher at choosing part of Google’s top-secret algorithm (I understand how you want top-secret algorithms) for figuring out duplicate content material.
Fixing your “Alternate web page with correct canonical tag” error is like rescuing Liam Neeson from a wild pack of lions.
You don’t wish to rush into the woods with solely your wits. You want some critical instruments.
Hopefully this text armed you with these instruments to your not-so-serious conditions in your life.
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