In the world of SEO, indexing issues can significantly impact a website’s search visibility. One such issue is the “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” status in Google Search Console (GSC). This message indicates that Google has detected duplicate or similar content on multiple URLs but has indexed only the canonical version.
While this may not be a critical error, it can still impact your SEO strategy if not managed properly. Understanding the alternate page with proper canonical tag meaning and learning how to fix alternate page with proper canonical tag can help you ensure better indexing and search rankings.
In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss:
✅ What “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” means
✅ Reasons why this status appears in Google Search Console
✅ How to diagnose and fix the issue
✅ Best practices for canonical tags in WordPress and other CMS platforms
Let’s dive in!
What Does “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” Mean?
The “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” status in Google Search Console means that a page is recognized as a duplicate or alternate version of another indexed page, and Google has chosen to index the canonical version instead.
A canonical tag is an HTML element (rel="canonical") that helps Google understand which version of a webpage should be considered the primary source.
Example Scenario
Imagine you have two URLs:
- https://example.com/page-A/
- https://example.com/page-B/ (duplicate of page-A)
If page B has a canonical tag pointing to page A (<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/page-A/">), then Google may choose to index only page A, marking page B as an alternate page with proper canonical tag.
This status is normal in cases like:
- Pagination (page 1, 2, 3)
- Mobile and AMP versions
- HTTP vs. HTTPS duplicates
- www vs. non-www versions
- Duplicate content due to URL parameters (e.g., tracking UTM codes)
While this is not an error, it is crucial to ensure that the right pages are indexed and appearing in search results.
Why Does Google Report “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag”?
Several reasons may trigger this status in Google Search Console, including:
1. Duplicate or Similar Content
If multiple pages contain nearly identical content, Google may choose only one version for indexing, marking the others as alternate pages.
2. HTTP vs. HTTPS Versions
If your website is accessible through both HTTP and HTTPS but the HTTPS version is set as canonical, Google will mark the HTTP pages as alternates.
3. URL Variations (WWW vs. Non-WWW)
Google considers www.example.com and example.com as separate entities. If one version is set as the canonical, the other will be labeled as an alternate page with proper canonical tag.
4. UTM and Tracking Parameters
URLs containing tracking parameters like ?utm_source=google are often flagged as alternates if the canonical URL does not include these parameters.
5. Mobile and AMP Pages
If you have an AMP page (/amp/) or a separate mobile version (m.example.com), they are considered alternates of the main desktop version.
6. Pagination Issues
Paginated pages (e.g., page=2, page=3) may be treated as alternates of the main category page, leading to this status.
How to Fix “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag”
While this status is not an error, there are cases where misconfigured canonical tags can cause indexing problems. Follow these steps to diagnose and fix any issues:
Step 1: Check Google Search Console Reports
- Open Google Search Console.
- Navigate to Indexing → Pages.
- Look for the “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” status.
- Identify which pages are affected and confirm if they should be alternate versions.
Step 2: Verify the Canonical Tags
Use Google’s URL Inspection Tool to check the canonical tags. Ensure:
✅ The canonical URL is correct and points to the preferred version.
✅ There is no conflicting canonical tag pointing to another irrelevant page.
✅ The canonical URL is self-referencing if it’s meant to be indexed.
Step 3: Ensure Internal Linking Points to Canonical URLs
All internal links should direct users and search engines to the canonical version of a page. If alternates are linked frequently, Google may get mixed signals.
Step 4: Update Robots.txt and Noindex Tags
✅ Avoid blocking canonical pages in robots.txt (Disallow:)
✅ If a page should NOT be indexed at all, use <meta name="robots" content="noindex, follow"> instead of canonical tags.
Step 5: Implement 301 Redirects (If Needed)
If the alternate page serves no purpose, you can permanently redirect it to the canonical version using 301 redirects.
Step 6: Check WordPress Canonical Settings
If you’re using WordPress, plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can help manage canonical tags.
- Open the affected page in WordPress.
- Go to the SEO plugin settings.
- Ensure the canonical URL is correctly set under the advanced options.
Step 7: Monitor Indexing with Google Search Console
After making changes, request a recrawl in Google Search Console and check back in a few weeks to see if the issue resolves.
Best Practices for Using Canonical Tags Correctly
To prevent “page is not indexed: alternate page with proper canonical tag” issues, follow these best practices:
✅ Use self-referencing canonicals on all indexable pages.
✅ Ensure correct canonicalization between HTTP/HTTPS and www/non-www versions.
✅ Avoid setting multiple canonical tags on the same page.
✅ Don’t use canonical tags for pagination unless necessary.
✅ Use hreflang and canonical tags correctly for multilingual websites.
✅ Regularly audit your website’s canonical tags using SEO tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or Google Search Console.
Conclusion
The “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” status is not an error but an important part of Google’s indexing process. However, misconfigurations can lead to valuable pages not being indexed, affecting SEO performance.
To fix this, follow Google’s best practices:
✅ Check canonical tags for accuracy
✅ Ensure internal links point to the correct URLs
✅ Use 301 redirects if needed
✅ Regularly monitor indexing status in Google Search Console
At 3DFuzion, we specialize in technical SEO and website optimization, ensuring your pages are properly indexed for maximum visibility.
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