How to Fix “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag”

Checking the indexing status report of your web pages on GSC can be a somewhat confusing task if you don’t understand the meaning of the message.

Fortunately, Google Search Console keeps us informed about all activities related to our web pages, including the identification of canonical versions for certain pages.

Let’s learn how to fix “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” by following 3 quick solutions.

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

The “Alternate page with Proper canonical tag” GSC message refers to a scenario where there are multiple versions of a webpage (for example, desktop and mobile) marked as alternates of each other.

The canonical tag on the alternate version correctly points to the canonical (primary) version, signaling to search engines which version to index. Moreover, according to Google Official Resources, Google Search Console will not detect alternate language pages.

However, it is worth noting that “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” is not exactly an error code.

Instead, it’s a term used to indicate a specific configuration on a website where there are multiple versions of a page (such as desktop and mobile versions), and they are properly linked using canonical tags.

Why Does “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” Appear on GSC?

Normally, the “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” message appears when you purposely integrate canonical tags in order to prevent duplicate content issues.

Consequently, this GSC status is more common in the following three scenarios.

1. Multilingual Websites

In sites with multiple languages, the canonical tag is employed to designate the primary language version, assisting search engines in understanding the relationship between the language variations.

When “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” appears in GSC for multilingual sites, it means that the canonicalization strategy is in place to prevent search engines from indexing each language version separately, preventing misinterpretation by search engines.

2. A/B Testing or Content Variations

Engaging in A/B testing or creating variations of a page to experiment with different design elements, content, or calls-to-action, works to measure the impact of certain elements inside a website.

In this case, the canonical tag is employed to indicate the original or preferred version during these tests.

If “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” appears in GSC in the context of A/B testing, it indicates that the canonicalization strategy is being used to guide search engines in understanding that these variations are intentional and that the canonical version should be considered for indexing and ranking purposes.

3. Format or Device-related Content Variations

Some websites implement responsive design to provide an optimal user experience across various devices, such as desktops, tablets, and mobile phones.

The appearance and layout may vary, but the core content remains similar. “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” may appear in Google Search Console (GSC) when the canonical tag is used to guide search engines on the preferred version among the different device-specific variations.

This ensures that search engines appropriately index and rank the canonical version for relevant search results, and, in theory, indicates that everything is alright.

How to Fix “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag”

Before proceeding, it is worth noting again that “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” is not necessarily an error message - it is just a Google Search Console Warning that indicates crawlers have identified another preferred version of a web page.

Still, if you believe that the message should not be there because canonical tags were not implemented deliberately, then follow these three quick solutions.

1. Verify Proper Canonical Tag Implementation

Firstly, if you are sure that Google Search crawlers made a mistake, and the incorrect version of the page is ranking, then it’s necessary to check that the user-declared canonical implemented in the source code is the version you want to appear on the search engine results.

This means that it’s necessary to ensure the tags are placed in the head section of the HTML and have the correct syntax. Mistakes in tag implementation can lead to confusion for search engines, causing the “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” message.

This is what you have to do:

1. Check HTML Head Section: Inspect the HTML source code of your web pages. Ensure that the canonical tag is placed within the head section of the HTML document;
2. Verify Canonical Tag Syntax: Check that the canonical tag is implemented correctly with the proper syntax. The tag should resemble: ;
3. Ensure Correct URL in Canonical Tag: Confirm that the URL specified in the href attribute of the canonical tag accurately points to the canonical (preferred) version of the page.

2. Avoid Duplicate Versions of the Same Page

Sometimes, the “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” is just a measure by GSC to protect your search engine rankings by preventing duplicate content from sliding through.

Content duplication issues can indeed affect your entire SEO strategy, which is why it’s important to consider the following five tips:

1. Identify Duplicate Content: Conduct a thorough review of your website to identify any instances where the same content exists on multiple pages;
2. Consolidate Similar Content: If you find pages with identical or very similar content, consider consolidating them into a single, canonical version;
3. Implement Canonical Tags: Use canonical tags to designate the preferred version of the content. Ensure that each duplicate or similar page has a canonical tag pointing to the canonical version.
4. Utilize Noindex Meta Tags: If certain pages should not be indexed, use the noindex meta tag to prevent search engines from indexing those pages;
5. Update XML Sitemaps: Ensure that your XML sitemap includes only the canonical versions of your pages. This helps search engines understand which versions to prioritize.

3. Check the Google Page Indexing Report

The Google Search Console Page Indexing Report is your best friend to identify any potential canonical tag error in the future.

The report performs a quick crawl analysis of your website, and you can quickly access it by logging into your Google Account to GSC and opening the “Pages” option under “Indexing.”

Look for any anomalies, errors, or issues related to indexing, and take appropriate actions to resolve them.

Regularly monitoring this report helps ensure that your pages are properly indexed and accessible to users through search engine results, fixing and preventing the “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” message in the future.

Wrapping Up: Fixing the Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag Warning

In some cases, the “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” message is not necessarily an error message, but a way to inform you that Google has selected the most authoritative version of a page in order to prevent further duplication issues.

If you think this message should be addressed, this is a quick summary of the three things you can do:

1. Verify Proper Canonical Tag Implementation: Ensure correct placement in the head section of HTML, verify syntax, and confirm the URL in the href attribute accurately points to the canonical version;
2. Avoid Duplicate Versions of the Same Page: Identify and consolidate duplicate content, implement canonical tags, use noindex meta tags for specific pages, and update XML sitemaps for prioritized versions;
3. Check the Google Page Indexing Report: Regularly monitor the Google Search Console Page Indexing Report to identify and address anomalies, errors, or indexing issues, ensuring proper visibility in search results and preventing future “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” messages.