Imagine two identical web pages side by side, but one is awarded the gold medal—the page Google recognizes. At the same time, the other holds the status of “Alternate page with proper canonical tag.” This is a common notification in Google Search Console, and while it doesn’t always signal an error, it’s essential to review and ensure everything is set up correctly.
In this blog, we’ll explain what this notification means and provide you with tips on how to fix this if needed.
What Is the “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” Status?
When Google Search Console flags a page with the “Alternate page with proper canonical tag” status, it means the page isn’t being indexed because it points to another, more important page via a canonical tag. The canonical tag tells Google, “This isn’t the main version of the page—check out the other one!”
This status usually arises when you have multiple versions of a single page on your website. To guide Google on which version to prioritize, you’ll need to:
- Add a self-referencing canonical tag to the primary (canonical) page.
- Use canonical tags on the duplicate versions that point to the canonical page.
Google will only index the main page with the self-referencing canonical tag, leaving the other pages listed under “Alternate page with the proper canonical tag” in Google Search Console.
How to Fix the “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” Issue
While this status often indicates everything is set up properly, you may want to make adjustments depending on how your site is structured. Follow these steps to ensure everything’s working as intended.
1. Identify Affected Pages
The first step is to find which pages are listed under the “Alternate page with proper canonical tag” status. To do this, log into your Google Search Console and follow these steps:
- Navigate to the Indexing section.
- Go to Pages and select the “Why pages are not indexed” section.
- Click on the report for “Alternate page with proper canonical tag.”
Here, you’ll see a list of pages that aren’t indexed because they reference another page via canonical tags.
2. Decide Which Pages Should Be Indexed
Take a closer look at the affected pages. Are there any that should actually be indexed? If so, you’ll need to modify the canonical tags.
- For any pages that should be treated as the main page (canonical), ensure they have a self-referencing canonical tag.
- Update your sitemap and internal links to point to the canonical version of the page.
This helps guide Google to index the correct page while avoiding duplicate content penalties.
3. Optimize Your Crawl Budget
If your site is experiencing crawl budget issues (when Googlebot doesn’t have enough resources to crawl all your pages), it’s a good idea to limit the crawling of alternate pages. Redirect Google’s focus to more valuable URLs by disallowing the crawl of less important pages.
To achieve this, you can add a Disallow directive in your robots.txt file. This prevents Google from wasting time crawling pages that hold little SEO value.
However, be careful with this step—Google still needs to crawl alternate pages to recognize the canonical tag. So, don’t block these pages by default unless necessary.
If you choose to block Google from crawling certain pages, make sure there are no internal links pointing to those alternate pages. Instead, update your links to direct users (and search engines) to the canonical page.
Wrapping Up
The “Alternate page with proper canonical tag” status typically signals that your SEO setup for duplicate content is on the right track. However, it’s always a good idea to review the affected pages to ensure everything aligns with your goals for site indexing and crawl efficiency.
While canonicalization can seem complicated, regularly monitoring and refining your implementation will help Google prioritize the right pages, improving your site’s SEO performance.
If you need help optimizing your website’s SEO or managing technical issues like canonical tags, 42Works is here to assist! Let’s make sure your website is in top shape for Google. Contact us today!
Ready to streamline your SEO? Get in touch with our experts at 42Works and elevate your digital presence!
FAQs
- What is an “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” error?
This status indicates that a page wasn’t indexed because it has a canonical tag pointing to a different, main page. - Should I fix pages marked as “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag”?
You should review them to ensure they’re pointing to the right canonical page, but it may not always require fixing. - How do I identify which pages have this status?
Log into Google Search Console, go to Indexing > Pages, and find the “Alternate page with proper canonical tag” report. - What if I want Google to ignore alternate pages?
You can use robots.txt to disallow crawling but ensure internal links point only to the canonical page. - Does blocking alternate pages save my crawl budget?
Yes, disallowing crawling of alternate pages helps Google focus on more valuable URLs on your site. - Can canonical tags improve my SEO?
Yes, canonical tags help manage duplicate content effectively, improving Google’s ability to understand your site structure.
Do I need help from a professional for canonical tag issues?
If you’re unsure, it’s helpful to get expert support. 42Works can assist in optimizing your site’s SEO performance.
