Unlike other page indexing issues, an alternate page with proper canonical tag warning is not strictly an issue. However, you will still need to fix the list of issues. Especially if they have been generated by human error or via any number of URL anomalies.
What is an alternate page with proper canonical tag error?
Alternate page with proper canonical tag error in Google Search Console is due to any or all of the following reasons:
- the crawled page is an AMP version of its original/canonical page. Please don’t worry in this case as it’s not an issue. It’s just a notice from Google as the main pages get indexed and the google bot found the two URLs of the same canonical. Hence the reason one page gets indexed, and one page gets excluded. So, the recommendation is to ignore this notice.
- or the crawled page is a mobile-only version of its desktop or original page
- or the page is a desktop version of its canonical mobile version which is already indexed
- or you have defined the crawled page as an alternate or another indexed page
Since Google has already indexed the original or canonical version of the crawled page, it adds that page under the error ‘Alternate page with proper canonical tag’. Therefore, generating an alternate page with proper canonical tag warning. It means you have clearly defined the crawled page as an alternative to its original one.
Do include a canonical tag on every page, without exception.
All pages (including the canonical page) should contain a canonical tag to prevent any possible duplication. Even if there are no other versions of a page, then that page should still include a canonical tag that links to itself.
To change a custom canonical tag in WIX:
- Go to your page’s SEO Settings.
- Click the Advanced SEO tab.
- Click Additional Tags.
- Click the More Actions icon on canonical.
- Select Edit.
- Edit your tag under Tag Value.
- Click Apply.
Internal Search Pages
It seems contradictory to eliminate internal search results from indexation. But, there are consequences behind the scenes that could impact your site’s performance if you allow these internal site search URLs to be indexed.
Google usually keeps a cached copy of your pages which they make take quite a long time to update or remove. If you want to prevent visitors from seeing the cached copy of the page, use the “Clear Cache URL” feature in Google Search Console.
