Canonical URL Checker
Check canonical declarations and available target checks.
Why did Google choose a different canonical?
Compare the two pages before consolidating them. A tracking parameter may create a duplicate; a translation or useful filtered category may need its own canonical URL.
What to do step by step
- Compare the variants and identify their purpose.
- Provide one consistent canonical declaration in head.
- Verify the destination exists and is not unintentionally noindex.
- Link internally and through the sitemap to the preferred version.
- Compare source HTML with the selected canonical in Search Console.
How to fix duplicate canonical tags
Teaching example; example.com addresses are illustrative.
Before
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/bikes">
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/bike">After
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/bike">The canonical-single check flags two declarations. Removing the duplicate template output leaves one. Then verify that the target loads and represents the same content.
A common mistake
Canonicalising every product to the homepage can erase the signal of its distinct purpose. A single well-formed tag does not prove that its destination is appropriate.
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When filters and parameters create duplicate content
A campaign parameter may leave a product unchanged. A filter selecting a different compatible part may change what a customer can buy. Compare the main content before choosing a canonical.
- Group tracking variants with the clean product when their content is equivalent.
- Keep a distinct article or translated page independently identifiable.
- Do not point every pagination page at page one when they list different items.
When to use a canonical tag or a redirect
A canonical expresses a preference while leaving the alternative accessible. A redirect moves the visitor. Choose according to the browsing behavior you need.
- Retain a useful parameter variant with a consistent canonical.
- For a permanent move, redirect to the relevant replacement.
- Check that the preferred destination loads and is not unintentionally noindex.
How to fix conflicting canonical declarations
If a template and plugin disagree, adding a third tag creates more ambiguity. Inspect the public HTML and HTTP Link header to find the source of each declaration.
- Keep one owner for canonical generation in each template.
- Test direct entry and client-side navigation between two products.
- Check that production URLs never inherit a staging host.
How to check Google’s selected canonical URL
A clean tag is a technical result. Google’s selected canonical is a later indexing decision; a declaration alone does not prove it changed.
- Align internal links and the XML sitemap with the preferred URL.
- Inspect both a clean URL and its tracking variant after the fix.
- Compare the selected canonical and last crawl date in Search Console.
How to verify the result
Compare a tracking-parameter URL with its clean equivalent. For distinct content, expect a suitable independent canonical. Use Search Console to confirm the engine’s actual selection.
Primary documentation developers.google.com ↗
Frequently asked questions
Why did Google choose a different canonical?
A canonical is a signal, not a command. Check that the preferred destination works, contains equivalent content, and is not noindex. Align internal links, sitemaps, and redirects. Do not canonicalize fully translated pages to a single language merely because they discuss the same subject.
When the task is complete
The production response declares one intended canonical without a conflicting HTTP header. Track Google’s selected canonical separately; its recorded choice may change only after recrawling and processing.
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