Ever looked into your Search Console and spotted the message: “Alternate page with proper canonical tag”? It sounds like a real head-scratcher, right? Don’t worry — it’s not as scary as it sounds, and you definitely don’t need to delete or “nuke” your URLs to fix it!
This little message means Google found a page on your site, but it’s choosing another page — the one you said is the “canonical” — to show in search results instead. Let’s break that down with a smile and a metaphor.
What’s a Canonical Tag?
Imagine you’re a librarian. You have two books with almost the same content. One has a shiny cover and page numbers — clearly the main copy. The other is a printout, missing a few features. You decide, “Hey, people should read the shiny one!”
Your “shiny book” is your canonical URL. The printout? That’s the alternate page with a proper canonical.
The alternate page isn’t bad. It just isn’t the star of the show.
Why Do Alternate Canonical Pages Exist?
This can happen because of:
- Duplicate content
- URL parameters
- HTTP vs. HTTPS versions
- www vs. non-www
- Sort/filter pages on e-commerce sites
Basically, Google’s saying, “Thanks. I saw your hint, and I agree — I’ll stick with your canonical.”
But now you’re wondering: “Wait, why is Search Console even reporting this if it’s not a bad thing?”
It’s Not an Error — It’s a Signal
First, breathe easy. This isn’t an error — it’s a status. Search Console just wants to keep you in the loop.
Still, it’s good to check if everything’s working as it should. Sometimes, you may unintentionally block quality pages from ranking — simply by marking the wrong darling as “canonical.”
So… How Do You Fix It?
Glad you asked! Here’s your new life motto:
“Review, don’t nuke!”
Let’s go step-by-step to fix it without deleting anything.
Step 1: Use the Inspect Tool in Google Search Console
Grab one of the reported URLs. Plug it into “URL Inspection” in Search Console.
Check what URL Google considers the canonical. Google might agree with you — or it might have chosen a different one entirely.
That’s a key place to start.
Step 2: Ask These Three Questions
- Is the alternate page meant to exist?
Some sites create alternate versions via filters, categories, or tracking. That’s fine — but limit their exposure! - Is the canonical tag pointing to the right place?
If page A and B are similar but A is better, B should canonically reference A. - Are you missing links to the canonical page?
Make sure your internal links drive users (and Google) to the preferred version.
Step 3: Use Consistent Linking
Every time you link to a product, article, or page, use one version only — the canonical one.
Mixing canonical and alternate version links confuses search engines.
Think of it like giving a treasure map with two slightly different routes. Choose one path. Stick to it.
Step 4: Clean Up Parameters
If URL parameters are causing the chaos, head into Google Search Console’s URL Parameters tool.
Declare whether specific parameters change content or just visuals. For example:
- ?sort=price – might not change the page content much
- ?color=blue – may change images/content
Let Google know which ones you want it to crawl and which are just fluff.
Step 5: Avoid Unnecessary Canonicals
If two pages are so different they offer unique value, they shouldn’t canonically point to each other.
That confuses Google. It’ll pick the one it thinks is better — and you might lose traffic from the other.
Choose canonicals wisely!
What If You Got It Wrong?
No biggie. You can fix it. Here’s how:
- Update the canonical tag to point to the correct page
- Request indexing again in Search Console
- Update any internal links pointing to the wrong version
Google’s smart, but it’s not clairvoyant. Help it understand your site’s structure with clear canonicals and links.
Tools That Make Things Easier
Need help figuring out which pages have canonicals pointing where? Try tools like:
- Screaming Frog – crawl your site like a search engine would
- Ahrefs or Semrush – check which version of your page is ranking
- Google Search Console – your central control room
Use them regularly to catch misfires before they cost you traffic.
But… Should I Ever Nuke a URL?
Very rarely.
If a page:
- Is obsolete
- Has poor content
- Was mistakenly duplicated
…then, sure, consider:
- Setting a 301 redirect
- Adding a noindex tag
- Removing it entirely from the sitemap
But nuking should be your last resort — not your first impulse.
Real-World Example
Sarah runs an online cookbook with gluten-free recipes. She has a beautiful lasagna recipe.
One URL looks like this:
example.com/lasagna
Another version is:
example.com/lasagna?sort=calories
Google sees them both. But Sarah has set the main one as the canonical.
The “sort=calories” version appears in Search Console as an alternative page with a proper canonical. That’s fine — it’s doing its job!
No fix needed. Just good housekeeping from here on out.
Final Thoughts
Seeing the “Alternate page with proper canonical” message isn’t a signal to panic. It’s more like a friendly status report from Google.
The key is knowing when to let it be — and when to go in and tweak.
And remember:
“Don’t delete. Don’t fear. Just structure and steer.”
With a clear approach and regular checks, your SEO house will be squeaky clean — and ready to rank strong.