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Canonical Points to a Different Page: How to Fix It
The canonical tag on this page names a different URL as the main version.
Quick fix: If this page should rank by itself, its canonical tag should point to its own URL. Point it elsewhere only for true duplicates.
Why it matters for SEO
Google usually follows the canonical and indexes the other URL instead, so this page will not rank by itself. That is correct for duplicates but a mistake for unique pages.
How to fix it
- 1Decide if this page is a duplicate of the canonical target.
- 2If it is unique, change the canonical to the page's own URL.
- 3If it is a duplicate, keep the canonical and consider removing internal links to it.
- 4Check that CMS plugins are not setting a wrong canonical (a common cause is the homepage URL on every page).
Example
Page: https://example.com/blog/post-a
Wrong: <link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/">
Right: <link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/blog/post-a">Free tools to fix it
Frequently asked questions
Why would a canonical point elsewhere by mistake?
Templates and plugins often hard-code one URL, such as the homepage, for every page.
Can Google ignore my canonical?
Yes. It is a strong hint, not a command, but Google follows it most of the time.
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