Ever Wondered Why Google Ignores Your Page?
So, you published an awesome page, but Google says: “Duplicate, Google chose a different canonical than user.” What does that even mean?!
Well, Google is like a picky librarian—when it sees multiple versions of the same content, it picks just one “official” copy (a.k.a. the canonical page) and ignores the rest.
Let’s break it down (without making your brain hurt) and fix this issue once and for all.
What is a Canonical Page? (Simple Explanation)
Imagine you have two URLs with nearly identical content:
- example.com/shoes
- example.com/footwear
Even though they look different to you, Google sees them as twins. But instead of ranking both pages, Google picks one as the “main” page (the canonical page) and ignores the duplicate.
A canonical page tells search engines:
“Hey Google, THIS is the main page—ignore the others!”
Problem? Sometimes, Google picks the wrong page instead of the one you want.
Why Are Your Pages Not Indexed? (The Google Chose Wrong Canonical Issue)
Google ignores your page because:
- It thinks another version of your page is better.
- Your site has duplicate or very similar pages competing with each other.
- Google found stronger signals (like backlinks) on another version of your content.
It’s basically Google saying: “Nah, I like this other page better!” 😒
How to Fix “Duplicate, Google Chose a Different Canonical” Issue?
1. Find Out Which Page Google Picked Instead
- Go to Google Search Console → URL Inspection Tool → Paste your page URL
- Look for “Google-selected canonical”
If it’s not the URL you wanted, we need to fix it.
2. Compare Your Page with the One Google Chose
Ask yourself:
Are these pages too similar?
Does the wrong page have better SEO signals (more links, better structure)?
If yes, Google might have a good reason for preferring that page.
3. Use a Canonical Tag (Tell Google Which Page to Index)
Inside the section of your preferred page, add this:
<link rel=”canonical” href=”https://example.com/preferred-page/” />
Do this on all duplicate pages, making them point to the main page.
4. Check Your Internal Links
- Are all your internal links pointing to the right page?
- If not, update them to point to the canonical version.
5. Avoid the “Noindex + Canonical” Mistake
- Never mix <meta name=”robots” content=”noindex”> and <link rel=”canonical” href=””>.
- This confuses Google—like telling it, “Ignore this page, but also rank it.” 🤯
6. Use 301 Redirects for Duplicate Pages (If Needed)
If some duplicate pages are unnecessary, redirect them:
Redirect 301 /duplicate-page https://example.com/correct-page
How to Avoid This Issue in the Future?
Be Consistent with URLs
- Use a single format (www or non-www, HTTP or HTTPS).
- Example: Always use https://example.com/page instead of mixing it with www.example.com/page.
Don’t Create Too Many Similar Pages
- Google dislikes “near-duplicate” content (e.g., pages with 90% the same info).
- Instead, merge similar content into one strong page.
Use Unique Meta Titles & Descriptions
- Avoid generic metadata like:
❌ “Best Shoes | Buy Online” on 10 different pages. - Make each title unique & relevant to its content.
Monitor Google Search Console Regularly
- Google sometimes changes its mind on canonicals.
- Keep checking “Coverage Report” for indexing issues.
Conclusion
Canonical pages keep Google from getting confused, but if you don’t manage them well, your best pages might never rank! 😱
So, take 5 minutes, fix those canonical issues, and get indexed properly. Your SEO rankings will thank you! 🚀