Search Console lists some of your URLs under Alternate page with proper canonical tag, and they aren't indexed. Google says there's nothing you need to do. This guide explains what the status means, why Shopify stores see so many of these URLs, how to check a sample, a worked example, when something is actually wrong and how to keep canonicals clean.
What the status means
Google's Page indexing report help says this page correctly points to the canonical page, which is indexed, so there is nothing you need to do. The canonical is the main version of a page. Alternate URLs with the same or very similar content point to it, and Google indexes the main one instead of each copy.
- Alternate: A duplicate or variant URL
- Canonical: The main version, which is indexed
- Action: None needed, says Google
In other words, this row is usually evidence that your canonical tags are working. A growing number here is normal as Google discovers more URL variations of the same pages.
Why Shopify stores see it
A single product can often be reached at more than one URL. It may appear inside a collection path as well as at its own product URL, and links can add sort, filter or tracking parameters. Your theme's canonical tag tells Google which URL is the main one. When it works, the extra URLs land in this row.
- Collection paths: The same product inside a collection URL
- Parameters: Sort, filter or tracking codes added to a URL
- Variants: Variant links to the same product
- Paginated or filtered collections: Versions of a collection page with different parameters
Check the URLs
Open the Page indexing report and click the Alternate page with proper canonical tag row. Pick a few URLs and run them through URL Inspection. Google shows two values side by side.
| Field in URL Inspection | What it means |
|---|---|
| User-declared canonical | What your page's canonical tag says |
| Google-selected canonical | What Google chose to index |
If both point to the same main URL, everything is working. Google's help notes that the live test doesn't check canonical conditions, so look at the indexed result for the URL, not the live test.
A worked example
Harbor Goods Co. sees 312 URLs in this row and worries something is wrong. The owner picks five to inspect.
| Listed URL | Declared canonical | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| A collection path to the Canvas Tote | The Canvas Tote product URL | Fine |
| The Linen Crew Tee URL with a variant parameter | The Linen Crew Tee product URL | Fine |
| The totes collection with a sort parameter | The totes collection URL | Fine |
| A Linen Crew Tee URL with a tracking parameter | The Linen Crew Tee product URL | Fine |
| The main Canvas Tote Navy product URL | The Canvas Tote product URL | Check |
Four of five are exactly what this row is for. The fifth is worth a look: the store created Canvas Tote Navy as a separate product, copied the description, and the theme or an app pointed its canonical at the original. If the owner wants Navy indexed as its own page, it needs its own content and canonical. If not, it should become a variant of the Canvas Tote. Either way, inspect the main Canvas Tote URL afterward to confirm it is indexed.
When something is wrong
The status is fine unless a page you want indexed appears here, or the canonical points to the wrong page. A duplicate page that doesn't indicate a preferred canonical shows up under a different status, so don't confuse the two. See Duplicate without user-selected canonical.
- Main product listed: Check where its canonical points
- Wrong canonical: Ask your theme developer to check the canonical tag in the theme
- Near-identical products: Make each page clearly different, or combine them as variants
- Then: Inspect the canonical URL to confirm it's indexed
If the canonical URL itself isn't indexed, the issue is elsewhere. See crawled, currently not indexed and discovered, currently not indexed.
Keep canonicals clean
Link to your main product URLs in menus and collections where you can. Avoid creating separate products that are copies of each other with only a color or size changed.
- ✅ Use variants for color and size, not separate products
- ✅ Write a distinct description for each product
- ✅ Spot-check canonicals after a theme change or a new SEO app
- ❌ Trying to get every alternate URL indexed
- ❌ Two apps or a theme and an app both setting canonical tags
Frequently asked questions
Is "Alternate page with proper canonical tag" an error?
No. Google says the page correctly points to the canonical page, which is indexed, so there is nothing you need to do.
Why are so many Shopify URLs listed as alternate pages?
The same product can be reached through several URLs, such as collection paths and URLs with parameters. Your theme's canonical tag points them to the main URL, and those extra URLs are listed here.
How do I check which canonical Google chose?
Inspect the URL in Search Console. URL Inspection shows the user-declared canonical from your page and the Google-selected canonical side by side.
When should I worry about this status?
When a page you want indexed, such as a main product URL, appears here, or when the canonical points to the wrong page. Then check the canonical tag and make the page distinct.
Making similar products read as distinct
ConvertLens improves product page content and does not change indexing, redirects or canonical tags. It scores every product page 0 to 100 against a conversion rulebook and drafts before/after rewrites of weak sections from the page's own copy, which you approve. That helps near-identical products like the Canvas Tote Navy read as distinct pages. See ConvertLens.