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Canonical Tag Checker

Check the canonical URL, spot conflicts, and confirm it points where it should.

Free, no signup. We fetch the page once and read what your server sends back.

Fetching the page…

What this checks

A canonical tag tells search engines which URL is the real one when the same content is reachable several ways. Getting it wrong is one of the more expensive silent mistakes: a canonical pointing at the wrong page can remove that page from results entirely.

  • The canonical URL declared
  • Whether it is self-referencing
  • Multiple conflicting canonical tags
  • Comparison against the URL requested

How to act on the result

  • Most pages should have a self-referencing canonical.
  • Two canonical tags on one page means both are ignored. Remove one.
  • Never canonicalise every page to the homepage. It is a common plugin misconfiguration and it deindexes the site.

Frequently asked

Do I need a canonical tag on every page?

A self-referencing canonical on every page is the safe default and costs nothing. It protects against duplicate URLs created by tracking parameters.

What happens if the canonical points elsewhere?

You are asking Google to rank the other page instead. Sometimes intended, often a mistake, and it removes the page from results when it is not.

Is a canonical tag a directive or a hint?

A hint. Google usually honours it but can override it, particularly when the two pages differ substantially.

Can I canonicalise across domains?

Yes, and it is legitimate for syndicated content. Be certain, because you are handing the ranking to the other domain.

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