Quick Reference
Element Code: HR-002
Issue: Hreflang points to a URL that canonicalizes elsewhere
Impact: Conflicting signals that may cause hreflang to be ignored
Fix: Point hreflang to canonical URL or remove canonical redirect
Detection: Screaming Frog, Sitebulb, hreflang validators
What Is This Issue?
When hreflang points to a URL that has a canonical tag pointing elsewhere, you are sending conflicting signals. The hreflang says one page is the language variant, but the canonical says a different page is the main version.
Why This Matters for Your Website
Google may ignore hreflang annotations when they conflict with canonical tags. This can cause incorrect language targeting in search results.
How to Fix This Issue
- Audit relationships: Check canonical status of hreflang targets
- Update hreflang: Point to the canonical URL
- Or fix canonical: Self-reference if page should be indexed
Tools for Detection
- Screaming Frog: Cross-references hreflang and canonical
TL;DR (The Simple Version)
Your hreflang points to a page that has a canonical pointing elsewhere. Either update the hreflang to point to the canonical URL, or fix the canonical on the target page.
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