WordPress Canonical URL Issue is one of the most overlooked SEO problems that can quietly hurt your rankings. If your site shows both http:// and https:// versions in search results, you’re likely facing a canonical conflict. The good news? It’s 100% fixable. In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn what causes the issue, why it matters for SEO, and exactly how to resolve it step by step.
Don’t worry, though. In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll break down what a canonical URL is, why it matters, and how to fix canonical URL issues in WordPress step by step.
🚀 What Is a Canonical URL (And Why Should You Care)?
A canonical URL is the “official” version of a webpage that search engines should index and show in search results. It’s like telling Google: “Hey, this is the main version of this page—ignore the rest!”
Without a proper canonical tag, search engines might treat different versions of your URL (like http://example.com and https://example.com) as separate pages, which can lead to duplicate content issues, ranking drops, and indexing problems.
⚠️ Common WordPress Canonical URL Issues You Might Face
Here are some of the most frequent canonical URL problems in WordPress websites:
1. Mixed HTTP and HTTPS URLs
If your site is accessible via both http:// and https://, search engines might see them as separate pages, which splits ranking power and creates SEO confusion.
2. Duplicate Canonical Tags
Sometimes, SEO plugins or themes add multiple canonical tags on the same page, making it unclear which version search engines should prioritize.
3. Wrong Canonical URL Settings
Incorrect settings in WordPress, plugins, or the server can cause the wrong canonical URL to appear—even if your SSL is properly installed.
🔍 Why Your WordPress Site Is Showing Both HTTP and HTTPS Canonicals
Let’s look at the root causes behind this issue:
✅ 1. Incorrect WordPress URL Settings
Go to:
Dashboard → Settings → General
Ensure both:
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WordPress Address (URL)
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Site Address (URL)
Are set to:https://yourdomain.com
✅ 2. Improper SSL Setup
If your SSL certificate isn’t installed or configured correctly, your site may still load over HTTP, creating mixed content and canonical confusion.
✅ 3. SEO Plugin Conflicts
Using multiple SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or All in One SEO together can lead to duplicated or incorrect canonical tags.
✅ 4. Misconfigured .htaccess File
Your .htaccess file is responsible for redirect rules. A missing or wrong redirect here can let both HTTP and HTTPS versions load.
✅ 5. Theme-Level Canonical Overrides
Some themes include their own canonical tag logic, which can clash with your SEO plugin settings.
🛠️ How to Fix the WordPress Canonical URL Issue (Step-by-Step)
Here’s how to resolve this problem once and for all:
🔧 1. Update Your WordPress Settings
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Go to Settings > General
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Set both the WordPress Address and Site Address to
https://yourwebsite.com -
Save changes
🔧 2. Force HTTPS in Your .htaccess File
Add this code to your .htaccess (for Apache servers):
This will permanently redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS.
🔧 3. Properly Install and Configure SSL
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Use tools like WhyNoPadlock to test SSL issues.
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Install the Really Simple SSL plugin to force HTTPS across your site.
🔧 4. Check for Plugin Conflicts
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Deactivate SEO-related plugins one by one
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Clear your cache after each
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View your page source to see if the canonical tag is still incorrect
🔧 5. Set Canonical URLs Manually (Optional)
If needed, you can override the canonical URL manually:
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Edit your post/page
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Scroll to the Yoast SEO or Rank Math section
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In “Advanced” settings, set your desired canonical URL
✅ How to Verify If the Canonical URL Is Correct
Use any of these simple methods to check if your canonical tags are working as expected:
🔎 1. Inspect Page Source
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Right-click on a page → View Page Source
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Look for this tag:
🔎 2. Use Google Search Console
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Go to URL Inspection Tool
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Enter the page URL
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See the Google-selected canonical vs. User-declared canonical
🔎 3. Scan With SEO Tools
Use tools like:
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Screaming Frog SEO Spider
-
Ahrefs Site Audit
-
Sitebulb
These tools flag duplicate canonicals and other SEO issues automatically.
📉 How Canonical URL Issues Hurt Your SEO
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Duplicate Content Penalties: Search engines might index multiple versions of the same page.
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Loss of Link Equity: Backlinks split between HTTP and HTTPS pages dilute authority.
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Ranking Drops: Conflicting signals reduce your visibility in search results.
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Indexing Errors: Google may not crawl or index the correct page version.
🧠 Best Practices for Canonical Tags in WordPress
To avoid canonical confusion in the future, follow these tips:
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✅ Always enforce HTTPS with 301 redirects
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✅ Don’t use multiple SEO plugins that set canonicals
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✅ Regularly audit your site with SEO tools
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✅ Avoid canonical settings in themes unless necessary
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✅ Use consistent internal linking with https:// URLs
Choose a Host That Handles Canonicals & SSL for You (Like Hostinger)
Dealing with canonical URL issues manually can be frustrating—especially if you’re not tech-savvy. That’s why choosing the right hosting provider makes all the difference.
👉 Hostinger takes care of most of these problems automatically. Here’s why it’s a smart choice for WordPress users:
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✅ Free SSL certificate included with all plans
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✅ Automatically enforces HTTPS redirects to avoid mixed content issues
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✅ Pre-configured WordPress setup with SEO best practices in mind
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✅ Blazing fast servers to improve Core Web Vitals
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✅ User-friendly control panel and 24/7 support
If you’re tired of fixing technical issues like canonical conflicts, it might be time to switch to a better host that does the heavy lifting for you.
🔥 Ready to fix your site and boost your SEO?
👉 Try Hostinger today for as low as $1.99/month »
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What’s the difference between a 301 redirect and a canonical URL?
A 301 redirect sends users and search engines to a new URL. A canonical tag just tells search engines which version to prioritize without redirecting.
Q2: Can Google choose a different canonical than I set?
Yes. Google may select a different canonical if it believes it’s more relevant based on redirects, content duplication, or site structure.
Q3: Is it okay to have HTTP and HTTPS both accessible?
No. Always redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS to maintain consistency and security.
🎯 Conclusion
The WordPress canonical URL issue may seem minor, but it can silently damage your site’s SEO if left unaddressed. By fixing your WordPress settings, properly configuring HTTPS, and using the right SEO plugins, you can send clear signals to Google and improve your search visibility.
Take a few minutes to run through these steps—your rankings (and your peace of mind) will thank you!
