“Alternate page with proper canonical tag” usually means the canonical setup is working: this URL points to another version, and Google has indexed that version. If it is the page you intended, the alternate does not need its own index entry.
“Duplicate, Google chose different canonical than user” is different. Google selected a URL other than your declared preference. Search Console explains both statuses separately.
Check which page Google selected
Inspect the affected URL in Search Console. Compare its user-declared and Google-selected canonicals, then inspect the selected page itself.
Ask whether the two pages genuinely serve the same content. A tracking URL or print version can reasonably point to the main page. A distinct service page accidentally pointing to the homepage needs investigation.
List the variants that exist
Common sources include:
- filters, sorts, and tracking parameters;
- HTTP/HTTPS and
www/non-wwwversions; - trailing slashes, capitalization differences, and old aliases;
- public preview or staging URLs.
Record what each variant does before deciding to remove it. Some parameters change a useful visitor experience and should remain available even when the main page is the preferred search result.
Match the fix to the problem
| What you find | What to change |
|---|---|
| The intended main page is indexed and alternates point to it | Keep the setup; check that links and sitemaps use the preferred URL |
| An obsolete duplicate no longer needs to exist | Redirect it permanently to its relevant replacement |
| A useful alternate must remain accessible | Keep it accessible and use the appropriate canonical relationship |
| A distinct page points to an unrelated canonical | Correct the declaration and compare the pages' actual content |
| Templates, links, and sitemaps name different preferred URLs | Make those signals consistent |
Google's canonical guidance distinguishes keeping duplicates with canonical annotations from retiring them with redirects. There is no need to redirect every alternate simply to reduce a report count.
Verify the result after recrawling
Check the live status, canonical, links, and sitemap immediately after the change. Then compare Google's selected canonical after it recrawls the affected URLs.
Judge the result by whether the intended page is indexed and the URL relationships make sense. A nonzero count of legitimate alternates is normal.