When you use Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), you are creating an alternate, lightweight version of your standard HTML page. For search engines to understand the relationship between these two versions, a clear connection must be made. A critical part of this connection is the canonical tag on the AMP page pointing back to the non-AMP version. A missing canonical tag is a major technical error that can lead to duplicate content issues and dilute your ranking signals.
Think of your non-AMP page as your main art gallery and your AMP page as a special, fast-access exhibit. You need a clear sign in the special exhibit that says, “This is a version of the main gallery,” to avoid confusion. The canonical tag is that sign. For a broader look at AMP, see our main guide on AMP.
The Two-Way Handshake of AMP and Non-AMP
A correct AMP setup requires a two-way link between the two versions of your page. As Google’s documentation on duplicate content makes clear, these signals are essential.
Example: A Correct AMP/Non-AMP Pair
<!-- On the non-AMP page (https://example.com/page) -->
<link rel="amphtml" href="https://example.com/amp/page">
<!-- On the AMP page (https://example.com/amp/page) -->
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/page">A Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing the Missing Link
The goal is to ensure every AMP page has a valid canonical tag pointing to its non-AMP counterpart. For a deep dive into this topic, this guide from Moz on AMP is an excellent resource.
- Crawl Your Site: Use an SEO audit tool like Creeper to discover all of your AMP pages.
- Identify Missing Canonical Tags: The crawler will flag any AMP pages that are missing a `<link rel=”canonical”>` tag.
- Implement the Canonical Tag: Work with your developer or use your CMS plugin to add the correct canonical tag to the `<head>` of each AMP page. The `href` must be the absolute URL of the corresponding non-AMP page.
- Validate Your Setup: Use Google’s AMP Test tool to verify that your pages are valid AMP and that the canonical link is correctly implemented. Also check for other issues, like a missing return link from the non-AMP page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct way to link AMP and non-AMP pages?
There must be a two-way link. The non-AMP page must have a `<link rel=”amphtml” href=”[URL of AMP page]”>` tag, and the AMP page must have a `<link rel=”canonical” href=”[URL of non-AMP page]”>` tag. This creates a clear, reciprocal relationship.
What if my page is ‘AMP-only’?
If you have a page that only exists in an AMP version (with no non-AMP equivalent), it should have a self-referencing canonical tag. In this case, the canonical tag would point to the AMP URL itself.
How can I find all my AMP pages that are missing a canonical tag?
The most effective way is to use a website crawler like Creeper. It will scan your site and can be configured to specifically identify AMP pages and report on whether they have a valid canonical tag pointing to a non-AMP equivalent.
Are your AMP pages properly connected? Start your Creeper audit today to find and fix any missing canonical tags.