Fixing Polylang SEO: Resolving Google Indexing and Canonical URL Issues

Understanding the Problem: Why Google Chooses the Wrong Language

Many multilingual WordPress site owners using the Polylang plugin encounter a frustrating SEO problem: Google Search Console reports errors like "Duplicate, Google chose different canonical than user" or shows that a secondary language is being indexed instead of the primary, default language. This often results in significant drops in search rankings for non-default language content.

Based on common user reports, this issue typically manifests in a few specific ways:

• Google indexes English content instead of the default language (e.g., Croatian, Lithuanian, Bangla)
• Search Console shows canonical URL errors where Google selects the default language URL instead of the language-specific version
• Mobile and desktop search results show different language versions inconsistently
• Hreflang tags point to incorrect URLs, particularly on filtered archive pages

Why This Happens: Common Root Causes

Several configuration issues and technical factors can contribute to these indexing problems:

1. Canonical URL Conflicts: When Polylang's language detection settings conflict with how search engines interpret your site structure, Google may choose a different canonical URL than intended.
2. Hreflang Implementation Issues: While Polylang automatically generates hreflang tags, conflicts with other plugins (like Filter Everything PRO) or custom post types can create incorrect references.
3. Browser Language Detection Inconsistencies: The browser language detection feature may work differently on mobile devices versus desktop, leading to inconsistent language serving.
4. Conflicting SEO Plugin Settings: SEO plugins like Yoast SEO may have their own canonical URL settings that conflict with Polylang's language management.
5. Permalink Configuration: Specific Polylang settings like "Hide URL language information for default language" and "Remove /language/ in pretty permalinks" can significantly impact how search engines interpret your site structure.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Indexing Issues

1. Verify and Adjust Polylang's Language Settings

Start by reviewing your Polylang configuration in Languages → Settings:

• Ensure the correct language is set as your default language
• Experiment with the "Hide URL language information for default language" option (both checked and unchecked states)
• Review URL modification settings to ensure consistency across your site
• Verify that the "Detect browser language" option is configured appropriately for your needs

2. Audit Your Canonical URL Structure

Canonical URL issues are among the most common causes of these problems:

• Use Google Search Console's URL Inspection tool to see which canonical URL Google has selected
• Check if your SEO plugin (Yoast, Rank Math, etc.) is generating conflicting canonical tags
• Ensure all language versions have properly defined canonical URLs pointing to themselves
• Consider implementing explicit canonical tags in your theme if automatic generation isn't working correctly

3. Validate Hreflang Implementation

Proper hreflang tags are crucial for multilingual SEO:

• Use hreflang validation tools to check your implementation
• Ensure all language versions return HTTP 200 status codes (not redirects or 404 errors)
• Verify that hreflang tags point to the correct, accessible URLs
• Check for conflicts with other plugins that might modify your site's header output

4. Address Mobile-Specific Language Detection

For issues where mobile and desktop show different results:

• Test language detection on various mobile devices and browsers
• Consider implementing server-side language detection rather than relying solely on browser detection
• Ensure your mobile and desktop sites share consistent hreflang and canonical tags

5. Resolve Plugin Conflicts

Several users reported conflicts with specific plugins:

• Filter Everything PRO: Check for updates or contact their support for hreflang compatibility
• Yoast SEO: Review canonical URL settings in the advanced sections of the Yoast metabox
• Google Web Stories: Ensure the plugin supports multilingual content properly
• Test by temporarily disabling other plugins to identify conflicts

6. Implement Proper Redirects for Untranslated Content

For pages without translations that return 404 errors:

• Implement proper redirects to the default language version
• Use server-level redirects (via .htaccess) rather than plugin-based redirects for better reliability
• Ensure redirects maintain proper HTTP status codes

When to Seek Additional Help

If these steps don't resolve your issues, consider:

• Checking the Polylang documentation for specific configuration guidance
• Searching the WordPress support forums for similar issues and solutions
• Consulting with an SEO specialist experienced in multilingual WordPress sites
• Testing with alternative multilingual plugins to compare implementation approaches

Remember that search engine indexing can take time to update after making changes. After implementing fixes, use Google Search Console to request reindexing of affected URLs and monitor the results over several days.