Why You Should Never Use Canonical and Noindex Tags Together

First, let’s clarify what the noindex tag does.

A search engine bot’s primary function is to crawl and index as many pages of a website as possible. When a bot encounters a webpage, it crawls it, follows all the links within the page, and continues this process across the site. Eventually, the bot adds these pages to its index, a massive database of stored pages. When users search for relevant keywords, Google retrieves indexed pages and displays them in search engine results pages (SERPs).

However, there are cases where you may not want certain pages to be indexed and appear in search results. This is where the “noindex” meta robots tag becomes useful.

By default, web pages are created to be indexed. However, you can instruct search engines not to index a specific page by adding the directive noindex to the meta robots tag in the page’s HTML code. It looks like this: 

<meta name="robots" content="noindex">

This code prevents the page from appearing in the SERPs, but the page is still visible on your website and crawled by search engine bots. Although search engine bots may still crawl the page, they will not index it. In other words, your users see the page on your website but can’t find it using Google search.

You should use the meta robots=”noindex” tag when you don’t want search engines to index a specific page.
The pages that have this tag won’t be shown in the search results.

To illustrate the usage of the “noindex” you can take a look at the illustrations below.

When should you use the NOINDEX Tag?

Usually, the noindex tag is best applied to pages that provide little or no SEO value – ex. they’re not useful to users and search engines. 

Most often, these pages fall into one of the following categories:

• Taxonomy pages that are automatically created by your CMS,
• Pages with back-end code that is only used for the running of the site,
• Pages with duplicate content that were created for users’ purposes,
• Pages with duplicate content that were automatically created,
• Thank you pages,
• Members-only pages,
• Admin and login pages,
• Internal search results,
• etc.

What is a Canonical Tag?

Now, let’s discuss the canonical tag.

The rel=”canonical” tag is used to tell search engines which version of a page should be considered the “original” when multiple pages have identical or similar content. This tag is placed in the <head> section of an HTML document and looks like this:

<link rel=”canonical” href=”https://www.example.com/original-url” />

The URL specified in the href attribute should point to the preferred version of the page (the page that holds the original content).

Self-referencing Canonical Tag

By default, webpages are created to be self-canonical, meaning that if no canonical tag is specified, search engines assume the page is the original.

For instance, if my original article is published at https://www.velizaratellalyan.com/seo/15-outdated-seo-tactics-you-should-stop-doing/, the canonical tag on the page should be <link rel=”canonical” href=”https://www.velizaratellalyan.com/seo/15-outdated-seo-tactics-you-should-stop-doing/” />

This is because I am the original author of this blog post and its content isn’t available anywhere else on the web. The canonical tag signals to search engines that this is the authoritative version of the content. 

If the canonical tag on https://www.example.com/original-url is set to <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/original-url" />, this is referred to as a self-referencing canonical tag, or simply a self-canonical.

Non self-referencing Canonical Tag

However, in some cases, you might want to set a canonical tag to a different URL. This is useful when:

• • The same content appears on multiple URLs on your website

  • A page has variations (e.g., tracking parameters, session IDs)

  • You syndicate content across different domains 

• You’ve copied the content on the page from another website/domain name

For example, if https://www.example.com/duplicate-page contains content that is identical to https://www.example.com/original-url, the canonical tag on the duplicate page should point to the original URL. So the canonical of https://www.example.com/duplicate-page should be <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/original-url" />

In this case, the canonical tag is used as a way of telling search engines that a specific page is a copy of another page. 

If the canonical tag on https://www.example.com/url is set to <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.anotherwebsite.com/original-url" /> – or any URL different from the current page – this is known as a non-self-referencing canonical tag, or simply a non-self-canonical.

When Should You Use the Canonical Tag?

You should use the canonical tag when multiple pages contain duplicate or near-duplicate content and you want search engines to consolidate ranking signals to a single, preferred URL. This ensures that search engines index only the specified canonical URL while still recognizing the existence of other duplicate versions.

In the example above, the canonical tag on https://www.example.com/url is set to https://www.exemple.com/original-url. By using a non-self-referencing canonical tag, I’m indicating that the /url page contains the same or very similar content as /original-url, and I want Google to index only https://www.exemple.com/original-url.

You should use the rel=”canonical” tag when you want to consolidate URLs with duplicate content and you want search engines to index and consolidate ranking signals to a single, preferred URL.

The pages that have this tag won’t be shown in the search results.

Can You Use Canonical Tags That Point to Another Website?

Yes, you can use canonical tags that point to a different website—this is called cross-domain canonicalization. It’s commonly used when the same content appears on multiple domains, such as in content syndication partnerships. By setting a canonical tag on the republished page that references the original source (e.g., <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.originalwebsite.com/article" />), you’re telling search engines: “This content is duplicated, but the original and authoritative version is over there—please index that one.”

However, Google has clarified that canonical tags are only a signal, not a directive. That means search engines might choose to ignore the canonical tag, especially in cross-domain situations where other ranking signals (like backlinks or internal linking) contradict the canonical preference.

Why You Should NOT Use Noindex and Canonical Together

Now that we’ve covered both tags, let’s discuss why using them on the same page is problematic.

Canonical tags (rel="canonical") and noindex directives (meta name="robots" content="noindex") serve contradictory purposes:

1. Canonical Tag: Instructs search engines to consolidate ranking signals and attribute SEO value to a preferred URL while still indexing the page.

2. Noindex Tag: Instructs search engines not to index the page at all.

When both are present, search engines receive conflicting instructions:

• The canonical tag tells search engines, “This page is a duplicate, but please consolidate ranking signals and index the preferred version.”

• The noindex tag tells search engines, “Do not index this page at all.”

What Happens When You Combine Noindex and Canonical?

Google has explicitly stated that using both rel=”canonical” and meta robots=”noindex” on the same page can lead to unpredictable behavior. In other words, combining both tags on the same page sends contradictory instructions to search engines, creating confusion during the crawling and indexing process. On one hand, the canonical tag suggests that the page is a duplicate and that its SEO value should be transferred to another URL. On the other hand, the noindex directive instructs bots not to index the page at all, effectively telling them to disregard it.

This conflict can result in a few unintended outcomes:

• Search engines may ignore the canonical tag: Since the page is marked as “noindex,” Google might decide the page isn’t trustworthy enough to consolidate ranking signals from. As a result, the canonical directive could be disregarded entirely.

• The canonical page may also be de-indexed: If Google sees a pattern where multiple “noindexed” pages all point to the same canonical URL, it may assume that the canonical itself is part of a set of low-value or duplicate pages—and de-index that too.

• Loss of link equity and ranking signals: The primary purpose of the canonical tag is to consolidate SEO value—such as backlinks, internal link signals, and engagement metrics—into one authoritative page. But if a noindex tag is also present, search engines may discard the page before that value can be passed on, essentially causing it to vanish.

Moreover, when these signals clash, Google may need to make its own judgment call, and that decision might not align with your SEO goals. In the worst-case scenario, neither the original page nor the duplicate ends up indexed, and the potential ranking benefit is lost.

Best Practices: Choose One

Instead of combining noindex and canonical, follow these best practices:

• If you want a page removed from search results: Use meta name="robots" content="noindex".

• If you want to consolidate ranking signals: Use rel="canonical".

• If you want a page removed and its SEO value transferred: 301 redirect it to the preferred URL.

Conclusion: Why it is not recommended to use Canonical and Noindex tags on the same page?

Avoid using rel=”canonical” and robots=”noindex” on the same page, as this sends mixed signals to search engines. This confusion can lead to both pages being de-indexed or the canonical tag being ignored entirely.

If you need to prevent a page from appearing in search results, use noindex. If you need to consolidate duplicate content, use canonical. And if you want to remove a page and transfer its ranking power, use a 301 redirect instead.

Understanding how to properly use these tags will help you improve your site’s SEO, avoid indexing issues, and ensure your preferred pages rank effectively in search engines.

Search engine optimization (SEO) can get quite technical, and we often encounter unexpected challenges. One critical aspect I always examine when auditing websites is the implementation of noindex and canonical tags. While these tags are often considered “technical SEO” elements, they are relatively straightforward and should be properly understood by anyone involved in SEO.

Recently, I worked with a client who consistently applied both rel=”canonical” and robots=”noindex” on the same web page across his site. After discussing this with him and conducting some research, I realized that many people mistakenly combine these tags, believing it to be an extra precaution or when they’re unsure of the right approach.

In this article, I’ll explain why using both tags on the same page is not a good idea.

What is a NOINDEX Tag?

First, let’s clarify what the noindex tag does.

A search engine bot’s primary function is to crawl and index as many pages of a website as possible. When a bot encounters a webpage, it crawls it, follows all the links within the page, and continues this process across the site. Eventually, the bot adds these pages to its index, a massive database of stored pages. When users search for relevant keywords, Google retrieves indexed pages and displays them in search engine results pages (SERPs).

However, there are cases where you may not want certain pages to be indexed and appear in search results. This is where the “noindex” meta robots tag becomes useful.

By default, web pages are created to be indexed. However, you can instruct search engines not to index a specific page by adding the directive noindex to the meta robots tag in the page’s HTML code. It looks like this: 

<meta name="robots" content="noindex">

This code prevents the page from appearing in the SERPs, but the page is still visible on your website and crawled by search engine bots. Although search engine bots may still crawl the page, they will not index it. In other words, your users see the page on your website but can’t find it using Google search.

You should use the meta robots=”noindex” tag when you don’t want search engines to index a specific page.
The pages that have this tag won’t be shown in the search results.

To illustrate the usage of the “noindex” you can take a look at the illustrations below.

When should you use the NOINDEX Tag?

Usually, the noindex tag is best applied to pages that provide little or no SEO value – ex. they’re not useful to users and search engines. 

Most often, these pages fall into one of the following categories:

• Taxonomy pages that are automatically created by your CMS,
• Pages with back-end code that is only used for the running of the site,
• Pages with duplicate content that were created for users’ purposes,
• Pages with duplicate content that were automatically created,
• Thank you pages,
• Members-only pages,
• Admin and login pages,
• Internal search results,
• etc.

What is a Canonical Tag?

Now, let’s discuss the canonical tag.

The rel=”canonical” tag is used to tell search engines which version of a page should be considered the “original” when multiple pages have identical or similar content. This tag is placed in the <head> section of an HTML document and looks like this:

<link rel=”canonical” href=”https://www.example.com/original-url” />

The URL specified in the href attribute should point to the preferred version of the page (the page that holds the original content).

Self-referencing Canonical Tag

By default, webpages are created to be self-canonical, meaning that if no canonical tag is specified, search engines assume the page is the original.

For instance, if my original article is published at https://www.velizaratellalyan.com/seo/15-outdated-seo-tactics-you-should-stop-doing/, the canonical tag on the page should be <link rel=”canonical” href=”https://www.velizaratellalyan.com/seo/15-outdated-seo-tactics-you-should-stop-doing/” />

This is because I am the original author of this blog post and its content isn’t available anywhere else on the web. The canonical tag signals to search engines that this is the authoritative version of the content. 

If the canonical tag on https://www.example.com/original-url is set to <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/original-url" />, this is referred to as a self-referencing canonical tag, or simply a self-canonical.

Non self-referencing Canonical Tag

However, in some cases, you might want to set a canonical tag to a different URL. This is useful when:

• • The same content appears on multiple URLs on your website

  • A page has variations (e.g., tracking parameters, session IDs)

  • You syndicate content across different domains 

• You’ve copied the content on the page from another website/domain name

For example, if https://www.example.com/duplicate-page contains content that is identical to https://www.example.com/original-url, the canonical tag on the duplicate page should point to the original URL. So the canonical of https://www.example.com/duplicate-page should be <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/original-url" />

In this case, the canonical tag is used as a way of telling search engines that a specific page is a copy of another page. 

If the canonical tag on https://www.example.com/url is set to <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.anotherwebsite.com/original-url" /> – or any URL different from the current page – this is known as a non-self-referencing canonical tag, or simply a non-self-canonical.

When Should You Use the Canonical Tag?

You should use the canonical tag when multiple pages contain duplicate or near-duplicate content and you want search engines to consolidate ranking signals to a single, preferred URL. This ensures that search engines index only the specified canonical URL while still recognizing the existence of other duplicate versions.

In the example above, the canonical tag on https://www.example.com/url is set to https://www.exemple.com/original-url. By using a non-self-referencing canonical tag, I’m indicating that the /url page contains the same or very similar content as /original-url, and I want Google to index only https://www.exemple.com/original-url.

You should use the rel=”canonical” tag when you want to consolidate URLs with duplicate content and you want search engines to index and consolidate ranking signals to a single, preferred URL.

The pages that have this tag won’t be shown in the search results.

Can You Use Canonical Tags That Point to Another Website?

Yes, you can use canonical tags that point to a different website—this is called cross-domain canonicalization. It’s commonly used when the same content appears on multiple domains, such as in content syndication partnerships. By setting a canonical tag on the republished page that references the original source (e.g., <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.originalwebsite.com/article" />), you’re telling search engines: “This content is duplicated, but the original and authoritative version is over there—please index that one.”

However, Google has clarified that canonical tags are only a signal, not a directive. That means search engines might choose to ignore the canonical tag, especially in cross-domain situations where other ranking signals (like backlinks or internal linking) contradict the canonical preference.

Why You Should NOT Use Noindex and Canonical Together

Now that we’ve covered both tags, let’s discuss why using them on the same page is problematic.

Canonical tags (rel="canonical") and noindex directives (meta name="robots" content="noindex") serve contradictory purposes:

1. Canonical Tag: Instructs search engines to consolidate ranking signals and attribute SEO value to a preferred URL while still indexing the page.

2. Noindex Tag: Instructs search engines not to index the page at all.

When both are present, search engines receive conflicting instructions:

• The canonical tag tells search engines, “This page is a duplicate, but please consolidate ranking signals and index the preferred version.”

• The noindex tag tells search engines, “Do not index this page at all.”

What Happens When You Combine Noindex and Canonical?

Google has explicitly stated that using both rel=”canonical” and meta robots=”noindex” on the same page can lead to unpredictable behavior. In other words, combining both tags on the same page sends contradictory instructions to search engines, creating confusion during the crawling and indexing process. On one hand, the canonical tag suggests that the page is a duplicate and that its SEO value should be transferred to another URL. On the other hand, the noindex directive instructs bots not to index the page at all, effectively telling them to disregard it.

This conflict can result in a few unintended outcomes:

• Search engines may ignore the canonical tag: Since the page is marked as “noindex,” Google might decide the page isn’t trustworthy enough to consolidate ranking signals from. As a result, the canonical directive could be disregarded entirely.

• The canonical page may also be de-indexed: If Google sees a pattern where multiple “noindexed” pages all point to the same canonical URL, it may assume that the canonical itself is part of a set of low-value or duplicate pages—and de-index that too.

• Loss of link equity and ranking signals: The primary purpose of the canonical tag is to consolidate SEO value—such as backlinks, internal link signals, and engagement metrics—into one authoritative page. But if a noindex tag is also present, search engines may discard the page before that value can be passed on, essentially causing it to vanish.

Moreover, when these signals clash, Google may need to make its own judgment call, and that decision might not align with your SEO goals. In the worst-case scenario, neither the original page nor the duplicate ends up indexed, and the potential ranking benefit is lost.

Best Practices: Choose One

Instead of combining noindex and canonical, follow these best practices:

• If you want a page removed from search results: Use meta name="robots" content="noindex".

• If you want to consolidate ranking signals: Use rel="canonical".

• If you want a page removed and its SEO value transferred: 301 redirect it to the preferred URL.

Conclusion: Why it is not recommended to use Canonical and Noindex tags on the same page?

Avoid using rel=”canonical” and robots=”noindex” on the same page, as this sends mixed signals to search engines. This confusion can lead to both pages being de-indexed or the canonical tag being ignored entirely.

If you need to prevent a page from appearing in search results, use noindex. If you need to consolidate duplicate content, use canonical. And if you want to remove a page and transfer its ranking power, use a 301 redirect instead.

Understanding how to properly use these tags will help you improve your site’s SEO, avoid indexing issues, and ensure your preferred pages rank effectively in search engines.