index problem

Hello,

We apologize for the issue you are facing with the indexed URLs in Google Search Console. It seems that the URLs with the /?_page= parameter are being treated as separate pages by Google, which can lead to duplicate content issues.

To fix this, you can take the following steps:

1. Use Canonical URLs: Set a canonical URL for your post to indicate to search engines which version of the URL should be considered the primary one. You can do this using the Rank Math meta box under the SEO tab when editing your post.

   • Go to the Advanced Settings and find the Canonical URL field. Enter the main URL of your post without the /?_page= parameter.

   

2. Redirect Parameters: If possible, consider setting up redirects for URLs with the /?_page= parameter to point to the main URL of your post. This can help consolidate indexing and avoid duplicate content issues.

3. Check for Pagination Settings: If your post is paginated, ensure that your pagination settings are correctly configured in your WordPress settings or within Rank Math.

4. Use Robots.txt or Meta Tags: You can also use a noindex meta tag or update your robots.txt file to prevent search engines from indexing these parameterized URLs if they are not necessary.

After making these changes, allow some time for Google to re-crawl your site and update its index accordingly. You can also use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console to request indexing for the updated canonical URL.

If you need further assistance, please reply to this ticket, and a human agent from the Rank Math Support team will assist you further.

Sources:
How to Fix ‘Duplicate, Submitted URL Not Selected as Canonical’ Issue in Google Search Console » Rank Math