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    Google clarifies canonicalization fixes can take up to two weeks to resolve

    Google made updates to some of its canonicalization documentation to clarify timing and more technical details.

    Google updated the canonicalization troubleshooting guide to clarify how long it may take for Google to reflect those fixes within the Google search results. Google said “after fixing content issues, Google might hold pages in a duplicate cluster for up to two weeks.”

    What was changed. Google added a whole new section of content to the top of the page specifying the timing of canonicalization fixes, i.e. up to two weeks. Google also spoke about clustering and how pages need to be different enough to be clustered or canonicalized as one.

    Here is what was added:

    Google Canonical Doc Timing Add DhCAvI9r

    Why we care. Knowing canonicalization fixes can take up to two weeks after Google processes your fix is good to know. This way, you don’t keep trying to make changes to the page until Google has had the full two weeks to handle your update.


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    About the Author

    Barry Schwartz
    Barry Schwartz is a technologist and a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics.

    In 2019, Barry was awarded the Outstanding Community Services Award from Search Engine Land, in 2018 he was awarded the US Search Awards the "US Search Personality Of The Year," you can learn more over here and in 2023 he was listed as a top 50 most influential PPCer by Marketing O'Clock.

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