How to fix indexing issues in Google Search Console?

 Yes, indexing the same page with ?m=1 (which likely signifies a mobile version) and the base URL can create issues in Google Search Console. This can lead to duplicate content warnings, indexing problems, and difficulty for Google to determine which version of the page is the preferred one. 

Here's why and what you can do:

Why it's a problem:

1. Duplicate Content:
Google sees the page with and without the ?m=1 as essentially the same content, potentially leading to duplicate content penalties.

2. Indexation Issues:
Google might struggle to decide which version to index, potentially indexing both or neither, or favoring the wrong one.

3. Canonicalization Confusion:
It can confuse Google's ability to determine the canonical (primary) version of the page, which can impact search ranking.

4. User Experience:
Users may be confused by duplicate content, and the site may struggle to get good search visibility.

How to fix it:

Implement a canonical tag:

1. On the mobile version (?m=1), use a rel="canonical" tag to link to the desktop version.
2. On the desktop version, you can optionally use rel="alternate" with hreflang="x-default" to tell Google this is the primary page. 

 <!-- Mobile page (with ?m=1) -->
    <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/your-page/">

1. Use 301 redirects (optional):

Redirect the mobile version to the desktop version. This is a more definitive solution, but can have some drawbacks if you're also trying to serve different content on mobile (e.g., different mobile-specific content).

2. Use a mobile-first indexing approach:

If you're using a mobile-first indexing approach, ensure that your robots.txt file allows Google to crawl the mobile version and that the desktop version is also properly indexed.

3. Check your sitemap:

Ensure that your sitemap contains both the desktop and mobile versions of your pages.

4. Address any errors in Search Console:

Check the "Indexing" report in Search Console for any errors related to duplicate content or indexing issues.

If you've fixed the issue, you can request re-inspection of the affected URLs to ensure Google re-crawls and re-indexes the pages, as Break The Web explains. 

Example:

Let's say you have the following URLs: 

• https://www.example.com/your-page/ (Desktop)
• https://www.example.com/your-page/?m=1 (Mobile)

On the mobile page: 

<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/your-page/">

On the desktop page:

<link rel="alternate" href="https://www.example.com/your-page/?m=1" hreflang="x-default">

In your robots.txt file:

• If you're using a mobile-first approach, allow crawling of the mobile version. 
• If you're using a standard approach, allow crawling of both.

By implementing these solutions, you can help Google understand the relationship between your desktop and mobile versions and avoid potential indexing issues in Search Console.