Common Hreflang Errors

Hreflang errors are among the most common problems in international SEO and can have significant impacts on the visibility of your Cross-lingual website. These errors often arise from incorrect implementation, missing return links, or inconsistent language/country codes.

Error Type

Severity

Frequency

Missing Return Links

High

45%

Wrong Language IDs

Medium

32%

Canonical Conflicts

High

28%

Missing x-default

Medium

23%

The Most Common Hreflang Errors

1. Missing Return Links

Problem: A page links to other language versions, but these don't link back.

Example:

<!-- Page A links to B and C -->
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/page" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/page" />

<!-- Page B only links to A, not to C -->
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/page" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/page" />

Solution: Every page must link to all other language versions.

2. Wrong Language/Country Codes

Problem: Use of non-standardized or incorrect ISO codes.

Common Errors:

hreflang="german" instead of hreflang="de"
hreflang="english" instead of hreflang="en"
hreflang="de-DE" for Germany (correct)
hreflang="de-AT" for Austria (correct)

3. Missing x-default Directive

Problem: No default language defined for users not covered by specific country codes.

Correct Implementation:

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="x-default" href="https://example.com/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/" />

4. Canonical Tag Conflicts

Problem: Hreflang tags point to URLs that don't match the canonical tags.

Example:

<!-- Canonical points to different URL -->
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/en/page" />
<!-- Hreflang points to different URL -->
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/page/" />

5. Duplicate Hreflang Declarations

Problem: Multiple hreflang tags for the same language/country combination.

Wrong:

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/page" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/page" />

6. Relative vs. Absolute URLs

Problem: Use of relative URLs in hreflang tags.

Wrong:

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="/de/page" />

Correct:

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/page" />

7. Missing HTTPS Protocols

Problem: Mix of HTTP and HTTPS in hreflang tags.

Correct Implementation:

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/page" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/page" />

Hreflang Error Diagnosis

Hreflang Error Check

Check return links
Validate language codes
Identify canonical conflicts
Use absolute URLs
Ensure HTTPS protocol
Avoid duplicate declarations
Add x-default directive
Keep Sitemap consistent

Tools for Issue finding

Google Search Console
- International Targeting Report
- Hreflang errors in indexing
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Hreflang tab for detailed analysis
- Identify missing return links
Hreflang Testing Tools
- Online validators for syntax checking
- Automatic error detection

Hreflang Error Statistics

Missing Return Links: 45%

Wrong Language Codes: 32%

Canonical Conflicts: 28%

Missing x-default: 23%

Common Implementation Errors

XML Sitemap vs. HTML Tags

Problem: Inconsistency between XML sitemap and HTML hreflang tags.

Solution: Both methods must contain identical information.

Missing Language/Country Mapping

Problem: No clear assignment between languages and countries.

Example Mapping:

de - German (general)
de-DE - Germany
de-AT - Austria
de-CH - Switzerland

Redirects in Hreflang

Problem: Hreflang tags point to URLs that lead to redirects.

Solution: Hreflang tags must point to the final URL.

Best Practices for Error Prevention

Hreflang Implementation

Planning and structuring
Correct implementation
Testing and validation
Surveillance and maintenance
Regular audits
Automated alerts

1. Planning and Structuring

Define clear language/country strategy
Establish URL structure for international pages
Create mapping between languages and countries

2. Correct Implementation

Use absolute URLs
Ensure HTTPS protocol
Consistent canonical tags

3. Testing and Validation

Implement automated tests
Regular checking of hreflang tags
Google Search Console monitoring

4. Monitoring and Maintenance

Continuous monitoring of errors
Automated alerts for new problems
Conduct regular audits

Frequently Asked Questions about Hreflang Errors

How do I recognize hreflang errors?

Use Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, or specialized hreflang testing tools.

Are hreflang errors critical for SEO?

Yes, they can lead to missing indexing or incorrect language assignment.

How do I fix missing return links?

Every page must link to all other language versions.

Can I use hreflang tags in the XML sitemap?

Yes, but HTML tags are often easier to implement and maintain.

What happens with wrong language codes?

Google ignores the hreflang instructions, leading to incorrect language assignment.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Hreflang Monitoring

Hreflang errors can quickly impact international visibility

Automated Monitoring

Google Search Console Alerts
- International Targeting errors
- Indexing problems
Crawling Tools
- Regular hreflang checks
- Automated error reports
Custom Monitoring
- Own scripts for hreflang validation
- Integration into SEO workflows

Maintenance Routines

Daily: Check Google Search Console
Weekly: Validate hreflang tags on new pages
Monthly: Conduct complete hreflang audit