Hreflang Errors
Hreflang errors occur when language/region tags are missing, incorrect, or inconsistent.
Key Takaways

Cause wrong regional pages to rank.

Hurt international SEO.

Common in multilingual sites.

Fix by validating return tags.

Use ISO codes correctly.

AI can validate hreflang maps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are hreflang errors?
Wrong content shows in wrong markets.
Why fix them?
Wrong content shows in wrong markets.
How to detect errors?
Use GSC and crawlers.
Can AI detect hreflang issues?
Yes, via annotation checks.
What’s x-default?
Fallback version for unspecified users.
Step by Step Plan
01
Audit Hreflang
Check all hreflang tags.
02
Validate Codes
Ensure correct ISO codes.
03
Check Return Tags
Make sure references match.
04
Check Return Tags
Correct missing/invalid tags.
05
Re-Test
Validate in GSC again.
Comparison Table
Hreflang Errors
Valid Hreflang
Wrong pages rank
Right pages rank
Confused bots
Clear signals
Lost traffic
Stable traffic
Poor UX
Good UX
Wrong targeting
Correct targeting