Canonical URL usage for http and https

[cmsintent]

Hopefully somebody can shed some light on this ... this is not a WWB question so hopefully it is fine to post on OFF TOPICS ...

With Google Search Console, Google recommends to add both http & https to the site profile

For my site, I have a 301 htaccess server side redirecting all requests to https://www only.

With that being said, should I add the complete https://www.website.com URL in the PAGE PROPERTIES > SEO tab > CANONICAL URL in WWB?

My intent is for Google to only index the https://www site and not view other versions (http:// or http://www) as duplicate content.

PS: Google drives me goofy!! LOL!!

[cmsintent]

… any thoughts from anyone on this?

[Praxandros]

cmsintent

Have you installed the SSL certificate by yourself?
SSL providers, gives you the option to call the url by www.yourdomain.com or yourdomain.com.

Praxandros

[cmsintent]

Good Morning Praxandros... thanks for the reply. Yes I have the SSL installed and the 301 redirect htaccess configured to render all inquiries to https://www

What I am more specifically interested how the conical url is set in the WWB ... or if I even need to.

This is more for SEO requirements ...

[Rob]

yes - https://www version of the site is the canonical tag. htaccess to fwd from http to https and non-www to www.

Then, in Google Webmaster Tools, add all 4 versions of the website, but submit sitemap and request indexing of the https://www version of the website. This is the one that should be found naturally. But if other versions are typed in (or old links) they will forward correctly.

Just my 2 cents as a non-SEO guru - just personal experience in terms of what has worked for me.

[cmsintent]

Rob… makes total sense and very well explained… thanks for your input!

I will follow your instructions.