If your SEO audit or our SEO Action Plan Chrome Extension is flagging that the missing og:url tag, you’re not alone. Many site owners see this warning and aren’t quite sure what it means. The good news? It’s a simple fix. Whether you’re using WordPress, Shopify, Wix, or coding things by hand, you can add this tag in minutes and improve how your pages look when shared on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networks.
This guide will walk you through what og:url means, why it matters, how to add it, and how to confirm that it’s working correctly. Along the way, we’ll also mention how you can check this using our SEO Action Plan Extension under the SEO tab.
What is the og:url tag? #
The og:url tag is part of the Open Graph protocol. It tells social networks which URL to treat as the “official” or canonical link for your content.
Here’s what a basic og:url tag looks like in your HTML:
<meta property="og:url" content="https://www.example.com/sample-page/" />
When a page is shared on Facebook or LinkedIn, these platforms look for this tag to ensure the correct URL is shown. Without it, they might pull an outdated link or display a version of your page with tracking parameters.
Why fixing a missing og:url on your website matters #
If you don’t have this tag, social media previews may show the wrong link. This can:
- Split your social engagement across different URLs.
- Cause confusion if you use tracking parameters like
?utm_source. - Make your site look less consistent when shared.
By fixing a missing og:url on your website, you ensure that every share points to a single, clean URL. This is particularly helpful if your pages are available at both http and https, or with and without a trailing slash.
How to fix the missing og:url on the website automatically #
If you’re using a CMS or SEO plugin, you probably don’t need to add this tag manually. Most modern tools handle it for you:
- WordPress: Yoast SEO, Rank Math, and All in One SEO all add
og:urlautomatically when Open Graph tags are enabled. - Shopify: Apps like SEO Manager insert Open Graph tags for you.
- Wix: You can set your page’s social sharing info in the SEO settings.
- Squarespace: Open Graph is built in and uses the page URL automatically.
Make sure your plugin or CMS is updated and that Open Graph is turned on in its settings. If you’re using WordPress and don’t see this tag, double-check the SEO plugin settings to confirm the feature is enabled.
How to add the og:url tag manually #
If you’re not using a plugin or if you’re building a custom site, you can add the tag yourself. Place it inside the <head> section of your HTML:
<head>
<meta property="og:url" content="https://www.example.com/your-page/" />
</head>
Be sure to use the full canonical UR, the exact version you want people to share. If your site supports HTTPS, use that instead of HTTP. If your preferred URL ends with a trailing slash, keep it that way. Consistency matters.
How to check if the og:url tag is added correctly #
Once you’ve added the tag, you should test it to make sure everything’s working as expected. Here’s how:
- Using our SEO Action Plan Extension: Open the page in Chrome, click the extension icon, go to the SEO tab, and look for the Open Graph section. You’ll see whether the
og:urlis detected. - Facebook Sharing Debugger: Visit https://developers.facebook.com/tools/debug/ and paste your page URL. Facebook will show you which Open Graph tags it finds.
- LinkedIn Post Inspector: Go to https://www.linkedin.com/post-inspector/ and do the same.
If you see the correct URL in these tools, you’ve fixed the issue.
Common issues when fixing og:url #
Sometimes, even after adding the tag, it doesn’t appear correctly. Here are a few things to check:
- Caching plugins: If you’re using a WordPress caching plugin, clear the cache after adding the tag.
- Multiple SEO plugins: Running more than one plugin can cause conflicts. Disable duplicates and stick to one.
- Theme headers: Make sure your theme
<head>isn’t stripping meta tags.
Bringing it all together #
By making sure your site has a proper og:url tag, you keep your social links clean and consistent. It’s a quick fix that helps both SEO and branding.
If you haven’t already, give the SEO Action Plan Chrome Extension a try. It highlights missing Open Graph tags like og:url directly on your pages, so you can catch issues before they hurt your visibility.
Whether you’re running a WordPress blog, an online shop, or a custom-built site, this is a small detail that makes a big difference. Fix it once, check your work, and you won’t have to worry about it again.