Should we include a canonical or noindex on our m. (mobile) pages?

[nicole.healthline]

According to https://developers.google.com/webmasters/smartphone-sites/details, we should include a canonicalicalize back to our desktop version of the URL, but what if that desktop URL is noindexed? Should the m. version be noindexed as well? Or is it fine to leave it as a canonical?

[bridget.randolph]

Hi Michelle,

You should use the 'switchboard tags', the special mobile canonical tag, when you have a mobile page which is a (duplicate) 'mobile version' of a desktop page.

This allows your mobile version to display in mobile search results, and your desktop version to display in desktop search results. It also indicates to Google that the mobile version is a duplicate version designed for mobile devices, rather than being simply duplicate content.

If you have a noindexed desktop page, and don't want the mobile version indexed either, you shouldn't need the canonical, just treat the mobile version the same as you would the desktop version.

If you have mobile-only content, with no corresponding desktop version, you can treat it the same as any other page; you don't need to add a canonical.

[nicole.healthline]

Thanks! What about re=next and rel=prev - if we added it to the desktop version, should we also add to the mobile version?