Test whether accessing your site via IP address redirects to your canonical domain.
IP Canonicalization TestGratisTechnical SEOChecks a live URL
This tool checks www vs non-www canonicalization. True IP-to-domain testing requires server access, but www/non-www consistency is the most common canonicalization issue.
Enter a public URL. We fetch the live page and analyse what search engines and AI crawlers see.
Key features of the IP canonicalization test
Tests whether the server IP address redirects to the domain
Shows the IP address of the domain
Checks the HTTP status code of the IP address response
Verifies the redirect destination is the correct canonical domain
Flags missing or incorrect IP-to-domain redirects
How to use the IP canonicalization test
01
Enter your domain
Type your domain name into the IP canonicalization tester.
02
Run the test
Click 'Test IP Canonicalization' to resolve the IP address and test the redirect.
03
Check the result
See whether the IP address redirects to your domain with a 301 status.
04
Identify the issue
If the IP serves the site without redirecting, you have a canonicalization issue to fix.
05
Add a server redirect
Configure your web server (Nginx/Apache) to redirect all requests to the raw IP address to your canonical domain.
What is an IP canonicalization test?
The IP Canonicalization Test checks whether your website's server IP address correctly redirects to your domain name. Without this redirect, your site is accessible at both its IP address and domain URL — creating duplicate content that can split link equity and confuse search engines about your canonical URL.
IP canonicalization is a lesser-known but important technical SEO issue. If someone links to your website's raw IP address, Google may treat the IP address version and the domain version as separate sites, splitting any link equity between them rather than consolidating it on your canonical domain URL.
Why use an IP canonicalization test?
Without IP canonicalization, your website exists at two separate "addresses" — its IP and its domain. Any links to the IP version don't benefit your domain's SEO. Fixing this with a simple server-side redirect takes minutes and eliminates a potential duplicate content and link equity dilution issue.
IP canonicalization test: frequently asked questions
IP canonicalization is the practice of redirecting requests made to your server's IP address to your canonical domain name. It ensures your website is only accessible through one URL (your domain), preventing duplicate content.
Why would someone access a site via IP address?
Mostly it happens through old or automated links. Scrapers, security researchers, and some automated tools sometimes link to IP addresses instead of domain names. Bots and crawlers may also discover your IP through various means.
Does IP canonicalization really affect SEO?
The impact is usually small for most sites, but it's a quick fix that eliminates a theoretical duplicate content risk. For sites with significant IP-direct traffic or links to IP addresses, the impact can be more meaningful.
How do I set up IP canonicalization?
In Nginx, add a server block for the IP that returns a 301 redirect to your domain. In Apache, use a RewriteCond to detect IP access and redirect to the domain. Most CDN providers handle this automatically.
Is IP canonicalization related to HTTPS canonicalization?
They're separate issues but both involve canonicalization. HTTPS canonicalization ensures HTTP redirects to HTTPS. IP canonicalization ensures the IP address redirects to the domain name. Both should be implemented.
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IP Canonicalization Test is one piece of the puzzle. See how ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews actually view your brand, and get a prioritised list of fixes, with a free AEO & GEO audit from AI Rank Lab.
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