Choose the correct x-default destination
x-default should represent the version intended for users whose language does not match another declared alternate. In this module, that destination is the current post’s Polylang translation in Default site language.
Decision checklist
Choose the language only when:
- its translated pages are public and canonical;
- it is a genuine fallback for unmatched visitors;
- language-switcher and redirect behavior do not contradict it;
- each important content item has that translation;
- another SEO integration is not already adding
x-default.
The chosen language is a site-wide setting, but output is decided per singular item. Missing translation means missing x-default for that item.
Validate a multilingual set
- Select one post translated into every language.
- Inspect each translation’s alternate links.
- Confirm exactly one
x-default. - Confirm it points to the selected-language translation of the same content.
- Test an item missing that translation and confirm no unrelated fallback appears.
- Inspect the homepage and archives separately; do not assume singular-post behavior applies.
- Check the final HTML after SEO plugins and caches run.
If duplicate x-default entries appear, keep one owner. Disabling this module removes its contribution on later requests but does not change Polylang translations or another provider’s tags.