Canonical url get double encode

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
If you're experiencing issues with incorrect canonical URLs in the meta tags of your site when using WPML SEO, such as double encoding in URLs and seeing '%%' characters, this might be due to an outdated version of Yoast Premium.
Solution:
We recommend updating Yoast Premium to the latest version. This update should resolve the issue with the canonical URLs displaying incorrectly. If this solution does not apply to your case because it might be outdated, or if you continue to experience issues, please visit our support forum and open a new support ticket. Additionally, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins.

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Tagged: Bug

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Last updated by karinaR 10 months ago.

Assisted by: Paola Mendiburu.

Author	Posts
April 3, 2025 at 11:11 am
karinaR	Background of the issue: I am trying to fix an issue with the canonical URL in the head section of my site when I enable WPML SEO. The problem can be seen on this page: hidden link. Symptoms: I am seeing strange meta tags with incorrect URLs. Instead of seeing HTTPS pages without '%%' in the links, I got: and . Questions: Why are the URLs in the meta tags double encoded? How can I correct the canonical URL to display properly?
April 3, 2025 at 5:21 pm #16894392
Paola Mendiburu WPML Supporter since 11/2020 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	I have send you a private message with the details to do a migrations so I an investigate the issue. Please let me know when it is ready.
April 3, 2025 at 6:18 pm #16894575
karinaR	Migration is done.
April 4, 2025 at 8:55 am #16896001
Paola Mendiburu WPML Supporter since 11/2020 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	Thank you so much. I am working on it. I will let you know when I have some news.
April 7, 2025 at 8:12 am #16902751
Paola Mendiburu WPML Supporter since 11/2020 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	Hi there, Thank you for your patience. I’ve performed additional tests and, unfortunately, the issue still persists. To help us further investigate and escalate this to our second-tier support, could you please grant permission to download a duplicate copy of your site using Duplicator? This will allow us to analyze the problem in greater detail. Thanks again for your cooperation.
April 7, 2025 at 9:51 am #16903246
karinaR	Hello, yes please, make a copy. I ran some tests also. If only Yoast on, WPMLSEO off -- all works. If only Yoast off, WPMLSEO on -- all works. If both Yoast on, WPMLSEO on -- got double convertion of the link. Somehow both plugins make escape/sanitation to the link and it resulted as broken.
April 7, 2025 at 10:53 am #16903745
karinaR	Please, let me know once you copied it. I have things to do there. Thank you.
April 7, 2025 at 3:45 pm #16905261
karinaR	Hi, I added some manual work-around temporary, so to see the issue you or the other devs should login to the site. Thank you.
April 8, 2025 at 12:01 pm #16909162
Paola Mendiburu WPML Supporter since 11/2020 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	Hi there! You can work on your site. I have a copy with Duplicator. I will let you know when I have some news.
April 8, 2025 at 5:41 pm #16910523
Paola Mendiburu WPML Supporter since 11/2020 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	Hi there! I have seen that it is related with yoast premium, if I install normal Yoast it works properly. In order to reproduce the issue to send it to the compatibility team, Could you please install Yoast Premium on the following test site? hidden link Please let me know when it is done so I can reproduce the isse. Thanks.
April 8, 2025 at 6:37 pm #16910630
karinaR	I installed. It can't work with normal Yoast "properly". As not Premium version is not generating canonical link at all. So there was No canonical link at this demo site before my install.
April 9, 2025 at 7:18 am #16911644
Paola Mendiburu WPML Supporter since 11/2020 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	Ok great! The problem is reproduced on the test site so I am preparing to send it to the compatibility team.
April 9, 2025 at 8:59 am #16911983
Paola Mendiburu WPML Supporter since 11/2020 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	The issue has been escalated to the compatibility team. I will let you know when I have some news.
April 11, 2025 at 1:33 pm #16922929
Paola Mendiburu WPML Supporter since 11/2020 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	Hi there! The version installed on the test site was Feb 2017 with the latest version of Yoast Premium is working. Please make sure to update to the latest version for Yoast Premium.
April 14, 2025 at 10:42 am #16928390
karinaR	Ok, I got your point. While I don't have the ability to update it now, I will check if it's work after further update. Please delete test-sites. Thank you.