The direct answer
A canonical expresses a preferred version; a redirect moves the visitor. They are related tools with different effects and should not be used interchangeably.
What to check
Determine whether the alternate page should remain usable or should permanently move. Inspect the existing response chain and canonical destination.
What to do next
Choose the behavior that matches the intended customer journey. Keep navigation, sitemap and canonical signals consistent with that decision, then test both the old and preferred URLs.
Further reading
Platform guidance can change. Consult the current official documentation before making platform-specific changes.
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