Major issue in URLs?

[Ray UK]

Hi,

I have just noticed that the category ID is missing from the full product URL.  However, the category ID is showing in the URLs at the top menu.

How can I either get this category ID to show in the product URL, or remove the category ID from the top menu?

This is also the case with the canonical URL in the head of the page, the category ID is there on a category page, but is missing on the actual product URL. 🙄

I.e.:

On the category page, the URLs are:
Actual URL -                        https://www.northwestecigs.uk/91-disposable-vapes
Canonical URL -                  https://www.northwestecigs.uk/91-disposable-vapes
Top menu -                          https://www.northwestecigs.uk/91-disposable-vapes
Product on product-list -   https://www.northwestecigs.uk/disposable-vapes/327-aloe-grape-ice-ivg-plus-bar.html

On the product page, the URLs are:
Actual URL -                        https://www.northwestecigs.uk/disposable-vapes/327-aloe-grape-ice-ivg-plus-bar.html
Canonical URL -                  https://www.northwestecigs.uk/disposable-vapes/327-aloe-grape-ice-ivg-plus-bar.html
 

Maybe this is why on Google webmaster tools there are more "Not indexed" pages than there are "Indexed Pages"
The main reason for the "Not Indexed" is showing as "Alternate page with proper canonical tag".

This isn't an issue with just my site, it will be the same on yours too.

Surely all the URLs should either include the ID or not include it?

Note: Yes, I have removed the attribute URL from the product URL, but this issue is the same on a freshly installed site.

Thanks

Edited October 20, 2022 by MerseyRay (see edit history)

[Ray UK]

Any clues on how to resolve this.

Surely this is having a big impact on all of our sites

note: I have seen the posts on the #attribute at the end of URLs and believe that isn't an issue, but this does look like a problem