Google Indexing API Quota: 200 Daily Requests & 200 Response

Google’s Indexing API allows website owners to notify Google about new or updated pages, but it comes with a strict quota of 200 requests per day for most users. A 200 response from the API means your request was successfully received and processed by Google, not that the page is immediately indexed—it simply confirms the notification was accepted. This article explains the quota, eligibility, what a 200 response truly means, and how to use the API effectively.

Formula

The Indexing API doesn’t have a mathematical formula—it’s a REST endpoint. However, the quota can be expressed as:

Quota = 200 requests per day (per project)

Each request is a POST to https://indexing.googleapis.com/v3/urlNotifications:publish with a JSON body containing the URL and type (URL_UPDATED or URL_DELETED). The API returns an HTTP status code: 200 means success, 403 means permission error, 429 means quota exceeded.

Worked Example

Suppose you send a request to publish a URL update. The request body looks like:

{"url": "https://example.com/page", "type": "URL_UPDATED"}

If successful, the response is HTTP 200 with an empty body. This means Google accepted your notification. You can send up to 200 such requests per day. If you send a 201st, you get a 429 error.

What the 200 Response Really Means

A 200 response from the Indexing API only confirms that Google received your request. It does not guarantee:

• The page will be indexed immediately or at all.
• The page passes Google’s quality guidelines.
• The page is crawled right away—it may take hours or days.

Think of it like submitting a form: you get a receipt, but the processing happens later. Google’s systems decide whether to crawl and index based on their own algorithms and your site’s overall health.

Eligibility for the 200 Daily Quota

The default quota is 200 requests per day for all projects that have the Indexing API enabled. This is a per-project limit, not per-user. You can increase it by requesting more quota through the Google Cloud Console, but approval is not guaranteed. The API is primarily intended for pages with job postings or livestream videos (structured data), though Google has allowed other use cases.

To be eligible, you must:

• Own or manage the website in Google Search Console.
• Verify the site in Search Console.
• Enable the Indexing API in Google Cloud Console.
• Create a service account and authorize it with your Search Console property.

How to Use the Indexing API

1. Go to Google Cloud Console and create a project (or select existing).
2. Enable the Indexing API for that project.
3. Create a service account and download the JSON key file.
4. In Search Console, add the service account email as a user (owner or full) for your property.
5. Use a script (Python, Node.js, etc.) to send requests. Example in Python using google-auth and requests libraries.

Here’s a minimal Python snippet (using google-auth and requests):

from google.oauth2 import service_account
import requests

SCOPES = ["https://www.googleapis.com/auth/indexing"]
credentials = service_account.Credentials.from_service_account_file('key.json', scopes=SCOPES)
token = credentials.refresh(requests.Request()).token

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + token, "Content-Type": "application/json"}
body = {"url": "https://example.com/page", "type": "URL_UPDATED"}
response = requests.post("https://indexing.googleapis.com/v3/urlNotifications:publish", headers=headers, json=body)
print(response.status_code)

Common Problems and Misconceptions

Misconception: 200 means indexed. Many users think a 200 response means the page is in Google’s index. It doesn’t. Check the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to see actual indexing status.

Problem: 403 error. This usually means your service account isn’t authorized in Search Console. Double-check the email and permissions.

Problem: 429 error. You’ve exceeded the quota. Wait until the next day or request a quota increase. Note that the quota resets at midnight Pacific Time.

Problem: 400 error. Malformed JSON or invalid URL. Ensure the URL is absolute and includes https://.

Problem: API not enabled. You’ll get an error saying the API is disabled. Enable it in Cloud Console.

Alternatives to the Indexing API

If you don’t have access or hit quota, you can:

• Use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to manually request indexing for single pages.
• Submit a sitemap—Google will crawl it eventually, though not instantly.
• Use Google Search Console’s “Request Indexingâ€� feature (limited to a few per day per user).
• Ensure your site has good internal linking and is discoverable—crawlers find pages naturally.

Quota Increase and Best Practices

To request a higher quota, go to Cloud Console → Indexing API → Quotas, and click “Request increase.â€� You’ll need to justify why you need more. Google typically approves if you have a legitimate need (e.g., a job board with thousands of listings).

Best practices:

• Only send URLs that are actually new or updated—don’t spam.
• Use URL_UPDATED for new/changed pages, URL_DELETED for removed pages.
• Batch requests? The API doesn’t support batch—each URL is one request.
• Monitor your quota usage in Cloud Console.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the 200 daily quota apply to all Google projects?
A: Yes, the default is 200 requests per day per project. You can request an increase, but it’s not automatic.

Q: Can I use the Indexing API for any page, or only job postings and livestreams?
A: Google’s documentation says it’s intended for those two types, but in practice, many use it for other pages. However, Google may ignore or penalize if you misuse it.

Q: How long does it take for a page to appear in search after a 200 response?
A: It varies. Some pages appear within hours, others take days or weeks. The API doesn’t guarantee speed.

Q: What’s the difference between a 200 and a 204 response?
A: A 204 means “No Content� and is also a success. The Indexing API typically returns 200 with an empty body, but 204 is possible in some cases. Both mean success.

Q: Can I send the same URL multiple times?
A: Yes, but it counts against your quota each time. There’s no benefit to sending duplicates.

Q: What happens if I exceed the quota?
A: You’ll get a 429 error, and your request won’t be processed. You must wait until the quota resets (midnight Pacific Time).

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