Indexing Errors Search Console: Fix Guide

Indexing errors in Google Search Console are issues that prevent Google from adding your pages to its index, meaning they won’t appear in search results. You can find them under the “Pages” report in the “Indexing” section of Search Console. This article explains what each error means, how to fix the most common ones, and how to prevent them from recurring.

What Are Indexing Errors?

Indexing errors are reported when Googlebot tries to crawl and index a URL but fails. The “Pages” report in Search Console groups these by reason, such as “Crawled – currently not indexed” or “Discovered – currently not indexed.” Each error type has a different cause and fix, so it’s important to read the specific message. The report shows the number of affected URLs, and you can click each row to see a list of example URLs.

These errors are different from crawl errors (like 404s), which are about finding the page. Indexing errors are about whether Google decides to include the page in its index after crawling it.

Common Indexing Error Types

Google Search Console categorizes indexing issues into several common types. Here are the most frequently seen:

• Crawled – currently not indexed: Googlebot crawled the page but chose not to index it. This often happens with low-quality, duplicate, or thin content, or when the page is blocked by noindex tags.
• Discovered – currently not indexed: Google found the URL but hasn’t crawled it yet. This can happen with new pages, or when the site has a crawl budget issue.
• Page with redirect: The URL redirects to another page. Google may index the target instead, but if the redirect is broken or a chain, it can cause issues.
• Soft 404: The page returns a 200 OK status but shows a “not found” message, confusing Google.
• Blocked by robots.txt: The page is disallowed by the robots.txt file, so Googlebot can’t crawl it.
• Not found (404): The page returns a 404 status, which is a crawl error, not an indexing error per se, but it can affect indexing.

How to Check Indexing Errors in Search Console

To view indexing errors, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Search Console and select your property.
2. Click “Indexing” in the left sidebar, then “Pages.”
3. The report shows a graph of indexed vs. not-indexed pages. Click “Why pages aren’t indexed” to see the list of error types.
4. Click any error type to see the affected URLs. Use the “Inspect” tool on a specific URL to get detailed crawl and indexing info.

Note that the report only shows a sample of URLs, not all of them. Use the “Export” button to get a full list of affected URLs for analysis.

How to Fix Common Indexing Errors

Fixes vary by error type, but here are the most common solutions:

• Crawled – currently not indexed: Improve the page’s content quality, ensure it’s unique and valuable, and check that it’s not blocked by noindex tags or canonical tags pointing elsewhere. If the page is thin, consider merging it with another page or adding more content.
• Discovered – currently not indexed: This is often a crawl budget issue. Improve internal linking to the page, submit it in a sitemap, and ensure the site isn’t overloaded with low-priority pages. Sometimes you just need to wait.
• Page with redirect: If the redirect is intentional (e.g., a page moved), make sure it’s a 301 redirect and not a chain. If it’s a soft redirect, fix it to return a proper status code.
• Soft 404: Fix the page to return a proper 404 status if it doesn’t exist, or make the content match the 200 status.
• Blocked by robots.txt: Remove the disallow rule for the page, or if the page should be blocked, that’s fine – it won’t be indexed.

After fixing, use the “Validate Fix” button in Search Console to request a re-crawl. This tells Google to check the fix and update the report.

Why Google Doesn’t Index Some Pages

Even without errors, Google may choose not to index a page. Common reasons include:

• Duplicate content: If the page is nearly identical to another, Google may index only one version.
• Low-quality content: Thin, auto-generated, or spammy content is often skipped.
• Noindex tag: The page has a <meta name="robots" content="noindex"> tag or a X-Robots-Tag header.
• Canonical tag: The page points to another URL as the canonical, so Google indexes that one instead.
• Isolated pages: Pages with no internal links are hard to discover and may be ignored.

If you want a page indexed, ensure it’s high-quality, unique, and linked from other pages. Use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing for specific URLs.

Indexing Errors vs. Coverage Report

In the old Search Console, indexing issues were in the “Coverage” report. The new “Pages” report is similar but has a different name. The “Pages” report shows the index status of all pages, including valid pages, errors, and exclusions. The “Indexing” section also includes the “Sitemaps” report, which shows sitemap submission status. It’s important to understand that the “Pages” report is not real-time; it updates periodically, so don’t expect immediate changes after a fix.

Preventing Indexing Errors

To reduce indexing errors, follow these best practices:

• Submit a clean, up-to-date sitemap that only includes pages you want indexed.
• Use robots.txt to block only what you don’t want crawled, and avoid blocking CSS/JS files.
• Use canonical tags correctly to avoid duplicate content issues.
• Ensure all internal links point to the correct URLs (no broken links).
• Monitor your site regularly for 404s and fix them with redirects or by restoring the page.
• Maintain a logical site structure with clear hierarchy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my page “Crawled – currently not indexed”?

This means Google crawled the page but decided not to include it in the index. Common reasons include thin content, duplicate content, or a noindex tag. Check the page’s content quality and ensure it provides unique value. If it’s a product page with little text, try adding more descriptions or reviews.

How long does it take for Google to index a page after fixing an error?

It varies. After you validate a fix, Google will re-crawl the page, but it can take days to weeks. You can also use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing, but that doesn’t guarantee immediate indexing. Patience is key.

What is the difference between “Discovered – currently not indexed” and “Crawled – currently not indexed”?

“Discovered” means Google knows the URL exists (from a sitemap or link) but hasn’t crawled it yet. “Crawled” means Googlebot has fetched the page but chose not to index it. The fix differs: for “Discovered,” improve crawlability; for “Crawled,” improve content quality.

Should I use the “Validate Fix” button for every error?

Yes, after you make a change to fix an error, click “Validate Fix” on the specific error type. This tells Google to re-check the affected URLs. It’s a good practice to do this for each error type you’ve addressed.

Can indexing errors hurt my rankings?

Yes, if important pages aren’t indexed, they can’t rank. But minor errors on low-value pages won’t affect your overall site. Focus on fixing errors on pages that matter for your traffic and conversions.

What if the error says “Blocked by robots.txt” but I want the page indexed?

Remove the disallow rule for that page in your robots.txt file, then validate the fix. Make sure you don’t have a wildcard rule like Disallow: / that blocks everything. After removing, request indexing via URL Inspection.

Related

• Deadlock vs TF2: Team Play Differences
• Recover PPT from D Drive: Full Guide
• AWS Serverless Patterns: Fit & Traps