Google Search Console Indexing Issues: A Comprehensive Guide
Google Search Console (GSC) is an essential tool for SEOs, webmasters, and digital marketers who want to ensure their website is indexed and performing well in search results. This guide delves into the 10 most critical Google Search Console indexing issues, offering step-by-step fixes, prevention strategies, and advanced tactics. In this guide, we will:- Explain all major Google Search Console indexing issues
- Provide step-by-step diagnosis using GSC tools
- Offer actionable solutions with examples, screenshots, and code snippets
- Cover advanced SEO strategies to optimize crawling and indexing
Common Google Search Console Indexing Issues & Fixes
1. Excluded by ‘noindex’ Tag
What is it? Googlebot crawled the page but did not index it because of anoindex directive.
Impact on SEO:
- Prevents pages from appearing in search results
- Can be mistakenly applied, leading to unintentional deindexing
- Open GSC → Coverage Report → Check ‘Excluded by ‘noindex’ tag’
- Inspect the page source for:
<meta name="robots" content="noindex">
- Remove the
noindextag if indexing is needed - Ensure robots.txt is not blocking Googlebot
- Request reindexing via the URL Inspection tool
2. Soft 404
What is it? A Soft 404 occurs when a page appears broken but still returns a200 OK status instead of 404 Not Found or 410 Gone.
Impact on SEO:
- Can cause Google to remove important pages from the index
- Wastes crawl budget
- Check GSC Coverage Report → ‘Soft 404’
- Test the page status using the URL Inspection Tool
- Return a proper
404or410status if the page is gone - If the page is valid, improve content and fix errors
- Use 301 redirects if the page has moved
3. Page with Redirect
What is it? Google excluded the page because it redirects elsewhere. Impact on SEO:- Redirect loops and chains slow crawling
- May cause loss of link equity
- GSC → Coverage → ‘Page with Redirect’
- Test with redirect checker tools
- Ensure redirects are necessary and use
301for permanent moves - Fix redirect chains and loops
- Update internal links to the final destination URL
4. Blocked Due to Other 4xx Issue
What is it? Pages returning4xx errors (e.g., 403 Forbidden, 401 Unauthorized) prevent Google from accessing content.
Impact on SEO:
- Prevents indexing
- May indicate security misconfigurations
- GSC → Coverage Report
- Check server logs for restricted URLs
- Adjust server permissions to allow Googlebot access
- Remove unnecessary restrictions from robots.txt
5. Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag
What is it? Google has identified this page as an alternate version of another URL and excluded it in favor of the canonical version. Fix:- Ensure correct canonical tags:
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/canonical-url" /> - Avoid unnecessary duplicate content
6. Crawled - Currently Not Indexed
What is it? Google crawled the page but has not indexed it yet. Fix:- Improve content quality and uniqueness
- Strengthen internal linking
7. Discovered - Currently Not Indexed
What is it? Google found the page but has not crawled it yet, often due to crawl budget constraints. Fix:- Submit the page in the URL Inspection Tool
- Optimize internal linking and sitemaps
8. Not Found (404)
What is it? A404 Not Found means the page no longer exists.
Fix:
- Use 301 redirects for valuable pages
- Update internal links
9. Blocked Due to Access Forbidden (403)
What is it? Googlebot is restricted from accessing the page due to server rules. Fix:- Update permissions to allow Googlebot access
10. Duplicate, Google Chose Different Canonical than User
What is it? Google ignored your declared canonical URL and selected another. Fix:- Ensure canonical tags are correctly set
- Reduce duplicate content issues
Best Practices for Preventing Indexing Issues
Optimize XML Sitemaps
- Keep it updated and error-free
- Include only indexable pages
Use Robots.txt Wisely
- Avoid blocking important pages
- Test with the Robots.txt Tester
Improve Internal Linking
- Strengthen connections to important pages
- Avoid orphan pages
Fix Duplicate Content
- Use canonical tags appropriately
- Consolidate similar pages
Advanced Strategies for Better Indexing
Schema Markup to Improve Indexing
- Helps Google understand content better
- Use structured data testing tools
Crawl Budget Optimization
- Improve site speed
- Fix broken links
Pagination Best Practices
- Use rel=next and rel=prev tags correctly
Conclusion
Fixing indexing issues in Google Search Console is crucial for maintaining search visibility. By addressing these common problems and following best practices, you can ensure optimal indexing and improve your site’s performance. 🚀 Check your GSC now, diagnose issues, and start optimizing.Check your GSC today, apply these fixes, or reach me for any Help.