How to Fix the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” Issue in GSC – 6 Easy Steps!

Dealing with indexing issues in Google Search Console (GSC) can be a frustrating experience for website owners and SEO professionals. One common issue that arises is the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status. This status indicates that Google has crawled your page but has not yet indexed it, which means the page won't appear in search results. Understanding why this happens and how to address it is crucial for ensuring that your content gets the visibility it deserves. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through six easy steps to fix the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” issue in GSC and improve your site’s indexing performance.

Check for Noindex Tags

The first step in resolving the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” issue is to ensure that your page is not inadvertently marked with a noindex tag. A noindex tag tells search engines not to index a particular page, which can result in the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status. To check for this:

1. Inspect the Page Source: Open the affected page in your browser and view the page source (usually accessible by right-clicking the page and selecting "View Page Source"). Look for the meta tag <meta name="robots" content="noindex"> or similar variants.

2. Check the HTTP Headers: Use online tools like HTTP Header Checker to see if the page’s HTTP headers include a X-Robots-Tag set to noindex.

3. Review Robots.txt File: Ensure that your robots.txt file is not disallowing search engines from crawling the page. This file can be accessed by adding /robots.txt to your domain name (e.g., https://www.example.com/robots.txt).

If you find that the page is marked with a noindex tag, remove or adjust the tag to allow indexing and then request reindexing in GSC.

Ensure the Page is Not Blocked by Robots.txt

Sometimes, the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” issue arises because your robots.txt file is blocking Googlebot from accessing the page. To resolve this:

1. Access Your Robots.txt File: Open your robots.txt file to check if there are any disallow rules affecting the URL in question. You can usually find this file at https://www.yourdomain.com/robots.txt.

2. Check for Blocking Directives: Look for any lines that start with Disallow: followed by the path of the page you are concerned about. For example, Disallow: /private-page/ would block all pages under the /private-page/ directory.

3. Update the Robots.txt File: If you find that your robots.txt file is blocking the page, modify it to allow crawling. For instance, you might need to remove or adjust the disallow directive.

4. Verify Changes: Use the GSC Robots.txt Tester tool to check if the changes you made to your robots.txt file are correctly applied.

Review the Canonical Tags

Canonical tags help prevent duplicate content issues by telling search engines which version of a page should be indexed. If your page is marked with a canonical tag pointing to another page, it may not be indexed. To review and correct canonical tags:

1. Inspect Canonical Tags: Check the source code of your page for the canonical tag, which looks like <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/original-page/">. Ensure that it points to the correct URL.

2. Ensure Correct Canonicalization: Make sure that the canonical URL is accurate and points to a page that should be indexed. If the canonical URL is incorrect, update it to reflect the correct page.

3. Use GSC to Validate: After making changes, use the URL Inspection tool in GSC to check how Googlebot sees the canonical tag.

Verify Page Quality and Content

Google may choose not to index pages that it deems to have low quality or thin content. To address this:

1. Evaluate Content Quality: Ensure that the content on the page is valuable, unique, and relevant to your target audience. Pages with minimal or duplicate content are less likely to be indexed.

2. Check for Duplicate Content: Use tools like Copyscape or Siteliner to identify if your page content is duplicated elsewhere on your site or on other websites. Duplicate content can negatively impact indexing.

3. Improve Content: Enhance the quality of the content on the page by adding more detailed information, images, videos, or other relevant elements.

Analyze and Fix Crawl Errors

Crawl errors can prevent Googlebot from accessing and indexing your pages. To resolve crawl errors:

1. Access Crawl Errors Report: In Google Search Console, go to the "Coverage" report to see if there are any crawl errors affecting the page. Look for errors such as 404 Not Found, 500 Internal Server Error, or others.

2. Fix Errors: Address any crawl errors reported. For instance, if a page returns a 404 error, ensure that the page exists and is accessible. If there are server errors, check with your hosting provider to resolve them.

3. Request Reindexing: After fixing any crawl errors, use the URL Inspection tool in GSC to request reindexing of the affected page.

Request Indexing in Google Search Console

After addressing the potential issues, you can request Google to re-crawl and index your page. To do this:

1. Use URL Inspection Tool: In GSC, go to the "URL Inspection" tool and enter the URL of the page that is showing the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status.

2. Check Page Status: Click on "Enter" to see the current status of the page. If the page is not indexed, click on "Request Indexing" to ask Google to re-crawl and index the page.

3. Monitor Indexing Status: After requesting indexing, monitor the page’s status in the "Coverage" report to check if it has been successfully indexed.

Additional Tips for Maintaining Indexing Health

• Regularly Monitor GSC: Keep an eye on the Google Search Console for any issues or changes in indexing status. Regular monitoring helps you address problems promptly.

• Optimize Site Speed: Ensure that your website loads quickly. Page speed can impact indexing and user experience. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze and improve site performance.

• Build Internal Links: Enhance the crawlability of your site by creating internal links that help search engines discover and index your pages more effectively.

• Stay Updated: Stay informed about Google’s algorithm updates and best practices for SEO and indexing. This helps you adapt your strategy and address any changes in indexing behavior.

Fixing the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” issue in Google Search Console requires a systematic approach to identify and resolve potential problems. By checking for noindex tags, verifying robots.txt files, reviewing canonical tags, improving content quality, fixing crawl errors, and requesting reindexing, you can ensure that your pages are indexed and appear in search results. Regular monitoring and proactive management of your site’s indexing health will help maintain visibility and drive organic traffic. Follow these six easy steps to address indexing issues and optimize your content marketing strategy for better results.

FAQs: How to Fix the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” Issue in GSC

1. What does “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” mean in Google Search Console (GSC)?

   The “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status in GSC indicates that Google has successfully crawled your page but has not yet added it to its index. This means that the page is not currently available in search results.

2. Why might my page be marked as “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed”?

   There are several reasons your page might be marked with this status, including:

   • The page has a noindex meta tag or directive.
   • The page is blocked by the robots.txt file.
   • There are issues with the canonical tags.
   • The page contains low-quality or duplicate content.
   • There are crawl errors affecting the page.

3. How can I check if a page has a noindex tag?

   To check for a noindex tag, view the page source in your browser and look for the meta tag <meta name="robots" content="noindex">. Additionally, check the HTTP headers for a X-Robots-Tag set to noindex.

4. How do I modify my robots.txt file to allow indexing?

   Open your robots.txt file and ensure that there are no disallow rules affecting the URL of the page in question. Update or remove any disallow directives that block the page from being crawled.

5. What should I do if my canonical tags are incorrect?

   Inspect your page's canonical tags to ensure they point to the correct URL. If the canonical tag is incorrect, update it to reflect the URL you want indexed. Use the URL Inspection tool in GSC to verify the changes.

6. How can I improve the quality of my content if it’s not being indexed?

   Enhance your content by ensuring it is valuable, unique, and relevant. Address any duplicate content issues and provide detailed, well-researched information. High-quality content is more likely to be indexed by Google.

7. How do I fix crawl errors that might be affecting indexing?

   Access the "Coverage" report in GSC to identify any crawl errors. Fix errors such as 404 Not Found or 500 Internal Server Error by ensuring that the page exists and is accessible. After fixing errors, request reindexing in GSC.

8. What is the process for requesting reindexing of a page in GSC?

   Use the URL Inspection tool in GSC, enter the URL of the affected page, and click "Request Indexing." This prompts Google to re-crawl and potentially index the page.

9. How can I monitor if my page has been successfully indexed after requesting reindexing?

   After requesting reindexing, monitor the page’s status in the "Coverage" report within GSC. It will update to show if the page has been indexed.

10. What additional steps can I take to maintain good indexing health for my site?

    • Regularly monitor GSC for any issues.
    • Optimize your site’s speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.
    • Build internal links to improve crawlability.
    • Stay updated on SEO best practices and algorithm changes.

11. How can I find and fix issues with my robots.txt file?

    Review your robots.txt file to check for any directives that may block search engines from crawling your pages. Use the Robots.txt Tester in GSC to validate your file and make necessary adjustments.

12. What tools can I use to check for duplicate content?

    Use tools like Copyscape, Siteliner, or Grammarly’s plagiarism checker to identify and address duplicate content issues.

13. Why is content quality important for indexing?

    Google prioritizes high-quality, unique content that provides value to users. Pages with thin or duplicate content are less likely to be indexed, as they do not meet Google's quality standards.

14. How often should I update my content to maintain indexing?

    Regularly update your content to keep it relevant and valuable. Google favors fresh content, so periodic updates can help maintain or improve indexing status.

15. What are common crawl errors that could prevent indexing?

    Common crawl errors include 404 Not Found, 500 Internal Server Error, and server timeout errors. These errors can prevent Google from accessing and indexing your pages.

By addressing these frequently asked questions, you can effectively troubleshoot and resolve the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” issue, ensuring that your content is properly indexed and visible in search results.

Get in Touch

Website – www.webinfomatrix.com
Mobile - +91 9212306116
Whatsapp – https://call.whatsapp.com/voice/9rqVJyqSNMhpdFkKPZGYKj
Skype – shalabh.mishra
Telegram – shalabhmishra
Email - info@webinfomatrix.com