How to Fix Website Indexing Issues on Google now

How to Fix Website Indexing Issues on Google

Getting your website indexed by Google is essential for it to appear in search results, drive traffic, and increase visibility. If your website is not getting indexed, it can cause major problems, especially if you’re a beginner. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore common reasons why Google may not be indexing your website and provide clear, actionable steps to resolve each issue.

This guide is crafted to help beginners and new webmasters understand the concepts, diagnose the problems, and implement solutions themselves. I’ll include useful links, tools, and video tutorials along the way to make things easier.

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Table of Contents

1. Canonical Tags and Alternative Pages
2. Page Not Found (404 Errors)
3. Redirected Pages
4. Soft 404 Errors
5. Excluded by ‘noindex’ Tag
6. Blocked by Other 4xx Issues
7. Access Denied (403 Errors)
8. Crawled but Not Indexed
9. Improving Site Indexing for Beginners
10. FAQs on Website Indexing Issues

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1. Canonical Tags and Alternative Pages <a id=”1″></a>

Issue Explanation:
Canonical tags tell search engines that a particular page is the preferred version when multiple URLs have similar content. If a canonical tag points to another page, Google may not index your current page because it assumes the other URL is more relevant.

How to Fix:

1. Understand the Canonical Tag: Open the HTML source code of your webpage and look for this line:htmlSao chép mã<link rel="canonical" href="https://yourpreferredurl.com"> This tag should point to the main version of the page. If it points elsewhere (like to a duplicate page), Google may skip indexing your page.
2. Correct or Remove the Tag:
   • If you want your page indexed, make sure the canonical tag points to the same URL or remove it if unnecessary.
   • If you’re using WordPress, you can easily manage canonical tags using an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
3. Resubmit the Page to Google: After correcting the canonical tag, submit the page to Google for indexing through Google Search Console:
   • Open Google Search Console.
   • Navigate to URL Inspection Tool.
   • Enter your page URL.
   • If the page shows as “Not Indexed,” click Request Indexing.

Bonus Tip: Always ensure that you use canonical tags only for pages that have nearly identical content to avoid duplicate content penalties.

Video Tutorial:
How to Properly Use Canonical Tags in SEO

Affiliate Link: Get Affordable Web Hosting from Hostinger

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2. Page Not Found (404 Errors) <a id=”2″></a>

Issue Explanation:
404 errors occur when a page cannot be found. If you delete or move a page without properly redirecting it, users and search engines will encounter a 404 error. This leads to poor user experience and can impact your site’s rankings.

How to Fix:

1. Locate 404 Errors:
   • Use Google Search Console to find pages returning a 404 error.
   • Navigate to Coverage > Errors > Not Found (404).
2. Check for Broken Links:
   • Tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider or Broken Link Checker can help identify links that point to non-existent pages on your site.
3. Fix the Errors:
   • Option 1: Redirect the Page. Use a 301 redirect to point the broken URL to a relevant page (e.g., the new URL or homepage). This can be done by editing your .htaccess file or using a WordPress plugin like Redirection.
   • Option 2: Restore the Page. If the page was accidentally deleted, recreate it and add valuable content.
4. Test the Redirects:
   • Once the redirection is set up, you can use a Redirect Checker tool to verify that the URL is properly redirecting.

Video Tutorial:
Fixing 404 Errors on Your Website

Affiliate Link: Register Your Domain with Hostinger

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3. Redirected Pages <a id=”3″></a>

Issue Explanation:
Redirected pages can cause indexing problems if the redirects are not set up properly. Google may skip indexing pages that are part of a long redirect chain, or if there is a 302 (temporary) redirect in place.

How to Fix:

1. Check for Redirect Chains:
   • Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to scan your site for any unnecessary redirect chains or loops.
2. Implement Proper Redirects:
   • 301 Redirect: This is a permanent redirect and is the best practice when moving a page permanently. Make sure it points directly to the final page, avoiding intermediate steps.
   • 302 Redirect: If the redirect is temporary, ensure the 302 code is correct, but avoid this for long-term redirection because it can confuse Google.
3. Update Internal Links:
   • Once you’ve implemented the redirects, go through your site and update internal links that may still point to the old (redirected) URLs.

Bonus Tip: Avoid redirect chains longer than two steps. If necessary, consolidate them into one-step 301 redirects for better indexing.

Video Tutorial:
How to Fix Redirect Issues for SEO

Affiliate Link: Host Your Website with Hostinger

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4. Soft 404 Errors <a id=”4″></a>

Issue Explanation:
A soft 404 occurs when a page appears as a 404 error but returns a status code of 200 (success). This confuses Google because it thinks the page exists when it really doesn’t, leading to the page being excluded from indexing.

How to Fix:

1. Identify Soft 404s:
   • Use Google Search Console to locate pages flagged with soft 404 errors. Navigate to Coverage > Soft 404.
2. Return Proper HTTP Status Codes:
   • If the page no longer exists, ensure that it returns a 404 status code.
   • If the page is valid, add real content to the page so it doesn’t appear as an error.
3. Redirect or Restore Content:
   • If the content has been permanently removed, set up a 301 redirect to the most relevant page.
   • If the content is still valuable, restore the page and ensure it’s serving meaningful information to users.
4. Check and Test:
   • After fixing soft 404s, use a tool like HTTP Status Code Checker to verify that the correct status codes are being returned.

Video Tutorial:
Soft 404 Errors Explained & How to Fix Them

Affiliate Link: Affordable Hosting at Hostinger

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5. Excluded by ‘noindex’ Tag <a id=”5″></a>

Issue Explanation:
The noindex tag tells search engines not to index a specific page. While this can be intentional for certain types of pages (like thank you pages or login pages), accidental use of the tag can prevent important pages from being indexed.

How to Fix:

1. Locate Pages with ‘noindex’:
   • Use Google Search Console to identify pages that have been excluded because of the noindex tag.
   • Navigate to Coverage > Excluded > Page with noindex tag.
2. Review the HTML Code:
   • Open the source code of the affected page and look for the following:htmlSao chép mã<meta name="robots" content="noindex">
   • If the tag is present but you want the page to be indexed, remove this tag.
3. Resubmit the URL for Indexing:
   • After you remove the noindex tag, head back to Google Search Console, use the URL Inspection Tool, and click Request Indexing.
4. Check for Robots.txt File Blocking:
   • Sometimes a page can also be excluded from indexing because of the robots.txt file. Ensure your robots.txt file does not block the pages you want to be indexed.

Bonus Tip: Pages like cart, thank-you, or admin pages should remain with a noindex tag to avoid duplicate or unnecessary content being indexed.

Video Tutorial:
How to Use and Remove Noindex Tags

Affiliate Link: Boost Your SEO with Hostinger

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(And so on, expanding each section and detailing the steps clearly. Each section will follow a similar structure, but with increasing depth. For the sake of clarity, I have compressed the remaining content below.)

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6. Blocked by Other 4xx Issues <a id=”6″></a>

• Explanation: Other 4xx errors like 410 (Gone) or 403 (Forbidden) can also block indexing.
• How to Fix: Diagnose using Google Search Console, check server permissions, and resolve access issues.

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7. Access Denied (403 Errors) <a id=”7″></a>

• Explanation: The server is denying access to Googlebot.
• How to Fix: Adjust permissions, unblock Googlebot in robots.txt, and check firewall settings.

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8. Crawled but Not Indexed <a id=”8″></a>

• Explanation: Google has crawled the page but hasn’t indexed it yet.
• How to Fix: Optimize content, check mobile-friendliness, improve site speed, and resubmit for indexing.

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9. Improving Site Indexing for Beginners <a id=”9″></a>

• Bonus Tips: Regularly submit updated sitemaps, build strong internal links, and ensure high-quality, unique content.

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10. FAQs on Website Indexing Issues <a id=”10″></a>

• Common questions and troubleshooting tips for website owners dealing with indexing issues.

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By following this guide, even beginners can address the most common indexing issues, making sure their websites are ready to perform well in Google search results. Stay proactive by regularly monitoring Google Search Console, optimizing content, and ensuring that no important pages are left out of the index.

Affiliate Link: Get Web Hosting with Hostinger

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6. Blocked by Other 4xx Issues <a id=”6″></a>

Issue Explanation:
Other 4xx errors, such as 403 (Forbidden), 410 (Gone), or 401 (Unauthorized), can also block your website’s pages from being indexed by Google. These HTTP status codes typically indicate issues with permissions, access control, or intentional removal of content.

How to Fix:

1. Identify the 4xx Errors:
   • Use Google Search Console under Coverage > Errors to locate the pages returning 4xx errors other than 404.
   • Some common errors include:
     • 403 Forbidden: The server is refusing access to the requested resource.
     • 410 Gone: The page has been permanently removed and will not be available again.
     • 401 Unauthorized: Access to the resource requires user authentication.
2. Fix Specific 4xx Errors:
   • 403 Forbidden:
     • Check if the page or resource is being blocked by server permissions or firewalls.
     • Ensure the website is not blocking Googlebot. Use the robots.txt tester tool in Google Search Console to verify this.
     • If you’re using WordPress, some security plugins may be blocking Googlebot access. Ensure Google is allowed in your .htaccess file.
   • 410 Gone:
     • If the content has been permanently removed, you can leave it as a 410, but if you want the content back, you should recreate the page and submit it for indexing.
     • Tip: If the page was important, use a 301 redirect to point users to a relevant, active page.
   • 401 Unauthorized:
     • If you are securing parts of your website with login protection, make sure pages meant to be indexed are publicly accessible.
3. Update Permissions:
   • Check your server’s access control and permissions to ensure that users and Googlebot can access important resources.
   • If a page is blocked due to user authentication or firewall settings, make sure it’s properly configured to allow Googlebot and users access if appropriate.
4. Revalidate in Google Search Console:
   • Once you fix the error, return to Google Search Console and click on the specific URL or page, then select Validate Fix. This will prompt Google to re-crawl and attempt to index the page again.

Bonus Tip: Always double-check the robots.txt file and Meta robots tags to ensure that they aren’t blocking Google from indexing critical pages.

Video Tutorial:
How to Fix 403 and 401 Errors

Affiliate Link: Secure and Optimize Your Website with Hostinger

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7. Access Denied (403 Errors) <a id=”7″></a>

Issue Explanation:
A 403 Forbidden error means that the server is refusing to fulfill the request for the page. This is often caused by improper server settings, misconfigured security rules, or issues with the permissions set on your hosting environment.

How to Fix:

1. Check the File Permissions:
   • If you have access to your server (through FTP, cPanel, or SSH), verify the file permissions of the affected pages or resources. The recommended permissions for most public-facing files are 644 for files and 755 for directories.
   • You can change these permissions by using the following commands (for Linux servers):bashSao chép mãchmod 644 /path/to/your/file chmod 755 /path/to/your/directory
2. Unblock Googlebot in robots.txt:
   • Sometimes, the robots.txt file may inadvertently block important pages or Googlebot’s access to your website. Check your robots.txt file (located in the root directory of your site) and make sure that you are not blocking important sections:txtSao chép mãUser-agent: Googlebot Disallow: /private/
   • If you want the page to be indexed, remove the relevant lines that restrict access to the pages Google should be indexing.
3. Check Your Hosting Settings:
   • Some hosting providers offer security settings (such as IP blocking or firewall configurations) that might prevent Googlebot from accessing your site. Log into your hosting account and ensure that no restrictions are being placed on Googlebot.
   • If you’re using a firewall like Cloudflare, check to ensure that Googlebot is whitelisted.
4. Re-check htaccess File:
   • The .htaccess file on your website can also lead to 403 errors. Check your .htaccess file to ensure that there aren’t any rules that are preventing access to the files or directories Google needs to index.
   • If the .htaccess file is corrupted, you can restore it to default settings and reconfigure it manually to avoid these errors.
5. Test Permissions Using Browser Inspector:
   • You can check permissions using the browser’s Developer Tools:
     • Right-click on the affected page and select Inspect.
     • Go to the Network tab and reload the page. Look for any 403 errors in the list of network requests and investigate further.
6. Validate Fix in Google Search Console:
   • Once the issues are resolved, use the URL Inspection Tool to request Google to revalidate and re-crawl the page.

Video Tutorial:
How to Fix 403 Forbidden Errors on a Website

Affiliate Link: Get Web Hosting with Hostinger

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8. Crawled but Not Indexed <a id=”8″></a>

Issue Explanation:
Sometimes Google will crawl a page but decide not to index it. This is common with pages that have thin content, duplicate content, or a lack of backlinks. Even though the page is technically accessible, it’s not seen as valuable enough to be included in the search index.

How to Fix:

1. Ensure Unique and High-Quality Content:
   • If your page is “Crawled but Not Indexed,” it’s often due to a lack of unique or valuable content. Google prioritizes pages that offer valuable, original information. Make sure each page contains:
     • At least 500–1,000 words of unique content.
     • Clear and descriptive headings (H1, H2, etc.).
     • Multimedia elements like images, videos, or infographics to enhance the page.
   • Avoid duplicate content; each page should serve a specific purpose or target a unique keyword.
2. Improve Internal Linking:
   • Internal linking is crucial for showing Google which pages on your site are the most important. Review your site and ensure that key pages are linked from other high-authority pages on your site.
   • Use anchor text that’s relevant to the content of the linked page.
3. Increase External Backlinks:
   • Google may not index a page if it’s not linked to from external sources. Build backlinks from reputable websites in your niche. This will signal to Google that the page has value and should be indexed.
   • Tools like Ahrefs or Moz can help you identify which pages are lacking external links.
4. Optimize for Mobile and Speed:
   • Google’s indexing is now primarily mobile-first, meaning if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it may not be indexed. Ensure that your page loads quickly and is optimized for mobile devices.
   • Use Google PageSpeed Insights to check for any performance bottlenecks and resolve them. Aim for a score of at least 85/100 for better indexing.
5. Submit an Updated Sitemap:
   • Make sure your website has a proper XML Sitemap that is regularly updated. Include all the important pages and submit it through Google Search Console.
   • You can easily generate a sitemap using plugins like Yoast SEO (for WordPress) or XML Sitemap Generator.
6. Resubmit the URL:
   • After making the necessary improvements, go to Google Search Console and use the URL Inspection Tool. Click Request Indexing to prompt Google to revisit and re-index the page.
7. Monitor Google Search Console:
   • Keep track of pages listed under “Crawled but Not Indexed” and regularly review your content for any improvements that may be needed.

Bonus Tip: Regularly refresh your content by updating it with new information, statistics, or relevant trends. This helps Google see that the content is fresh and relevant, increasing the chances of getting indexed.

Video Tutorial:
How to Get Your Website Indexed by Google

Affiliate Link: Supercharge Your Website with Hostinger

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9. Improving Site Indexing for Beginners <a id=”9″></a>

After addressing the specific indexing issues outlined in the previous sections, it’s essential to build a strong foundation for future indexing success. This section will provide strategies and best practices to ensure your website is well-prepared for Google to crawl and index effectively.

Key Areas to Focus On:

1. XML Sitemaps:
   • Ensure you have an updated and clean XML Sitemap.
   • Submit the sitemap in Google Search Console under Sitemaps.
   • If you are adding new pages frequently, make sure they are reflected in the sitemap automatically (most CMS platforms like WordPress handle this well with plugins).
2. Use Structured Data (Schema Markup):
   • Implement Schema Markup (structured data) to help Google better understand your content. This is especially helpful for articles, reviews, products, and local businesses.
   • Tools like Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper can guide you through the process.
3. Regularly Audit Robots.txt:
   • Ensure that your robots.txt file is not blocking any pages you want Google to index.
   • Review it every few months or when you make significant changes to your website.
4. Optimize for Mobile-First Indexing:
   • Google now uses mobile-first indexing, so your mobile version should offer a flawless experience. Use responsive designs, optimize images, and ensure text is readable without zooming.
5. Increase Crawl Budget Efficiency:
   • If you have a large website, focus on increasing the efficiency of Googlebot’s crawl:
     • Remove unnecessary pages (e.g., thin content or outdated blog posts).
     • Disallow low-value pages (such as admin pages or internal search result pages) in the robots.txt file.
6. Improve Page Speed and Performance:
   • Use tools like GTMetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights to test and improve your page loading times.
   • Compress images, enable browser caching, and use CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) to improve performance.
7. Focus on User Experience (UX):
   • Google considers UX metrics like bounce rate, time on page, and page navigation. Ensure that your pages provide a smooth and engaging user experience by improving layout, content flow, and CTAs (Call-to-Actions).
8. Update and Refresh Content Regularly:
   • Google loves fresh content. Regularly updating your key pages will increase their chances of being re-crawled and indexed. Add new data, enhance readability, and improve internal linking within content.

Video Tutorial:
Best Practices for Optimizing Website for Google Indexing

Affiliate Link: Optimize Your Website with Hostinger

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10. FAQs on Website Indexing Issues <a id=”10″></a>

Q1: How often should I check Google Search Console for indexing issues?
You should check Google Search Console at least once a week to monitor any new errors, crawling issues, or indexing problems.

Q2: How long does it take for Google to index a new page?
Typically, it takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for Google to index a new page. You can speed this up by requesting indexing through Google Search Console.

Q3: Can I force Google to index my page faster?
Yes, you can use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console and click Request Indexing. Additionally, sharing your page on social media or building backlinks can help.

Q4: Should I use the “noindex” tag on any pages?
Use the “noindex” tag for pages that you don’t want in search results, such as internal admin pages, thank-you pages, or outdated content that is still live but irrelevant.

Q5: What is the impact of duplicate content on indexing?
Duplicate content can confuse Google and lead to poor indexing. Always ensure your content is unique or use canonical tags to indicate the primary version of a page.

Affiliate Link: Start Your SEO Journey with Hostinger

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By following this comprehensive guide, beginners can solve a range of website indexing issues and set up their sites for long-term SEO success. Addressing these common problems will make sure your pages appear in Google search results, drive traffic, and increase visibility over time.

If you have further questions or need additional help, feel free to reach out or consult more resources available through Hostinger, where you can also get all the hosting tools you need to optimize your website.

Affiliate Link: Get Web Hosting with Hostinger