If you are managing an online presence, you can understand the importance of being indexed by search engines like Google. Indexing is the process by which search engines crawl and add your web pages to their database, making them eligible to appear in search results. sometimes you may come across an issue in Google Search Console where it states that your web pages have been “discovered” but are “currently not indexed“. This can be a cause for concern as it means that Google has found your pages but has chosen not to include them in its search results.
To understand why this issue occurs, it is important to know how Google’s indexing process works. When Google’s bots crawl the web, they discover new pages and add them to their index. Not all discovered pages are immediately indexed. Google uses various algorithms and criteria to determine which pages are worthy of being included in its index.
There are several reasons why your web pages might be marked as “discovered – currently not indexed” in Google Search Console
- Low Quality or Duplicate Content: Google prioritizes high-quality and unique content. If your web pages have low-quality content, such as thin or duplicate content, Google may choose not to index them.
- Technical Errors: Technical issues on your website, such as server errors, incorrect canonical tags, or faulty redirects, can prevent Google from properly indexing your pages.
- Noindex Tags: It is possible that you have inadvertently added a “noindex” tag to your web pages. This tag tells search engines not to index the page, causing it to be excluded from search results.
- Recent Changes: If you have made recent changes to your website, it may take some time for Google to re-crawl and re-index your pages. During this transition period, your pages may appear as “discovered – currently not indexed”.
Step-by-step guide to Fix “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed
Let’s dive into a step-by-step guide on how to resolve this problem and get your web pages indexed by Google. Follow these steps to ensure that your website gets the visibility it deserves:
Step 1: Identify the affected pages
Start by identifying the specific web pages that are not indexed by Google. You can do this by accessing your Google Search Console account and navigating to the Index Coverage report. Look for the pages that are marked as “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed” and make a list of these pages for further action.
Step 2: Check for indexing issues
Once you have identified the affected pages, it’s crucial to investigate the possible reasons behind the indexing issues. Common reasons for pages not being indexed include technical errors, crawlability issues, or manual actions taken by Google. Use the various tools in Google Search Console to analyze these pages and gather insights into why they are not being indexed.
Step 3: Fix technical errors
If you discover any technical errors on the affected pages, such as broken links, duplicate content, or server errors, you need to fix them immediately. These technical issues can prevent Google from properly crawling and indexing your web pages. Take the necessary steps to resolve these errors, ensuring that the affected pages are accessible and error-free.
Step 4: Improve crawlability
In some cases, the reason behind “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed” can be related to crawlability issues. Make sure that your website’s robots.txt file is not blocking search engine crawlers from accessing important pages. Additionally, check for any sitemap errors and ensure that your XML sitemap is up to date and properly submitted to Google Search Console.
Step 5: Request indexing
Once you have fixed any technical errors and improved crawlability, it’s time to request indexing for the affected pages. Within Google Search Console, navigate to the URL Inspection tool and enter the URL of each page that needs to be indexed. The tool will provide information about the page’s current indexing status. If the page is still not indexed, you can request indexing directly through the tool.
Step 6: Monitor and analyze
After requesting indexing, it’s essential to monitor the progress and track the changes in the indexing status of the affected pages. Use the Index Coverage report in Google Search Console to regularly check the status of these pages. If any issues persist, investigate further and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to address them.
Double-checking your fixes
Here are some important factors to consider during this double-checking process:
-
Revisit the affected pages
Go back to the web pages that were previously marked as “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed” and validate if they have been indexed by Google. Conduct a search on Google using the site: operator followed by the URL of each page.
-
Check the Index Coverage report
Refer to the Index Coverage report in Google Search Console and review the current indexing status of the previously affected pages. Ensure that they are now marked as “Indexed” or “Crawled – currently not indexed”. If they are still labeled as “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed“, further investigation may be required to identify any lingering issues.
-
Monitor organic search traffic
Keep a close eye on your website’s organic search traffic to see if there is an improvement after implementing the fixes. An increase in organic traffic to the previously affected pages indicates that they are now being indexed and appearing in search results.
-
Conduct manual searches
Perform manual searches using relevant keywords or phrases to verify if the fixed pages are ranking and appearing in search results. Check the position and visibility of these pages compared to your competitors. This will help you ascertain if the fixes have been effective in improving the visibility of your content.
-
Regularly review crawl errors
Continue to monitor your website’s crawl errors in Google Search Console. If any new crawl errors related to indexing arise, promptly address them to prevent further indexing issues.
Wrapping-UP
Fixing the “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed” issue on your website is crucial for improving your visibility and organic traffic. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you can identify and resolve the underlying issues causing this problem, such as technical errors, incorrect indexing settings, or low-quality content. By prioritizing your website’s indexing status and implementing the necessary fixes, you can maximize your online presence, increase visibility, and ultimately improve your website’s organic search rankings.
