Google Search Console page indexing issues

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Topic summary

Google Search Console shows many pages not indexed across several new sites, prompting guidance on common causes and fixes.

Key issues cited:

  • Robots.txt blocks and a “crawl delay 10” setting; questions on whether filtered product URLs should be allowed.
  • ‘Noindex’ tags excluding many pages.
  • Canonical tags leading to “Alternative page with proper canonical” statuses.
  • 404 and soft 404 errors; ongoing validation failures.

Recommended actions:

  • Review robots.txt (use the tester), remove unintended blocks; consider whether filtered results should remain blocked.
  • Locate and remove unintended ‘noindex’ meta tags.
  • Fix 404s (remove in GSC or add 301 redirects) and address soft 404s (thin/empty pages).
  • Check Coverage and Manual Actions reports; submit updated sitemaps; request indexing and validate fixes.

Notes on terms:

  • Robots.txt: file controlling crawler access; crawl delay limits crawl rate.
  • Noindex: instructs search engines not to index a page.
  • Canonical tag: marks the preferred URL among duplicates; alternative pages are normal.
  • 404/soft 404: not found/low-value pages treated as errors.

Status: No final resolution; screenshots are central to understanding current errors; discussion remains open with actionable steps provided.

Summarized with AI on December 19. AI used: gpt-5.
2

Hey @barato23 ,

Great question! The issue you are facing with your Google Search Console is related to indexing. Let’s go through some steps to address this problem.

First, it’s important to understand that not all pages on your website need to be indexed. However, if you believe that a significant number of your pages should be indexed and they are not, we should investigate further. Here are some possible reasons why your pages may not be indexed:

  • Robots.txt issues: Start by checking your website’s robots.txt file. This file may contain instructions that prevent search engines from crawling and indexing certain pages. Make sure that there are no rules blocking important pages from being indexed.
  • Noindex tags: Check whether any “noindex” meta tags have been added to your pages. These tags instruct search engines not to index the page. If you find any such tags, remove them from the pages where you want indexing.
  • Crawling errors: Google may have encountered errors when crawling your pages, which can prevent indexing. In your Google Search Console, navigate to “Coverage” and check for any errors or warnings. Resolve these issues to ensure proper crawling and indexing.
  • Low-quality content: Pages with thin or duplicate content may not get indexed. Ensure that your pages have unique, valuable content. This includes clear and descriptive titles, engaging meta descriptions, and relevant keywords.
  • Manual action: In rare cases, Google can penalize a website and manually remove its pages from the index. Check the Manual Actions section in your Search Console to see if your website has any penalties. If there are any issues, follow the instructions provided to rectify the problem.
  • Recent changes: If you have recently made changes to your website, it may take some time for Google to crawl and index the updated pages. Be patient and give it some time before expecting all pages to be indexed.

Once you have addressed any issues or made necessary changes, you can help the indexing process by:

  • Submitting an updated sitemap in your Google Search Console, ensuring it includes all the pages you want to be indexed.
  • Fetching and rendering specific pages within the Search Console to request indexing.
  • Sharing your website’s URLs through social media or other platforms, encouraging search engines to crawl and index them.

Remember that indexing every single page may not be necessary or desirable. Focus on ensuring that important pages, such as your product pages and informative content, are indexed properly.

Let me know how you get on!

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