Part of the best SEO practices is keeping your website’s pages indexed by Google being that indexing is crucial for visibility and ranking. However, one common issue many webmasters encounter is the “Crawled – Currently not indexed” error in Google Search Console (GSC) and can be thoroughly disappointing when you’re putting in your best effort In this article, we’ll explore what Google Search Console is, how indexing works, why this error occurs, and, most importantly, how to fix it.
What is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool provided by Google that helps website owners monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot their site’s presence in Google Search results. GSC provides a wealth of data on how your website is performing, including search traffic, keyword rankings, and technical issues that might be affecting your site’s visibility.
How Indexing Works in GSC
Indexing is the process by which Google adds your web pages to its search index, enabling them to appear in search results. When you publish a page on your website, Google’s bots (also known as spiders) crawl your site to discover new and updated content. After crawling, Google decides whether to index the page based on its content, relevance, and quality.
While crawling is the first step in getting your pages to show up in search results, indexing is the final and crucial step. If a page is crawled but not indexed, it means Google has discovered the page but decided not to include it in its search index. This can significantly impact your website’s SEO and traffic.
Understanding the “Crawled – Currently not indexed” Error
The “Crawled – Currently not indexed” error in GSC indicates that Google has crawled the page but decided not to index it. This error can be confusing because it suggests that Google is aware of your page but isn’t displaying it in search results.
Why Does the “Crawled – Currently not indexed” Error Occur?
Several factors can contribute to the “Crawled – Currently not indexed” error. Here are some common reasons:
1. Content Quality Issues:
Google prioritizes high-quality content. If your page lacks original or valuable content, Google may choose not to index it. Thin or duplicate content, poor grammar, and irrelevant information are all factors that can lead to this issue.
2. Technical SEO Issues:
Technical problems like slow page speed, broken links, or poor mobile usability can prevent Google from indexing your pages. If your page takes too long to load or has technical errors, Google might skip indexing it.
3. Noindex Tags:
A common issue is the accidental use of “noindex” tags in your page’s HTML code, which instructs Google not to index the page. Double-check your meta tags to ensure this isn’t the case.
4. Crawl Budget:
Google allocates a specific crawl budget to each site, determining how often and how many pages are crawled. If your site has too many low-priority pages, Google might skip indexing some of them to save crawl budget.
5. Internal Linking Issues:
Poor internal linking can lead to pages being crawled but not indexed. If your page isn’t linked from other important pages on your site, Google may not consider it important enough to index.
How to Fix the “Crawled – Currently not indexed” Error
If you’ve encountered the “Crawled – Currently not indexed” error, don’t worry—there are steps you can take to resolve it.
1. Improve Content Quality:
Ensure your content is unique, valuable, and relevant to your audience. Avoid thin content and aim to provide comprehensive, well-researched information that adds value to your readers. Regularly update your content to keep it fresh and engaging.
2. Check and Remove Noindex Tags:
Inspect your page’s HTML code for any “noindex” tags. If you find any, remove them to allow Google to index your page. Use tools like Screaming Frog to crawl your site and identify pages with “noindex” tags.
3. Optimize Technical SEO:
Improve your site’s technical health by ensuring fast load times, fixing broken links, and enhancing mobile usability. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to check your site’s performance and make necessary optimizations.
4. Enhance Internal Linking:
Strengthen your internal linking structure by linking to the affected page from other relevant and authoritative pages on your site. This signals to Google that the page is important and should be indexed.
5. Request Indexing via GSC:
After making the necessary improvements, go to GSC and use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing. This prompts Google to re-crawl and potentially index the page.
6. Monitor Crawl Budget:
If your site has a large number of pages, consider prioritizing the pages you want to be indexed. Reduce the number of low-priority pages that might be consuming your crawl budget without adding value.
Conclusion
The “Crawled – Currently not indexed” error in Google Search Console can be a roadblock to your site’s visibility in search results. However, by understanding the reasons behind the error and taking proactive steps to fix it, you can improve your chances of getting your pages indexed and ranking on Google. Regular monitoring, combined with a strong focus on content quality and technical SEO, will help ensure your site remains visible and competitive in the search landscape.
By following the steps outlined above, you can address the “Crawled – Currently not indexed” error and enhance your website’s SEO performance, ensuring that your valuable content reaches your target audience.