How to Fix “Crawled- Currently Not Indexed” Error in GSC

Google Search Console often provides webmasters with valuable insights into their site’s indexing status. One such notification is the “crawled – currently not indexed” status.

This status indicates that Google has successfully crawled the page but has chosen not to index it in the search results. This can happen for various reasons, including low quality or duplicate content, an excessive number of similar pages, or issues with the site’s structure or technical setup.

In this blog you will learn about, what is “Crawled- Currently Not Indexed” Status, how to discover – currently not indexed and how to fix crawled but not indexed status.

Understanding the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” Status

What Does Crawl Mean?

To define crawl, it refers to the process by which search engines, like Google, use automated bots known as “crawlers” or “spiders” to visit and analyze the content on web pages.

When Google crawls a site, the bot reads through the content, follows links, and collects data about the page’s structure and metadata. This information is then used to determine how relevant and useful the page might be for specific search queries.

In the context of search engine optimization (SEO), to “crawl” means for a search engine’s crawler or spider to systematically browse the internet, discovering new pages and collecting information about each page’s content, structure, and other pertinent details. Googlebot means an automated bot used by Google to crawl web pages.

What Does Crawled – Currently Not Indexed Mean?

When you encounter the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status in tools like Google Search Console, it means that while Google’s crawler has successfully visited and analyzed your page, it has decided not to include the page in its search index. Consequently, this page will not appear in Google’s search results. This status can arise due to several factors including but not limited to low-quality content, duplicate content, technical issues with site structure, or an excessive number of similar pages.

Why Would a Page Be Crawled but Not Indexed?

Several reasons might cause a page to be crawled but not indexed :

• Content Quality: Pages with low-quality or thin content may be skipped over.
• Duplicate Content: If your page content mirrors other pages on your site or elsewhere on the web, it might not be indexed.
• Technical Issues: Crawl errors or issues with site structure can prevent indexing.
• Noindex Tags: Pages marked with noindex tags won’t be indexed.

How Does This Affect SEO and Website Performance?

SEO and website performance can significantly suffer from these indexing issues. Without being indexed, these pages won’t appear in search results, leading to missed opportunities for organic traffic. Regularly monitoring your index status in Google Search Console helps maintain your site’s health and ensures that your content reaches its intended audience.

Using Google Search Console to Identify Affected URLs

Identifying URLs with the “crawled – currently not indexed” status in Google Search Console is essential for maintaining your site’s SEO health. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this process:

Accessing Google Search Console and Navigating Indexing Reports

• Sign in to Google Search Console: Visit Google Search Console and log in with your credentials.
• Select Your Property: Choose the website property you want to analyze from the list of properties associated with your account.
• Go to the Coverage Report: In the left-hand menu, click on Coverage under the Index section. This report provides insights into how well Google is indexing your pages.

Identifying “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” URLs

• Filter by Status: In the Coverage report, you’ll see a summary of various statuses such as Error, Valid with warnings, Valid, and Excluded. Click on the Excluded tab to filter out non-indexed pages.
• Look for Specific Status: Within the Excluded tab, locate the “Crawled – currently not indexed” status. Click on it to view a detailed list of affected URLs.
• Analyze Affected URLs: Review the list to identify which pages are impacted. Each URL will have an explanation of why it hasn’t been indexed.

Importance of Regularly Monitoring Index Status

• SEO Health Checks: Regularly monitoring your site’s index status helps you quickly identify and rectify any indexing issues that may affect your search engine rankings.
• Performance Tracking: Consistently checking these reports ensures that new content is being indexed promptly, maintaining optimal site performance.
• Proactive Problem Solving: Early detection of indexing issues allows for timely troubleshooting, preventing long-term impacts on SEO.

By consistently using Google Search Console’s tools and reports, you can stay ahead of indexing problems and ensure your site remains visible in search results.

“Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” Fixing

Inspecting and Testing Live URLs in WordPress

Identifying why a page is marked as “crawled – currently not indexed” in Google Search Console (GSC) is crucial for maintaining your WordPress site’s SEO health. Here’s how you can inspect and test live URLs to diagnose indexing issues effectively.

How to Inspect Affected URLs within Google Search Console as a WordPress User

• Access Google Search Console: Start by logging into your Google Search Console account.
• Navigate to the Index Coverage Report: In the left-hand sidebar, click on “Index” and then select “Coverage”. This report shows the status of your website’s pages.
• Filter for “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed”: Use the filter options to locate URLs with the status “crawled – currently not indexed”. Click on this status to see the list of affected URLs.
• Inspect Specific URLs: Click on any URL from the list to open its detailed inspection report.

Importance of Testing Live URLs to Diagnose Indexing Issues:

• Test Live URL Feature: Within GSC, use the “Test Live URL” button after inspecting a specific URL. This feature helps determine if there are real-time issues preventing Google from indexing your page.
• Identify Immediate Issues: The live test can reveal problems like server errors, blocked resources, or noindex tags that might be hindering indexing.
• Fetch as Googlebot: By simulating how Googlebot crawls your site, you can see exactly what search engines encounter when they access your page.
• Key Points When Testing Live URLs:
• Check for Robots.txt Restrictions: Ensure that your robots.txt file isn’t blocking important sections of your website.
• Verify Noindex Tags: Sometimes, pages may have been accidentally tagged with noindex, instructing search engines not to index them. Removing these tags can resolve the issue.
• Review Page Content and Structure: Ensure that the content is unique, high-quality, and free from duplicate content issues which can also prevent indexing.

By systematically inspecting and testing live URLs within GSC, WordPress users can uncover the root causes behind indexing issues. Regular checks and updates ensure that pages move from a “crawled – currently not indexed” status to being fully indexed, enhancing overall site visibility and performance in search results.

Requesting Indexing for Affected Pages in WordPress

Fixing the “crawled – currently not indexed” status to index your site on Google often requires requesting Google to crawl and re-index your pages. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this via Google Search Console:

• Access Google Search Console: Log into your account and select your website property.
• Navigate to URL Inspection Tool: In the left-hand menu, click on “URL Inspection”.
• Enter the Affected URL: Type or paste the URL of the page you want Google to index and press Enter.
• Check URL Status: Google will show the current indexing status of the URL. If it shows “Crawled – currently not indexed”, proceed to request indexing.
• Request Indexing: Click on the “Request Indexing” button. This will prompt Google to re-crawl and attempt to index the page.

To ensure successful indexing requests:

• Optimize Content: Ensure that your content is high-quality, relevant, and adheres to SEO best practices.
• Check Technical Issues: Resolve any errors such as broken links or slow loading times that might prevent indexing.

Regularly requesting indexing for new or updated content helps maintain healthy site visibility in search results.

Best Practices for Ensuring Proper Indexing on WordPress Sites

Optimizing your WordPress site using SEO best practices is crucial for avoiding crawling and indexing issues. Here are some strategies to help ensure your content gets indexed efficiently:

1. Regularly Update Content

Fresh, relevant content signals to search engines that your site is active. Aim to update existing posts with new information and add new content consistently.

2. Optimize Site Structure

A clean, logical structure makes it easier for Googlebot to crawl and index your pages. Ensure that:

• Your URL hierarchy is simple and descriptive.
• Internal links connect related content seamlessly.
• Categories and tags are used appropriately.

3. Ensure Mobile-Friendliness

With mobile-first indexing, having a mobile-responsive design is essential. Use responsive themes and plugins to enhance user experience across devices.

4. Improve Page Load Speed

Faster websites rank better. Optimize images, leverage browser caching, and use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to reduce load times.

5. Use XML Sitemaps

Take help from tools that can generate sitemaps that help search engines understand the structure of your site. Submit these sitemaps through Google Search Console to aid in efficient crawling.

6. Monitor and Fix Errors

Regularly check Google Search Console for any crawl errors or issues. Addressing these promptly helps maintain your site’s health.

Implementing these WordPress SEO strategies can significantly improve how well your site performs in search engine rankings, ensuring that your pages are more likely to be crawled and indexed effectively by Google.

Common Reasons for Indexing Issues in WordPress Sites and How to Troubleshoot Them

Site indexing problems can arise from a variety of issues, which leads to Google crawled but not indexed issue. Understanding these common pitfalls is crucial for maintaining optimal SEO performance.

Common Pitfalls Leading to Indexing Issues

• Poor Site Architecture: A disorganized site structure can hinder Google’s ability to efficiently crawl your site. Pages buried deep within the navigation or lacking internal links may not be promptly indexed.
• Misconfigured Settings: Incorrect settings in WordPress, such as blocking search engines from indexing the site through robots.txt or implementing noindex tags improperly, can result in Google indexing issues.
• Thin Content: Pages with insufficient content or duplicate content might be deemed low-quality by Google, thus not prioritized for indexing.
• Slow Loading Times: Pages that load slowly due to unoptimized images, excessive scripts, or poor server performance may face challenges during the crawling and indexing process.
• Broken Links and Errors: Broken links and 404 errors create barriers for Googlebot, disrupting the crawl path and potentially leaving important pages undiscovered.

Strategies for Troubleshooting and Resolving Indexing Issues

Audit Your Site Architecture

• Ensure a logical structure with clear hierarchies.
• Utilize internal linking to connect isolated pages.

Check WordPress Settings

• Verify that your robots.txt file is not inadvertently blocking important pages.
• Review noindex tags and ensure they are applied correctly.

Enhance Content Quality

• Focus on creating comprehensive, original content that provides value to users.
• Avoid duplicate content by using canonical tags where necessary.

Optimize Page Speed

• Compress images and leverage browser caching.
• Minimize JavaScript and CSS files to enhance loading times.

Fix Broken Links

• Use tools like Google Search Console to identify broken links.
• Correct 404 errors by redirecting or updating links.

Addressing these common issues can significantly improve chances of getting your website indexed by Google.

Conclusion

Using tools like Google Search Console is crucial for ongoing SEO success and fixing the “crawled – currently not indexed” problem by getting Google to crawl your website. Regularly checking your website’s index status with Google Search Console helps you find issues early.

By being proactive with these tools and following best practices for WordPress SEO, you can effectively fix “crawled currently not indexed” errors and improve your site’s visibility on Google. Regular updates and monitoring are essential for sustaining long-term SEO performance.