Crawling is the scanning or crawling of a website’s pages by Google’s bots or spiders, and indexing is the addition of those crawled pages to Google’s search index. When a page is crawled but currently not indexed, it means that Google has collected information about that page, but has not listed it in the search engine, it hinders the SEO performance of the website, so when someone searches, the page does not show up in the search results. . If you want to increase your website’s search visibility and SEO ranking, it’s important to understand why your pages are being crawled but not indexed.
In this blog post, we will explain the “crawled currently not indexed” issue and also discuss the possible reasons behind it. And also show you how to solve this problem.
Reasons Behind “Crawled Currently Not Indexed” Issue
Several factors can cause your website to be crawled but not indexed. Let’s take a look at some of the common reasons:
1. Low-Quality Content
Google prefers high-quality, valuable content. If your pages contain thin or duplicated content, Google may crawl them but choose not to index them, as they do not meet the quality standards required for search results.
How to Fix:
To resolve this, ensure that your content is original, well-researched, and provides value to your audience. Avoid keyword stuffing and repetitive information. Focus on creating comprehensive, unique content that addresses the user’s query effectively.
2. Duplicate Content Issues
Duplicate content refers to similar or identical content present on multiple URLs. Google avoids indexing pages that have the same content, as it can confuse users and offer a poor search experience.
How to Fix:
- Use canonical tags to tell Google which version of the page you want to be indexed.
- Make sure you remove any duplicate content on your website by merging similar articles or adding redirects.
3. Noindex Tag
A common technical reason why pages are crawled but not indexed is the use of the “noindex” tag. If this tag is present in your page’s HTML code, it explicitly instructs Google not to index the page.
How to Fix:
- Check your site’s code for any “noindex” tags.
- If you want your page to appear in search results, remove the “noindex” tag from the page’s HTML.
4. Crawl Budget Limitations
Google allocates a specific crawl budget to each website, which is the number of pages Google can crawl during a specific period. If your site has a large number of pages, some of them might be crawled but not indexed due to crawl budget limits.
How to Fix:
- Prioritize your website’s important pages for indexing by creating an XML sitemap.
- Ensure that your internal linking structure is strong, so Google can easily navigate and index high-priority pages.
- Avoid having too many low-quality or unnecessary pages that waste crawl budget.
5. Slow Page Loading Speed
Google values fast-loading pages, as they provide a better user experience. Pages that take too long to load may be crawled but not indexed if Google decides that they offer a poor user experience.
How to Fix:
- Optimize your website’s loading speed by compressing images, using a content delivery network (CDN), and minimizing JavaScript and CSS.
- Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix speed-related issues on your pages.
6. Pages Blocked by Robots.txt
The robots.txt file controls which pages Googlebot is allowed to crawl. If a page is blocked in this file, Google might crawl it but won’t index it.
How to Fix:
- Review your robots.txt file and ensure that important pages are not being blocked.
- Remove any “disallow” directives for the pages you want to index.
7. New or Recently Updated Pages
If your website or specific pages are new, it may take some time for Google to both crawl and index them. Similarly, if you recently made updates to a page, it might get crawled again before it gets indexed.
How to Fix:
- Be patient and give Google time to index the page. You can also request indexing via Google Search Console to speed up the process.
How to Check if Your Pages Are Crawled Currently Not Indexed?
To see which of your pages have been crawled currently not indexed, follow these steps:
- Google Search Console: Log in to your Search Console account and check the “Coverage” report. Here, you’ll find details about the status of your pages, including those that are crawled but not indexed.
- Use the “site:” Search Operator: Enter “site.com” into Google’s search bar to check which pages are indexed. If some of your important pages are missing, they may have been crawled but not indexed.
How to Fix “Crawled Currently Not Indexed” Issues
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to resolve the “crawled currently not indexed” issue:
Step 1: Improve Content Quality
Ensure your content is high-quality, original, and valuable to users. Focus on providing unique insights and answers to user queries.
Step 2: Submit Pages to Google Search Console
Use Google Search Console to manually submit pages for indexing. This can speed up the process and help ensure that your key pages are indexed quickly.
Step 3: Fix Technical Issues
- Check for and remove any “no index” tags.
- Ensure that pages are not blocked in the robots.txt file.
- Use canonical tags to resolve duplicate content issues.
Step 4: Optimize Site Speed
Improve your page load times to enhance user experience and increase the likelihood of indexing. Use caching, compress images, and minimize CSS and JavaScript.
Step 5: Strengthen Internal Linking
Ensure that your internal linking structure is clear and that important pages are easily accessible. This helps Google crawl and index key pages effectively.
FAQs: Crawled- currently Not Indexed
Q1. What does it mean if a page is crawled but not indexed?
It means Google’s bots have visited the page but have not included it in the search index, so it doesn’t appear in search results.
Q2. How long does it take for a crawled page to be indexed?
It varies, but it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on various factors such as content quality, website authority, and crawl budget.
Q3. How can I check if my page is indexed?
You can use the “site:” search operator in Google or check the “Coverage” report in Google Search Console to see which pages are indexed.
Q4. What is a crawl budget?
A crawl budget is the number of pages Googlebot crawls on your site during a specific period. It is determined by your site’s size and importance.
Conclusion
The “crawled currently not indexed” problem can be frustrating, but by understanding its underlying causes and following the steps outlined in this guide, you can resolve it and improve your site’s indexing. Focus on creating high-quality content, solving technical issues, and optimizing your site’s speed and structure for better indexing results.
In this way, you will be able to increase your website’s presence in Google’s search index and improve organic traffic.
For more guidance on improving your site’s performance, check out our guide on “How to Install and Set Up Google Analytics on WordPress Guide.”
