In my years of managing SEO projects for multiple clients and my own website Growth AI PRO, I’ve learned one thing very clearly — if Google can’t index your page, it doesn’t exist.
I’ve seen sites with amazing content and great backlinks still fail to rank. Every time, the root cause was the same — indexing issues.
In this blog, I’ll share 15+ of the most common Google indexing issues I’ve faced in real projects, how I identified them, and exactly how I fixed them.
1. Pages Blocked by Robots.txt
When I first started auditing client websites, I was shocked to find entire blog sections blocked by robots.txt. One client’s blog had over 200 posts — none indexed!
I identified this in Google Search Console under “URL Inspection” where it showed “Blocked by robots.txt.”
I simply edited their robots.txt file and removed:
Disallow: /blog/
After re-submitting the sitemap in GSC, Google started indexing all the posts within a few days.
2. Accidental Noindex Tags
Once, during a website redesign, the developer forgot to remove the <meta name="robots" content="noindex"> tag from production pages.
The fix was simple — I inspected the live pages, found the tag, and removed it. Then I revalidated the pages in GSC. Within a week, all major URLs were back in the index.
3. Duplicate Content Confusion
I’ve handled many eCommerce and news websites where similar product or category pages caused duplication.
Using SE Ranking and Grammarly, I checked for near-duplicate content.
My fix was to use canonical tags like this:
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.domain.com/main-page/">
This helped Google understand the preferred version, and the crawl budget improved.
4. Weak Internal Linking
I noticed that some important service pages were not indexed because they had zero internal links.
I used LinkWhisper to identify orphan pages and strategically linked them from blog posts with relevant anchors.
Within two crawls, those pages started appearing in Google Search results.
5. Slow Page Loading Speed
I once worked on a client site hosted on a cheap shared server. Page load speed was above 7 seconds, and Google barely crawled it.
I optimized images, added caching, and moved hosting to a faster server. After that, crawl frequency improved dramatically, and Google indexed new pages faster.
6. Redirect Loops
Redirect chains are a silent killer. I once found a homepage redirecting through 4 hops — A → B → C → D → Home.
I detected this using Screaming Frog, fixed the chain to a single redirect, and the next crawl fixed the indexing issue.
7. Sitemap Not Updated
I used to think sitemap.xml was a small technical detail — until I saw 500+ published pages missing from it.
I now make it a practice to regenerate and resubmit sitemaps every time I publish new sections. This small habit has helped me index new pages 3x faster.
8. Thin Content
In one of my own Growth AI PRO blogs, I had 300-word posts that weren’t indexed. Google flagged them as “Discovered – not indexed.”
I updated them with real examples, FAQs, and SEO tool screenshots — within two weeks, they got indexed and started ranking for long-tail keywords.
9. JavaScript Rendering Problems
I once audited a client’s React-based site where Google couldn’t read main content due to lazy rendering.
Using the “View Rendered Page” in Search Console, I realized only partial HTML loaded.
I suggested pre-rendering (SSR) for key pages. After implementation, all those pages got indexed in less than 10 days.
10. Crawl Budget Waste
A big mistake I found in a fashion eCommerce site was Google crawling 1000+ filter pages like ?color=blue, ?sort=latest.
I fixed it by blocking parameters in robots.txt and adding noindex to filter pages. Google’s crawl report became cleaner and more efficient.
11. Mobile Usability Issues
Google’s mobile-first indexing can be brutal if your design isn’t responsive.
I worked on a site where fonts overlapped and images went off-screen on mobile. I used GSC’s “Mobile Usability” report to detect errors and coordinated with the developer to fix them.
Once fixed, mobile traffic increased by 40% in a month.
12. Parameter Handling Problems
I once had a blog with UTM-tagged URLs getting indexed — creating duplicates.
I went to Search Console → Crawl Parameters → and set them to “Ignore.”
That solved it instantly and removed duplicate versions from Google within a few weeks.
13. Orphan Pages
Orphan pages are one of the sneakiest issues I’ve faced.
During a content audit, I found 30+ published pages not linked anywhere internally.
I created internal links from the homepage and top blog posts. Those URLs started appearing in “Coverage → Indexed” reports soon after.
14. Wrong Canonical Tags
I’ve seen SEO teams accidentally point canonicals to the wrong domain (like staging URLs).
Now, I always double-check every canonical tag before launch. Fixing these tags often restores indexing within a few days.
15. Indexed But Not Ranking
One frustrating issue — pages indexed but not ranking.
I realized that content quality and internal linking were the culprits. I improved the depth of the content, added schema markup, and built a few contextual backlinks.
Within a month, those pages started ranking in top 30 results.
16. New Pages Not Getting Indexed Fast
I’ve seen many clients panic when their new pages don’t appear in search immediately.
I’ve found that linking new pages from the homepage or sitemap, and submitting them manually via GSC, speeds things up.
Also, sharing them on social media and fetching backlinks signals freshness to Google.
17. Soft 404 Pages
Once, a blog post had just a title and one image. GSC showed it as a soft 404.
I added 700 words of detailed content, FAQs, and a proper H1–H3 structure. It got indexed properly in the next crawl.
18. Security Plugin Blocking Googlebot
I’ve seen WordPress security plugins like Wordfence accidentally block Googlebot.
I fixed it by whitelisting Googlebot IPs in the firewall settings. The site got fully recrawled within 48 hours.
19. HTTPS Issues
During an SSL migration for one client, mixed-content errors caused some pages to drop from Google.
I replaced all HTTP resource links with HTTPS versions and revalidated pages in Search Console. Indexing came back within a week.
20. Too Many Crawl Directives
A site I audited had multiple meta robots tags — one said index, another said noindex.
That confused Google. I simplified all pages to a single, clean directive. That alone fixed several “Excluded” errors.
My SEO Approach to Fixing Indexing Issues
Whenever I take up a new SEO project, I don’t just jump into link building or keyword research. I first ensure the foundation — indexing.
I go through every page type, sitemap, and crawl pattern. I look at what Google is not seeing — because that’s where growth lies.
The pattern I’ve noticed over the years is simple:
- Google only indexes pages that are accessible, valuable, and clear.
- Every “indexing issue” is really just Google saying: “I don’t trust this page yet.”
My goal as an SEO professional is to make Google trust those pages — technically and contextually.
Final Thoughts
If your pages aren’t indexed, your content doesn’t exist in Google’s eyes.
Fixing indexing isn’t about using one trick — it’s about building a system where every new page automatically becomes crawlable, discoverable, and index-worthy.
I’ve fixed dozens of such issues across industries — from eCommerce to local businesses — and one consistent truth remains:
The fastest way to grow SEO visibility is to make every page index-ready.
20 Most Common Google Indexing FAQs (Answered by Viraj Haldankar)
1. Why is my website not appearing on Google?
From my own audits, most websites fail to appear on Google due to technical reasons — like “noindex” tags, blocked pages, or crawl restrictions. Always start by checking your site in Google Search Console; it reveals whether your pages are indexed, excluded, or blocked.
2. How can I check if my pages are indexed by Google?
You can simply search on Google using site:yourdomain.com. If your pages appear, they’re indexed. For more accuracy, I rely on the URL Inspection Tool in Search Console — it gives real-time index status and crawl details.
3. What does ‘Crawled – currently not indexed’ mean?
This message means Google has visited your page but hasn’t added it to the index yet. I’ve fixed such cases by improving internal linking, adding unique value to the content, and re-submitting the URL manually for indexing.
4. How long does it take for Google to index a new page?
In my experience, it usually takes 24–72 hours for well-optimized, linked pages to be indexed. For slower cases, internal links and sitemap updates help accelerate the process.
5. Why does Google skip some of my pages?
Google may skip low-quality or duplicate pages. I’ve solved this by consolidating similar pages, improving content depth, and adding canonical tags to show Google the preferred version.
6. What causes “Blocked by robots.txt” errors?
This happens when your site’s robots.txt file disallows Googlebot from crawling certain URLs. I fix this by editing the file and removing or adjusting the “Disallow” rule for important sections.
7. What is a noindex tag and how does it affect SEO?
A <meta name="robots" content="noindex"> tag tells Google not to include that page in search. I’ve seen many developers accidentally leave this tag on live pages after testing — always check it before launch.
8. How can I fix duplicate content indexing issues?
I use canonical tags to guide Google to the main page version and rewrite thin or duplicate pages. Tools like SE Ranking and Grammarly help identify and rewrite repetitive content.
9. Can slow website speed affect indexing?
Yes, definitely. When I optimized a client’s website speed from 8 seconds to 2 seconds, indexing frequency improved dramatically. Google prioritizes fast-loading, mobile-friendly pages.
10. Why are my sitemap URLs not indexing?
It usually happens when your sitemap includes broken, blocked, or duplicate URLs. I always validate sitemap URLs using Search Console and regenerate it after major content updates.
11. What does “Discovered – currently not indexed” mean?
This indicates that Google knows your page exists but hasn’t crawled it yet. Improving internal linking and domain authority usually helps fix this.
12. Why are my new blog posts not indexing?
In my case, when new blogs don’t index, I interlink them from older high-traffic pages, manually request indexing, and share them across social media — this signals freshness and importance to Google.
13. What is a soft 404 error in indexing?
A soft 404 means Google sees a page as empty or low-value, even if it loads normally. I fix these by adding richer, original content and proper internal links.
14. Can AI-generated content cause indexing issues?
Yes, if it’s low-quality or lacks originality. I use AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini for ideas and outlines but always rewrite content with my own insights before publishing — this keeps it indexable and authentic.
15. How do internal links affect indexing?
Internal linking helps Google discover and crawl your pages faster. I use LinkWhisper (AI-based) to identify orphan pages and add contextual links. It’s one of the simplest yet most powerful SEO habits.
16. What should I do if my page is indexed but not ranking?
That usually means the page lacks authority or relevance. I enhance such pages by adding better headings, FAQs, schema, and fresh backlinks. Within a few weeks, they typically start ranking.
17. Can broken redirects stop pages from being indexed?
Yes. I’ve fixed many cases where redirect chains or loops confused Googlebot. Always ensure a clean one-step redirect and verify with tools like Screaming Frog or Search Console.
18. How often should I resubmit my sitemap?
I resubmit the sitemap whenever I publish new pages, redesign URLs, or remove content sections. Regular submission ensures Google stays updated with your site’s structure.
19. Why does Google deindex old pages?
Outdated, duplicate, or low-performing pages often get deindexed automatically. I update them with fresh content, internal links, and visuals — this usually restores their visibility.
20. How can I make Google index my pages faster?
Here’s what consistently works for me:
- Link new pages from your homepage or top-ranking posts
- Submit URLs in Google Search Console
- Use structured data (schema)
- Keep your content fresh and valuable
These signals help Google recognize your page as “index-worthy” faster.
