How to fix indexing issues

In one line

Fixing indexing issues means diagnosing why a page isn't indexed, via Search Console's URL Inspection, and removing the blocker, then requesting indexing.

The steps

  1. 1Inspect the URL in Search Console to see its status
  2. 2Check for blockers: noindex tag, robots.txt disallow, canonical to another page
  3. 3Confirm the content isn't thin or duplicate
  4. 4Fix the cause, then click Request Indexing
  5. 5Ensure the page is in your sitemap and internally linked

Common causes

A stray noindex tag, robots.txt blocking, a canonical pointing elsewhere, thin/duplicate content, or simply not yet crawled. Strong internal links and a clean sitemap help pages get found and kept.

Frequently asked

Why is my page “Discovered - not indexed”?

Google found it but hasn't indexed it, often due to thin content, low authority, or crawl priority. Improve the page and internal links, then request indexing.

How do I force indexing?

Use URL Inspection → Request Indexing in Search Console after fixing any blocker. It's a request, not a guarantee.

Put this into practice

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Related

What is indexing?
Getting stored in the search database, the prerequisite to ranking at all.
How to submit a sitemap
Tell Google exactly which pages to crawl.