Where does indexing fit in how search works?
Indexing is the middle of three stages Google describes. First it crawls the web to find and download pages. Then it indexes them, working out what each page is about and storing it. Finally it serves results, picking indexed pages to show for each search.
During indexing Google also groups duplicate pages together and picks one as the canonical version to show. The others are kept as alternates.
Why might a page not be indexed?
Google says indexing is not guaranteed, and not every page it processes will be indexed. Common reasons include:
- A noindex tag or a robots.txt rule blocks it.
- Google treats it as a duplicate and indexes a different canonical URL instead.
- The content is thin or adds little beyond other pages.
- Google has found it but not crawled it yet, often because few links point to it.
- The page returns an error or redirects.
How do you check if a page is indexed?
- 1Open the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console.
- 2Paste the full URL of the page.
- 3Read the result. It tells you whether the URL is on Google and, if not, why.
- 4Use the Page indexing report to see the same information for every page on the site.
What does an indexing review look like?
A quick review sorts pages by status so you can fix the ones that matter.
| Status | Pages | Typical action |
|---|---|---|
| Indexed | 184 | None |
| Excluded by noindex tag | 22 | Check none are pages you want found |
| Duplicate, Google chose different canonical | 15 | Merge or set canonical tags |
| Discovered, currently not indexed | 31 | Add internal links and improve content |
How do you get a page indexed faster?
Make the page easy to find and worth indexing. Link to it from relevant pages on your site, include it in your XML sitemap, and make sure it offers something other pages do not.
- Use Request Indexing in the URL Inspection tool after publishing or updating a key page.
- For many pages, submit a sitemap instead, because individual requests have a daily limit.
Frequently asked questions
How long does indexing take?
Anything from a few hours to several weeks. It depends on how often Google crawls your site and how easily it finds the new page.
Does requesting indexing guarantee a page gets indexed?
No. Google says a request does not guarantee indexing. The page still needs to be unique, of sufficient quality and free of other problems.
Is crawling the same as indexing?
No. Crawling is Google downloading the page. Indexing is Google analysing it and deciding to store it. A page can be crawled and still not indexed.
Should every page on my site be indexed?
No. Pages like thank-you pages, internal search results and thin tag archives are often better left out, so search engines focus on your useful pages.