You’ve published a shiny new page on your website, but days (or weeks) later, it’s still nowhere to be found in Google search results. Frustrating, right? Well, I’ve been there. A client once called me in a panic because their product pages vanished from Google overnight. Turns out, a simple robots.txt error was blocking everything. After fixing it, their traffic bounced back within days. The truth is: Most Google indexing problems aren’t as complicated as they seem. In this guide, I’ll walk you through real fixes I’ve used to get pages indexed—without the technical jargon.
Find out if your page is not indexed for real!
Before you start troubleshooting, check if Google actually can’t see your page:
Google it directly
Type site:yourwebsite.com/your-page-url into Google. If it appears, it’s indexed.
Check Google Search Console
Go to Indexing > Pages—it’ll show if your page is indexed, why it might be blocked, or if Google just hasn’t found it yet.
5 common Google indexing problems and how to fix them
1. “Crawled but Not Indexed”
It means Google found your page but chose not to show it in search results.
Why does this happen?
- Your content is short (under 300 words)
- It’s too similar to other pages on your site
- No one links to it (not even from your own site)
How to fix it:
- Beef up the content with original insights or examples
- Add internal links from your popular pages
- Share it on social media to generate clicks (Google notices this)
2. Pages Disappearing After Being Indexed
Classic symptom: Your page ranked for months, then suddenly vanished.
Likely causes:
- A Google algorithm update penalised thin content
- You accidentally noindexed the page
- Your site got hit by spam filters (e.g., too many pop-ups)
Quick fixes:
- Check for noindex tags in your page’s HTML
- Compare your content to current top-ranking pages—is yours better?
- Remove any shady SEO tactics (like keyword stuffing)
3. New Pages Taking Forever to Index
The reality: While some sites get indexed in hours, others wait weeks.
Speed it up by:
- Submitting the URL directly in Google Search Console
- Getting one quality backlink (even from your own LinkedIn profile helps)
- Adding the page to your XML sitemap
4. Only Your Homepage is Indexed
Red flag: This often means Google can’t crawl your site properly.
Check for:
- Broken links (use Screaming Frog)
- A messed-up robots.txt file (test it in GSC)
- JavaScript rendering issues (view your page in Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test)
5. “Discovered - Currently Not Indexed”
These Google indexing problems mean that Google knows your page exists but won’t add it to search results.
Usually because:
- Your site has low authority
- The content isn’t unique enough
- Google’s backlogged (happens during big algorithm updates)
Try this:
- Combine two similar pages into one stronger piece
- Add fresh statistics or expert quotes
- Wait 2-4 weeks (annoying but sometimes necessary)
When All Else Fails: The Nuclear Option
If a page absolutely refuses to index:
- Republish it as a new URL (sometimes the fresh start works)
- Build one strong backlink (a mention in a local newspaper or industry blog often does the trick)
- Redirect it to a similar page that IS indexed
Prevention Is Easier Than Fixes
From working with dozens of small businesses, I’ve found these habits prevent 90% of Google indexing problems:
- Publish complete content (aim for 500+ words with original value)
- Interlink your pages like Wikipedia does
- Check Google Search Console weekly for errors
Want more local customers? Master the basics with our Local SEO for Small Businesses: Get Found on Google Maps guide.
***(This guide is based on real fixes we’ve implemented for clients in 2024-25. Google’s rules change, but these solutions of Google indexing problems keep working.)***
8. Page Load Speed
Slow websites frustrate users and hurt rankings. Google considers page speed in its ranking algorithm, so optimising load times is crucial.
Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights help identify speed issues. Compress images, enable caching, and minimise JavaScript to improve performance. Furthermore, a faster site enhances user experience, reducing bounce rates.
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