Why “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed” is Missing in Google Search Console

2 responses to “Google’s ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’ Alert Explained: Causes and Fixes”

1. If you’re no longer seeing “Discovered – currently not indexed” in Google Search Console (GSC) and you have a substantial number of pages that should be indexed, this could be due to several factors. Here are some potential reasons and suggestions for further action:

   Possible Reasons

   1. GSC Interface Updates: Google frequently updates and changes the way information is presented in GSC. The category “Discovered – currently not indexed” might have been folded into another report or merged with a new category.

   2. Temporary GSC Bug: Occasionally, Google Search Console can have temporary bugs that might prevent certain data from displaying correctly. Check Google’s official support channels or online forums for any reports of similar issues.

   3. Improved Indexing: Google may have resolved some indexing issues which could result in these pages transitioning from “Discovered – currently not indexed” to either being indexed or another status.

   4. Site Changes: Site improvements, such as enhancements in internal linking or fixes to technical SEO issues, might have altered how Google views these pages, leading to a different status.

   5. Content or Quality Reassessment: If Google re-evaluated the content and determined that it doesn’t meet certain quality standards at scale, they might deprioritize indexing.

   Actions You Can Take

   1. Request Indexing Manually

   • Fetch as Google: Use the URL Inspection tool in GSC to request indexing for individual pages. This can help you determine if there’s a specific issue preventing indexing.

   2. Review Page Quality and Content

   • Ensure content is unique, high-quality, and engaging.
   • Check for any unintentional duplicate content issues.
   • Make sure pages are complete and not seen as thin content.

   3. Optimize Internal Linking

   • Add more internal links to these pages to boost their visibility.
   • Ensure they can be reached within a few clicks from the homepage.

   4. Check for Technical SEO Issues

   • Crawl with a tool: Tools like Screaming Frog can verify if there are overlooked noindex tags, robots.txt errors, or any other issues affecting crawl accessibility.
   • Mobile Usability: Ensure mobile-friendliness as Google predominantly uses mobile-first indexing.

   5. Backlink Analysis

   • Increase the number and quality of backlinks to these pages. Strong backlinks

   Reply

2. Thank you for shedding light on the “Discovered – currently not indexed” status! It can be quite perplexing when well-optimized content remains unindexed, especially when it seems to check all the right boxes.

   One thing to consider is the potential impact of site authority and backlink profile on indexing. Sometimes, even high-quality pages may not receive the desired attention if they lack sufficient internal or external links pointing to them. It might be beneficial to review your site’s link architecture and ensure these pages are receiving adequate visibility both internally and externally.

   Additionally, keep an eye on Google’s crawling patterns; the algorithm sometimes prioritizes freshness or authority over other factors. If you’ve recently updated your site or made significant changes, consider submitting a new sitemap or using the “URL Inspection” tool in Google Search Console to request indexing for those specific pages.

   Lastly, patience is key! While it can be frustrating, sometimes it simply takes time for Google to index new or updated content. Have you noticed any changes in crawl activity over the past few weeks? It could also help to engage with your audience through social media or newsletters to drive more traffic to these pages, enhancing their visibility to search engines. Looking forward to hearing more about your experiences!

   Reply