Understanding the Disappearing ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’ Status in Google Search Console
Have you noticed that the “Discovered – currently not indexed” status has vanished from your Google Search Console? You’re not alone. Many webmasters have encountered this issue, and it can be perplexing, especially when you have quality content that appears to be at odds with Google’s indexing behavior.
Previously, this status would indicate that Google recognized your pages but had yet to add them to its index. It served as a helpful signal for webmasters like us to understand which pages were acknowledged by Google, even if they weren’t actively delivered in search results. Recently, however, this status seems to have disappeared from many accounts, causing confusion and concern.
Take our experience as an example: We have approximately 300 high-quality pages that adhere to best practices. These pages are not obstructed by the robots.txt file, are not marked with canonical tags redirecting to other pages, and are not buried too deep within our site’s architecture. Despite these factors, these pages are neither indexed nor do they show any signs of having been discovered by Google, according to the latest crawl statistics.
Interestingly, our GSC crawl data indicates that indexed pages are being crawled appropriately, yet there are no crawls recorded for the pages in question. This disconnect leaves many of us wondering: what has changed in Google’s approach to indexing, and how can we ensure our valuable content gets the attention it deserves?
In light of this ongoing issue, it’s crucial to stay vigilant. Evaluate your site’s health regularly, check for any potential issues that might prevent indexing, and engage with forums and communities to stay updated on shared experiences. Together, we can navigate this puzzling landscape and strive for better visibility in search results.
2 responses to “Why Is “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed” No Longer Visible in GSC?”
It seems you’re experiencing a common issue with Google Search Console (GSC) where pages are not being indexed, and the “Discovered – currently not indexed” status has ceased to appear. There could be several factors contributing to this change, along with some practical steps you can take to diagnose and resolve the issue.
1. Understanding the Change in Status
Google frequently updates how it categorizes and displays indexing statuses. The removal of the “Discovered – currently not indexed” label could reflect changes in how GSC communicates indexing issues. It’s also possible that your site has been affected by algorithm updates or changes in crawling behavior, leading to variations in how your pages are processed.
2. Evaluate Your Site’s Health
While it seems that your pages are quality content, it’s essential to check a few key areas that might affect indexing:
Mobile-Friendliness: Ensure that your site is fully optimized for mobile viewing. Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing, and any shortcomings here could impede indexing.
Page Speed: Slow-loading pages can cause Google to deprioritize them. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to assess performance and make necessary optimizations.
Structured Data: If you are using structured data, verify with the Rich Results Test to ensure that it is correctly implemented. Errors in structured data may affect how Google interprets your pages.
3. Check for Crawl Issues
Even if your GSC crawl stats appear to be fine for indexed pages, there may still be hidden issues preventing Google from crawling your non-indexed pages:
URL Inspection Tool: Use GSC’s URL Inspection Tool to check the status of each page individually. This can provide insights into why a page isn’t being indexed and whether there are any errors associated with it.
Fetch as Google: You can manually trigger Google to crawl specific URLs using the “Request Indexing” feature. This helps to see if there are issues blocking indexing.
4. Review Internal Linking
Examine your internal linking structure. If the pages are not being linked from other parts of your site, Google might have difficulty discovering them. Consider:
Adding Contextual Links: Ensure that your non-indexed pages are linked from high-quality, relevant content on your site. Internal links help signal to Google that these pages are important.
Sitemap: Check that your XML sitemap is accurate and includes links to all your important pages. Submitting an updated sitemap through GSC can aid discovery.
5. Monitor for Indexing Issues
Keep an eye out for indicators of indexing problems over the coming weeks:
GSC Reports: Regularly review the Index Coverage report for anomalies. A sudden surge in errors or warnings corresponding to your non-indexed pages could offer valuable insights.
Analytics Insights: Track organic traffic to see if changes in indexing status correlate with variations in site visits or visibility.
6. Consider External Factors
As a final note, remember that external factors can also play a role in indexing, such as:
Competitors: Changes in the competitive landscape may affect your visibility. An increase in competing content can make it harder for Google to prioritize your pages.
Content Duplication: Evaluate whether similar content exists elsewhere on your site or the web that could be causing Google to overlook your pages.
If, after going through these steps, you still face indexing issues, consider seeking professional SEO guidance. A consultant can provide more tailored advice and perform a deeper analysis of your site’s SEO health. Remember, indexing can be a nuanced issue, and patience is key as Google recalibrates its understanding of your site’s structure and content.
This is an insightful post that highlights a significant challenge many webmasters are facing with the recent changes in Google Search Console. The disappearance of the “Discovered – currently not indexed” status indeed adds a layer of complexity to understanding Google’s indexing behavior.
One aspect worth considering is the evolving nature of Google’s algorithms and their approach to content evaluation. It’s possible that Google has shifted focus towards a more holistic view of site quality, prioritizing user experience and engagement metrics over pure indexing signals. In light of this, webmasters might benefit from not only ensuring their content meets SEO best practices but also enhancing site usability and engagement.
Additionally, I’d recommend utilizing tools like FAQ schema markup or structured data to provide search engines with more context about your pages, which may aid in their indexing decisions. Engaging in community discussions, as you suggested, can also unearth shared strategies that others have used successfully to overcome similar hurdles.
Monitoring changes in indexing patterns and adapting quickly is key, as well as exploring alternative promotional strategies for these high-quality pages, such as leveraging social media platforms or email newsletters to drive initial traffic. Ultimately, while the lack of clarity from Google can be frustrating, maintaining a proactive approach and being adaptable will serve us well in the long run. Thank you for shedding light on this topic!