Deindexing removes pages from search results, often due to settings, content issues, or technical errors. Use Google Search Console to identify causes, fix issues, and resubmit your sitemap.
Deindexing happens when pages on your website are removed from search engine results. This means those pages won’t show up when users search for relevant terms, which can affect your traffic. It’s often due to technical issues, content quality, or intentional settings, and it’s something you can usually fix.
What Causes Deindexing?
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Noindex Tags or Directives:
- A "noindex" tag in your website’s code tells search engines not to index certain pages.
- Solution: Check your meta tags or robots.txt file and remove any "noindex" directives if they weren’t added intentionally.
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Thin or Low-Quality Content:
- Pages with very little valuable content might be deindexed because search engines prioritize quality.
- Solution: Update these pages with original, engaging content to make them more useful to visitors.
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Duplicate Content:
- If multiple pages have identical or very similar content, search engines might deindex some to avoid redundancy.
- Solution: Use canonical tags or consolidate similar pages.
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Manual Actions from Google:
- Google may take action if your site violates guidelines, such as having spammy backlinks or manipulative SEO tactics.
- Solution: Check Google Search Console for manual action notifications and follow the steps provided to resolve the issue.
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Technical Issues:
- Problems like broken links, slow page speed, or server downtime can cause deindexing.
- Solution: Use tools like Google Search Console or Diib to identify and fix these issues.
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Blocked by Robots.txt:
- If your robots.txt file blocks crawlers, those pages won’t be indexed.
- Solution: Ensure your robots.txt file allows access to the pages you want indexed.
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Domain or URL Changes:
- If you’ve recently changed your domain or URLs without proper redirects, search engines may lose track of your pages.
- Solution: Use 301 redirects to guide search engines to the new URLs.
How to Resolve Deindexing
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Use Google Search Console:
- Check the Coverage and Indexing sections to identify which pages are deindexed and why.
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Submit a Sitemap:
- Make sure your sitemap is up-to-date and submitted to Google Search Console.
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Request Reindexing:
- Use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console to request indexing for pages that were mistakenly deindexed.
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Focus on Page Quality:
- Ensure your pages meet Google’s quality standards with valuable, user-focused content.
What to Do Next
Deindexing can be frustrating, but it’s usually something you can resolve with a little troubleshooting. While Diib helps you monitor your website and alerts you to potential issues like these, resolving deindexing requires adjustments to your site’s content or settings. For more guidance, explore our Knowledge Base or consult your web developer or hosting provider.