Introduction
Google Search Console (GSC) is an essential SEO tool for website owners, bloggers, SaaS companies, e-commerce platforms, and digital businesses across the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Canada, and other global markets. It provides insights into how Google crawls and indexes your website.
However, many website owners become confused when Google Search Console shows indexing issues for pages that appear perfectly valid and accessible. Pages may load correctly in a browser, yet GSC reports statuses like “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” or “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed.” Understanding why this happens is critical for improving search engine visibility, technical SEO performance, and Core Web Vitals optimization.
What Does “Indexing” Mean in Google Search?
Indexing is the process by which Google stores and organizes web pages in its database after crawling them. Only indexed pages can appear in Google search results.
In simple words:
A page can be crawled but still not indexed if Google decides it does not meet certain quality or technical criteria.
Common Indexing Status Messages in Google Search Console
1. Crawled – Currently Not Indexed
Google has visited the page but has not indexed it yet. This is often due to content quality, duplication, or low perceived value.
2. Discovered – Currently Not Indexed
Google knows the page exists (through sitemap or internal links) but has not crawled it yet. This may happen due to crawl budget limitations.
3. Duplicate Without User-Selected Canonical
Google found similar content elsewhere and chose a different version as the canonical page.
4. Page with Redirect
The page redirects to another URL, so Google indexes the destination instead.
5. Excluded by ‘noindex’ Tag
The page contains a noindex directive in the meta tag or HTTP header.
Why Valid Pages May Show Indexing Issues
1. Low Content Quality or Thin Content
If a page has very little unique content, Google may consider it low value. For example, an e-commerce website with multiple similar product pages and minimal descriptions may face indexing issues.
2. Duplicate or Similar Content
If multiple pages contain similar content, Google may index only one version. This is common in category pages, tag pages, and filtered URLs.
3. Crawl Budget Limitations
Large websites in markets like the US or India with thousands of URLs may face crawl budget constraints. Google may delay crawling less important pages.
4. Weak Internal Linking Structure
If a page is not well linked from other parts of the website, Google may treat it as less important.
5. Technical SEO Issues
Problems such as:
can prevent proper indexing.
6. Recently Published Pages
New pages may take time to be indexed, especially on websites with low domain authority.
7. Manual or Algorithmic Quality Signals
Google may temporarily exclude pages if the site has quality concerns, spam signals, or low overall authority.
Crawled but Not Indexed vs Discovered but Not Indexed
| Feature | Crawled – Not Indexed | Discovered – Not Indexed |
|---|
| Google Action | Page was visited | Page not yet visited |
| Main Cause | Quality or duplication issue | Crawl budget or priority issue |
| Fix Approach | Improve content and internal linking | Improve sitemap and internal structure |
| Indexing Timeline | May take longer without changes | Often indexed after crawl |
| SEO Priority | High | Medium |
Understanding this difference helps website owners take targeted action.
How to Fix Indexing Issues in Google Search Console
1. Improve Content Quality
Add unique, detailed, and valuable content. For example, instead of short product descriptions, include detailed specifications, FAQs, and user benefits.
2. Strengthen Internal Linking
Link important pages from high-authority pages within your website. This signals importance to Google.
3. Optimize Technical SEO
Check canonical tags
Remove accidental noindex directives
Fix redirect chains
Ensure mobile-friendliness
Improve Core Web Vitals score
4. Submit Updated Sitemap
Ensure your XML sitemap is updated and submitted in Google Search Console.
5. Request Indexing Manually
Use the URL Inspection tool in GSC to request indexing for priority pages.
6. Improve Page Speed and Server Performance
Faster websites with optimized Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Core Web Vitals metrics are more likely to be crawled efficiently.
Advantages of Monitoring Indexing Issues
Helps identify technical SEO problems early
Improves search engine visibility
Increases organic traffic potential
Enhances website structure and internal linking
Supports long-term content strategy optimization
Strengthens domain authority growth
For example, resolving indexing issues on a SaaS website in the UK can significantly improve keyword rankings.
Challenges in Resolving Indexing Problems
Large websites may have thousands of affected URLs
Diagnosing technical SEO issues can be complex
Crawl budget management requires expertise
Duplicate content across filters and parameters is difficult to control
Google’s indexing decisions are not always fully transparent
SEO optimization requires patience, testing, and continuous monitoring.
Real-World Example: E-Commerce Indexing Issue
Consider an e-commerce website serving customers in the United States and India. The website creates multiple product filter URLs with similar content. Google crawls these URLs but does not index them due to duplication.
After implementing proper canonical tags, improving product descriptions, and strengthening internal linking, indexing improves and organic traffic increases significantly.
Suggested Visual Elements
Flowchart explaining Google crawling and indexing process
Diagram of internal linking structure
Before vs After indexing coverage chart
Technical SEO audit checklist infographic
Using royalty-free SEO and web performance visuals can enhance engagement and search visibility.
Conclusion
Google Search Console may show indexing issues for valid pages because indexing depends not only on accessibility but also on content quality, duplication signals, crawl budget allocation, technical SEO configuration, and overall site authority across competitive markets such as the United States, United Kingdom, and India. Even if a page loads correctly, Google may choose not to index it if it perceives low value or structural problems. By improving content depth, strengthening internal linking, optimizing technical SEO elements, managing crawl budget, and monitoring Core Web Vitals performance, website owners can increase the likelihood of successful indexing and improve organic search visibility over time.