How to Fix Crawl Currently Not Index Issues in Google Search
It is frustrating to spend hours writing great SEO content, only to find it missing from Google. You check your report in Google Search Console and see a confusing label: crawled but currently not indexed.
What does this status mean? Google simply visited your page and read your text, but decided not to index it yet. This means that Google looked at your work but did not save it. This is rarely a technical error. Instead, it is often Google’s way of saying the content might not be unique or valuable enough right now.
Do not panic. Your website is likely fine. We will explain why this happens and show you how to fix it so your pages can finally get the traffic they deserve.
What Crawled Currently Not Indexed Means in Google Search
To fix this, you must understand how Google works. First, sitemaps help Google discover your URL. Next, it reads your text. Finally, it decides if the page belongs in the Google index.
When you see crawled but currently not indexed, it means Google read the page but stopped there. Google has crawled your page, yet it chose not to add it. This is different from “discovered but currently not indexed.”
“Discovered” usually means Google does not index it yet because of a delay. However, crawled but not indexed is a choice. Google knows your page exists, but feels the content is valuable only to a small degree. The issue with a page is likely quality, not technical.
5 Common Reasons Why Your Pages Are Not Indexed
You might trust your writing, but Google bots are strict. They compare your URL against billions. Here is why your page might fail.
1. Thin or Low-Quality Content
Google decided to avoid showing the same result twice. If three pages look identical, it picks one. This is common in e-commerce.
If you have duplicate pages, Google simply keeps one and leaves the rest out of the search index.
2. Duplicate Content
Google decided to avoid showing the same result twice. If three pages look identical, it picks one. This is common in e-commerce.
If you have duplicate pages, Google simply keeps one and leaves the rest out of the search index.
3. Poor Internal Linking Structure
Google relies on links to find and rank work. If important pages have no incoming links, the bot gets confused.
Sitemaps are helpful, but internal links demonstrate importance. Without them, Google doesn’t see the page as a priority.
4. Misaligned Search Intent
Sometimes, the content answers the wrong question. Google understands what users want. If they search for a “calculator,” they want a tool, not a history lesson.
If there is a mismatch, the bot stops because it knows users will leave.
5. False Positives
Not every excluded URL is an error. Google rightly ignores utility pages, such as RSS feeds. These do not need to be in search results.
If you see them, you can ignore the status in Google Search Console.
How to Fix “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed”
Now we know the causes, let us fix them. You do not need to be a technical SEO pro. It is mostly about sending the right signals. Follow these steps to improve your SEO strategy.
Step 1: The Quality Audit
Be honest. Open the top three results on Google. Is your article better? Google wants unique value. If your page is just a copy, you have a low chance of getting indexed.
You must add new data or clearer answers. This improves your chances of getting indexed. Even if the page was indexed in the past, current standards might have changed.
Step 2: Check for Technical Blocks
Sometimes, a setting is blocking Google from crawling. Check your robots.txt file or sitemap. Ensure there is no “noindex” tag.
You can check this using the tool in Google Search Console or Google Search Central. Also, use the canonical tag correctly to point to the main page.
Step 3: Build Internal Links
Give your page a boost. Help Google find it by linking from your homepage. This tells Google that your content is trusted. This is a key part of SEO best practices.
Step 4: Request Indexing Again
Once you improve the page, you need to inform search engines. You cannot force Google to index a page instantly, but you can ask nicely. Use the “Inspect URL” feature to check the page’s index status.
Then, click “Request Indexing” to ask Google to index it. This puts you back in line for crawling and indexing.
When to Ignore Errors in Google Search Console
You do not need to fix every issue in Google Search Console. Google sometimes scans pages not meant for the public, like admin or feed URLs.
If Google has removed these, it helps keep your site clean. So, if you check Google and see them in the indexing report labeled ‘crawled yet currently not indexed’, just let them be.
Fixing Crawled Currently Not Indexed Issues
Getting ranked is earned. This status provides feedback: your site works, but the content needs value. Focus on users, and Google Discover will eventually notice.
Struggling to fix “crawled but currently not indexed” issues? Oktimize can help. We offer a FREE SEO audit to review your sitemap, indexing status, and content quality, so you can understand what is holding your pages back. Our goal is to help you think like Google and take the right steps toward proper indexing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What does currently not indexed mean in Google Search Console?
A1: It means Google has visited the page, but the page has not been saved in its index yet. In other words, the page has not been indexed because Google does not see enough value to show it in search results right now.
Q2: Is ‘crawled – currently not indexed’ an error in Google Search Console?
A2: Not always. While it can look like an error in Google Search Console, this status is often feedback, not a failure. Google crawled the page, reviewed it, and decided it may not be indexed until improvements are made.
Q3: What is the difference between discovered – currently not indexed and crawled – currently not indexed?
A3: Discovered – currently not indexed usually means Google knows the URL exists, but has not crawled it yet. In contrast, crawled but not currently indexed means Google has already reviewed the page and chose not to index pages due to quality or relevance concerns.
Q4: How can I fix “crawled – currently” issues and send the right signal?
A4: To fix this issue, improve content quality, add internal links from important pages on your site, and make sure there are no technical blocks. Strong internal linking sends a clear signal to Google that the page matters and deserves another review.
Q5: How do I check if a page has been indexed successfully?
Use the page indexing report in Google Search Console to see the number of indexed pages. After you request Google to crawl again or ask Google to re-crawl, you’ll know a page has been indexed once it becomes visible in search results.