20 Sep Why Is Google Search Console Showing ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’? What To Check
Understanding the ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’ Status in Google Search Console
If you’ve recently checked your Google Search Console and noticed the status ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’ for some of your website URLs, you’re likely wondering what this means and what actions you should take. This status indicates that Google has found your URL but has not yet added it to its search index.
Unlike ‘Crawled – Currently Not Indexed’, where Google has accessed the page but chooses not to index it, the ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’ status suggests Google knows about your URL but hasn’t crawled it yet or deferred indexing for other reasons.
Possible Causes for ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’
This status can be triggered by various technical or content-related factors that can prevent Google from crawling or indexing your page promptly. Common reasons include:
- Deep Crawl Queues or Resource Prioritization: Google may delay crawling due to resource allocation, especially for newer or less authoritative URLs.
- Robots.txt Restrictions: Blocking Googlebot from crawling certain sections may lead to discovery without indexing.
- Meta Robots Tags: Pages with a ‘noindex’ directive prevent indexing despite discovery.
- Duplicate or Thin Content: Google may avoid indexing low-value or very similar pages.
- Site Structure and Internal Linking: Poor or missing internal links can cause URLs to be discovered but not prioritized for indexing.
- Technical Issues: Server errors, slow response times, or incorrect canonical tags can impact crawling and indexing.
- New or Recently Updated Pages: Fresh content often experiences indexing delays as Google evaluates relevance.
What to Check to Resolve This Issue
1. Verify Robots.txt and Meta Tags
Ensure that your robots.txt file does not block Googlebot from crawling important URLs. Also, review your pages’ meta robots tags to confirm they don’t include noindex, which prevents indexing.
2. Inspect URL With Google Search Console
Use the URL Inspection tool to see if Google can access the page and whether any issues are reported. This tool provides real-time data on the last crawl, indexed status, and crawling errors.
3. Check Internal Linking
Strong internal linking helps Google discover and prioritize pages for crawling. Make sure that your pages are linked from well-indexed areas, such as main navigation, related content sections, or sitemaps.
4. Review XML Sitemap
Verify that your XML sitemap is up to date and includes the URLs showing the ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’ status. Submit or resubmit your sitemap in Google Search Console if necessary.
5. Analyse Page Content and Quality
Pages with low-value or thin content may be skipped by Google. Ensure each page offers unique, valuable information relevant to your audience.
6. Evaluate Server Performance and Errors
Check for any server response issues like slow load times, timeouts, or HTTP errors that could hinder Google’s crawling.
7. Assess Canonical Tags
Incorrect canonical tags can signal Google that the page content is duplicated elsewhere, causing it to omit indexing the current URL.
Implications and What to Expect
Not all URLs will be indexed immediately. Google’s algorithms decide crawl and index priorities to optimize resources and deliver relevant search results. Pages marked as ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’ may get indexed over time once issues are addressed or as their perceived value increases.
If pages remain in this state for an extended period, it’s a signal to review your site’s SEO health and technical setup carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can manually requesting indexing in Google Search Console fix this?
Requesting indexing may speed up crawling but does not guarantee indexing if underlying issues persist.
Q2: Does having many ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’ URLs harm my site’s SEO?
Not necessarily, but a large number might indicate crawling or content quality problems worth investigating.
Q3: How long does Google usually take to index new pages?
It varies from a few hours to several weeks depending on site authority, content quality, and crawl budget.
Q4: Should I remove ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’ pages from my sitemap?
Not unless the pages are irrelevant or low quality; keeping your sitemap accurate and comprehensive helps Google.
Q5: Can hosting or server issues cause this problem?
Yes. Slow or unreliable hosting can delay or block crawls, resulting in this status.
Conclusion
The ‘Discovered – Currently Not Indexed’ status in Google Search Console indicates that Google is aware of your URLs but has not indexed them yet due to prioritization, technical barriers, or content issues. Checking your robots.txt, meta tags, internal links, sitemap, page quality, and server performance can help resolve the issue. Regular monitoring and technical audits ensure your website’s content is efficiently crawled and indexed, supporting your online visibility and SEO goals.
For professional help with website SEO audits, technical troubleshooting, or WordPress maintenance, feel free to contact Dezibel Media.
Contact Information:
Company: Dezibel Media
Address: Bucuresti
Phone: +40722 501 939
Email: office@dezibelmedia.ro
Website: https://dezibelmedia.ro/