When you log into Google Search Console and see “Crawled – currently not indexed,” it can be frustrating. This status means Google’s crawler has found your page, visited it, but decided not to include it in its index. 

In simple terms, your content exists but isn’t visible in search results. This issue affects both new and established websites, and if left unaddressed, it can limit organic traffic and harm SEO growth. Understanding why it happens and how to fix it can restore visibility. 

In this article, you’ll learn all the causes, proven fixes, and best practices to ensure your pages get indexed fast.

Understanding “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed”

Google’s crawler, also known as Googlebot, constantly visits websites to discover new or updated content. When you see “Crawled – currently not indexed” in Search Console, it means the bot successfully reached your page but didn’t find it valuable enough to index at that moment. This does not mean your website is penalized or broken—it’s often a temporary decision by Google’s algorithm.

Sometimes Google waits to evaluate whether a page is worth indexing based on content quality, uniqueness, and overall site trust. However, if your page remains in this state for weeks or months, it signals an underlying issue that needs attention.

Why It Happens: Common Causes

Several factors can trigger this issue. Most are related to how search engines interpret the relevance, structure, and quality of your content.

1. Thin or Duplicate Content: Pages with very little text or content copied from other URLs often get ignored. Google prefers pages that add unique value.
2. Low Crawl Priority: If your site has too many pages or limited authority, Google may crawl them but not index all of them right away.
3. Poor Internal Linking: When a page isn’t connected properly to your site’s structure, Googlebot struggles to understand its importance.
4. Technical Errors: Broken canonical tags, robots.txt restrictions, or incorrect noindex directives can block indexing.
5. Lack of User Value: Pages built solely for SEO purposes without offering helpful information or user engagement may get filtered out.
6. Slow Loading Time: Google prioritizes fast websites. Pages that load slowly may not get indexed quickly.
7. Unstructured Data or Missing Metadata: Without clear titles, meta descriptions, or schema, Google might fail to interpret the page’s context.

Check How Widespread the Problem Is

Before making changes, you should first understand how many of your pages are affected. Go to Google Search Console → Indexing → Pages. Here, you’ll find the total number of “Crawled – currently not indexed” URLs. Use the export option to analyze them in a spreadsheet. Identify patterns such as similar templates, thin content, or categories.

Sometimes only specific sections (like blog tags or archive pages) are affected. In other cases, large portions of a website may experience the same issue. This helps you determine whether you’re facing an isolated problem or a broader technical one.

Fix 1: Improve Content Quality and Depth

The most reliable fix is to rewrite or enhance the affected pages. Focus on providing clear, original, and detailed information that answers the searcher’s intent. Each page should have:

• At least 600–800 words of relevant, valuable text.
• Headings (H2, H3) that organize content logically.
• Natural use of target keywords and semantic phrases.
• Visuals, infographics, or embedded media where appropriate.

Avoid fluff or filler content. Google’s algorithms now evaluate “information gain,” meaning they look for pages that add something new compared to others already indexed.

Fix 2: Strengthen Internal Linking

Internal links help search engines understand how important a page is within your site. Add contextual links from existing indexed pages to the affected ones. Use descriptive anchor text that clearly explains the topic. For example, instead of “click here,” use “learn how to fix indexing issues.”

Adding internal links from high-traffic pages can signal importance to Google and encourage indexing.

Fix 3: Optimize Crawl Budget and Structure

Google allocates a crawl budget based on your site’s authority and server health. To maximize efficiency:

• Remove duplicate or low-value pages.
• Fix redirect chains.
• Simplify your URL structure.
• Keep your sitemap updated and submitted.

If your website hosts hundreds or thousands of pages, consider consolidating similar ones. Merging weak pages into a single, high-value resource improves indexability.

Fix 4: Submit the Page Manually in Search Console

For important pages, use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console. Paste the URL, click “Request Indexing,” and Googlebot will re-evaluate it. This is particularly effective for newly published or recently updated content.

Although this method doesn’t guarantee immediate indexing, it often triggers Google to revisit the page faster than waiting for the natural crawl cycle.

Fix 5: Ensure Your Sitemap Is Clean and Updated

Your XML sitemap tells Google what pages to crawl. If it contains broken links, redirects, or non-canonical URLs, indexing problems can occur. Regularly validate it using tools like the Google Search Console’s Sitemap section. Make sure only canonical and index-worthy pages are included.

Avoid including categories, tags, or thin pages unless they offer substantial value. A clean sitemap enhances Google’s understanding of your site hierarchy.

Fix 6: Check Canonical and Noindex Tags

Inspect the source code of the affected pages for canonical and meta directives. Common mistakes include canonical tags pointing to the wrong URLs or having “noindex” tags that prevent inclusion in Google’s index. Correcting these instantly resolves indexing issues in many cases.

A good practice is to use self-referencing canonical tags unless you intentionally want another page to take precedence.

Fix 7: Increase External Signals (Backlinks and Engagement)

Google’s algorithm relies heavily on external signals to decide which pages deserve attention. High-quality backlinks from relevant domains can speed up indexing. Promote new content through social media, newsletters, and niche communities to attract natural visits and shares.

The more visitors interact with your content—through clicks, time on page, and social engagement—the stronger the indexing signals become.

Fix 8: Speed and Mobile Optimization

Google uses page experience as a ranking factor, and poor performance can delay indexing. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse to measure loading times. Aim for under 2.5 seconds. Compress images, enable browser caching, and use lazy loading for better results.

Ensure mobile usability is flawless. With Google’s mobile-first indexing, issues like unresponsive design or blocked scripts can hurt your visibility.

Fix 9: Use Structured Data and Updated Metadata

Structured data (schema) helps Google understand the type of content on your page. Implement schema relevant to your content, such as Article, Product, or FAQ markup.

Update your title tags and meta descriptions with compelling, keyword-rich phrases. This not only aids indexing but also improves click-through rates once your page appears in search results.

Fix 10: Maintain Site Health and Consistency

Keep an eye on your site’s technical SEO through regular audits. Tools like Search Console, Ahrefs, or Screaming Frog can identify broken links, duplicate content, and crawl anomalies.

Google prefers stable, consistent websites that maintain clear architecture and regular updates. Frequent site errors or downtime can discourage Googlebot from re-crawling pages efficiently.

How Long Does It Take to Fix?

After implementing fixes, reindexing can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. The timeline depends on how often Google visits your website. High-authority or frequently updated sites get re-crawled faster.

If your page still remains unindexed after 30–45 days, revisit your content quality, page structure, and internal linking once again.

Recent Data: The Indexing Challenge in 2025

According to a 2025 SEMrush survey, nearly 18% of new web pages submitted through sitemaps experience temporary indexing delays. Google’s stricter quality filters prioritize freshness, originality, and engagement. Websites with clear content structures and strong authority are indexed up to 70% faster than those with duplicate templates or technical flaws.

This trend shows that technical SEO alone isn’t enough—Google’s indexing now deeply intertwines with user satisfaction metrics and topical authority.

Proactive Habits to Avoid Future Issues

To keep your site consistently indexed:

• Publish fresh, well-researched content weekly.
• Link new pages from existing, indexed articles.
• Keep metadata accurate and descriptive.
• Run monthly technical audits.
• Avoid keyword stuffing or automated content generation.

Creating a strong publishing rhythm and maintaining editorial quality standards ensures that Google views your site as trustworthy and worth indexing.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you’ve implemented all these fixes and the problem persists, it may stem from deeper technical causes—like server misconfigurations, crawl traps, or CMS-related issues. SEO professionals can conduct log analysis, server reviews, and advanced audits to identify hidden crawl barriers.

Final Thoughts

The “Crawled – currently not indexed” issue can feel discouraging, but it’s not permanent. It’s Google’s way of signaling that your site needs refinement, not punishment. By focusing on content value, structure, and usability, you can transform these non-indexed pages into valuable traffic drivers.

Strong internal linking, a clean sitemap, and consistent publishing go a long way in convincing Google your website deserves full visibility. With a proactive approach, most pages recover within weeks and maintain healthy index status moving forward.