Google has shared fresh clarity on one of the most confusing Search Console messages: “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed.”
During an interview at SERP Conf 2024, Google’s Gary Illyes explained why Google may crawl a page but still decide not to index it. His comments help website owners understand what goes wrong and how to fix it.
This issue matters because pages that are not indexed do not appear in Google Search. Over time, this can hurt traffic and visibility.
Crawled Not Indexed: Why Google Crawls a Page but Does Not Index It
Gary Illyes explained that this status does not have one single cause. It can happen for many reasons. Some are content-related. Others are technical.
Here are the most common reasons shared by Google:
- The content is very similar to pages already indexed
- Google finds a duplicate version with better signals
- Another website publishes the same content and performs better
- The page adds no new value to search results
- Google sees the page as low priority
Google tries to keep its index useful. If a page looks repetitive or weak, Google may skip indexing it.
Also read about: Google’s Mueller Explains ‘Page Indexed Without Content Error’
Site Quality and Technical Issues Also Matter
Google also looks at the overall quality of the website. If many URLs show “crawled – not indexed,” it may signal a bigger problem.
Gary Illyes said Google’s view of a site can change over time. When trust drops, indexing also drops.
Other common technical reasons include:
- The site shows the same content on many URLs
- Pages return errors during crawling
- Poor internal linking
- Thin or auto-generated pages
- Large number of low-quality URLs
In some cases, a technical bug causes all URLs to show the same page. Google then avoids indexing them.
What Website Owners Should Do
Google recommends reviewing content and site setup carefully.
Key actions to take:
- Improve content quality and originality
- Avoid duplicate or syndicated content
- Fix technical errors
- Strengthen internal links
- Focus on user value, not volume
Indexing improves when Google trusts the site again.
Reddit Keyword Research Reveals Hidden SEO Opportunities
SEO experts are increasingly turning to Reddit to uncover keyword ideas that traditional tools often miss.
Reddit keyword research helps marketers find real user questions, pain points, and search intent directly from online discussions. As AI-driven search grows, this method is becoming more valuable for content planning and SEO growth.
Reddit users speak naturally. They ask detailed questions. They share real problems. This makes Reddit a strong source for long-tail keywords and content gaps that do not appear in standard keyword tools.
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