Crawled currently not indexed: The way into the Google index

What does 'Crawled currently not indexed' mean?

The message "Crawled currently not indexed" in the Google Search Console informs website operators that Google has visited (i.e. crawled) a URL, but it has not been included in the index for various reasons. This means that the page in question does not appear in the search results and therefore remains invisible to users.

This is how crawling and indexing works:

Crawling:
Googlebot - Google's web crawler - regularly scans your website to detect new or updated content.

Indexing:
After crawling, Google decides whether a page is included in the search index. Factors such as content quality, technical details and relevance play an important role here.

Why is indexing important?

Without indexing, there is no visibility. Only indexed pages can be displayed in the search results and thus lead visitors to your website. If important pages remain in the "not indexed" status, potential traffic is lost - and this has a direct impact on your reach and your business.

Possible causes for 'Crawled currently not indexed'

If your page is not included in the index, there may be various reasons for this. Below you will find the most common causes that you should check.

1. duplicate content

Duplicate content occurs when content on several URLs is identical or very similar. Google often classifies such pages as redundant and decides to index only one version - the others are left out.

Examples of duplicate content:

• Multiple product pages with the same descriptions.
• Blog posts that are mirrored on different domains or subdomains.
• Print versions of pages without canonical URLs.

Solutions for you:

• Definiere eine kanonische URL mithilfe des <link rel="canonical">-Tags.
• Avoid duplicate content by designing each text individually.
• Consolidate similar pages into a single URL with comprehensive content.

2. thin content

Thin content refers to pages with minimal or low-quality content. Google prefers pages that offer users real added value.

Typical features of thin content:

• Pages with few words and hardly any information.
• Automatically generated content without any real benefit.
• Blank or incomplete pages.

How to improve these pages:

• Add useful information, graphics or videos to enhance the page.
• Think about your target group: What is a user looking for on this page?
• Optimize the structure and include relevant internal links.

3. technical errors

Technical problems can also prevent Google from indexing your site. You should take a closer look at these problems:

4. time delays - patience is required

New pages or freshly revised content often take time for Google to include them in the index. Especially with a large number of new pages or a website with little trust from Google, indexing can be delayed.

Solution approaches:

• Manual indexing request: Use the URL check in the Google Search Console to suggest the page for indexing directly.
• Optimize crawling budget: Make sure your website crawls efficiently by reducing unnecessary pages.
• Wait and see: Give Google time to complete the process.

Solutions for 'Crawled currently not indexed'

Once you've identified the possible causes, it's time to take targeted action to solve the problem. Here are effective strategies to help you successfully rank your pages in the Google index.

1. optimize content

Content is the key to indexing. Google prioritizes pages that are informative, unique and useful. Check your pages for quality and added value.

How to improve your content:

• Create high-quality content: Provide content that meets the needs of your target group. Answer common questions and offer solutions.
• Use relevant keywords: Use keywords sensibly without impairing readability.
• Expand the content: Supplement short pages with additional information, images or videos.

Tip: Use tools such as Google Trends or the Keyword Planner to find topics and search terms that interest users.

2. technical optimizations

Many indexing problems can be traced back to technical errors. With the right adjustments, you can get your pages back into the index.

Check and optimize:

• XML sitemap: Make sure that all relevant URLs are included in the sitemap and that there are no errors. Update it if necessary and resubmit it to Google Search Console.
• Robots.txt: Check whether important pages are inadvertently blocked by Robots.txt. Correct the file if necessary.
• Incorrect redirects: Fix 404 errors and make sure that redirects are set up correctly.

Tip: Use tools such as Screaming Frog or Sitebulb to quickly identify technical problems.

3. use Google Search Console effectively

The Google Search Console is a powerful tool for identifying and fixing indexing problems. Use it to manually trigger your pages for indexing and monitor problems.

This is how you proceed:

1. Perform URL check: Enter the affected URL in Google Search Console and check the indexing status.
2. Request indexing: If the page is not indexed, click on "Request for indexing".
3. Perform a live test: Perform a live test to ensure that there are no technical blockages.

Tip: Regularly monitor the reports in Google Search Console to identify problems at an early stage.

4. use crawling budget efficiently

Google only crawls each website up to a certain limit - the so-called crawling budget. If this is wasted on unnecessary pages or duplicate content, this can hinder indexing.

Improve crawling efficiency:

• Reduce unnecessary pages: Remove outdated or irrelevant content.
• Use internal linking: Direct the Googlebot specifically to important pages.
• Consolidate content: Merged content saves crawling resources.

5. patience and monitoring

Sometimes patience is required. It can take a few days or weeks for Google to index new pages in particular.

Tips for this phase:

• Regularly check the status in Google Search Console.
• Wait at least 2-3 weeks before submitting another indexing request.
• Keep an eye on other SEO factors such as loading speed and mobile optimization.

Prevention: How to avoid indexing problems

Prevention is crucial to ensure that your websites are reliably indexed by Google. Many website operators face the problem of pages being reported as "currently not indexed" in the Google Search Console. With the right measures, you can avoid such errors and ensure smooth page indexing.

A key step is to regularly check your website. Use tools such as the Google Search Console to evaluate page indexing reports. Here you can see exactly whether Google has crawled and indexed your homepage, important products or other content. In addition, external SEO tools such as Ahrefs or Screaming Frog can help you to identify technical errors such as blocked feed URLs or missing redirects. If you notice faulty pages in the reports, you need to act quickly.

Technical best practices are essential to rule out problems at an early stage. A complete XML sitemap shows Google all relevant pages of your websites, while a correctly configured Robots.txt ensures that no important content is blocked. Also regularly check the connection and loading times of your site. Fast browser access makes crawling easier for Google and improves the user experience.

The quality of your content also plays a key role. Whether blog articles or product pages - Google prioritizes content that is unique, up-to-date and helpful. Therefore, update your pages regularly and avoid duplicate content. This not only increases the likelihood of your pages being indexed, but also improves their visibility.

Practical examples: Typical errors and their solutions

Indexing problems such as "crawled currently not indexed" are common challenges that many website operators face. Such problems can be caused by technical errors, weak content or inefficient structures. Below you will find typical sources of errors and tried-and-tested solutions.

1. missing XML sitemap for a new website

An XML sitemap shows Google which pages should be crawled and indexed. Without it, important content such as the homepage or product pages may not be taken into account.

Symptoms:

• Important websites do not appear in the index.
• The Google Search Console shows few or no crawled pages.

Solution:

• Create an XML sitemap that includes all relevant pages.
• Upload the sitemap to Google Search Console and check whether it has been processed successfully.

2. blocked pages by Robots.txt or Noindex

Technical blocks in the Robots.txt file or through "Noindex" instructions can prevent Google from indexing your pages. This often affects automatically generated feed URLs or categories.

Symptoms:

• The Search Console reports that pages are crawled but not indexed.
• Important content, such as product overviews, does not appear in the search results.

Solution:

• Check your Robots.txt file for entries that block crawling.
• Remove noindex tags from pages that are important for indexing, such as categories or product pages.

3. thin content on important pages

Pages with little or low-quality content are considered "thin content" by Google. Such pages offer little added value and are often not indexed.

Symptoms:

• Category or product pages with minimal or repetitive information.
• The Search Console reports that pages have "low quality".

Solution:

• Supplement weak content with detailed descriptions, helpful information or visual elements such as videos.
• Link relevant pages within your website to strengthen their importance.

4. incorrect forwarding

Non-functioning redirects or 404 errors can prevent the Googlebot from crawling and indexing a page correctly.

Symptoms:

• 404 errors occur frequently in the Google Search Console reports.
• Visitors end up on empty pages or in endless loops.

Solution:

• Use an SEO tool like Screaming Frog to detect redirect errors.
• Set up clean redirects and correct broken URLs.

5. too many irrelevant pages in the index

If your crawling budget is wasted on unimportant pages such as duplicate content or old product pages, relevant pages may go unconsidered.

Symptoms:

• The Search Console shows many crawled but not indexed pages.
• Essential content is missing from the search results.

Solution:

• Remove irrelevant or outdated pages from your website.
• Use internal linking to direct the Googlebot to important content.

Your path to successful indexing

The message "crawled currently not indexed" may seem like an insurmountable obstacle at first glance, but with targeted measures you can reliably get your pages into the Google index. It's all about identifying the most common causes such as duplicate content, thin content or technical errors and tackling them in a structured way.

A regular look at the Google Search Console gives you valuable insights into the status of your pages. Tools such as an error-free XML sitemap and a correctly configured Robots.txt help to direct the Googlebot to the relevant content on your website. At the same time, high-quality, well-structured content is the key to attracting the attention of users and search engines alike.

Don't forget that patience is a decisive factor. Some pages need time to find their place in the index. Use this time to make further optimizations - for example by removing outdated content or expanding your internal linking. This will ensure optimal page indexing in the long term.

With a mixture of technical precision, high-quality content and proactive monitoring, you are ideally positioned to make your websites visible and successful for search engines.

Frequently asked questions

1. what does "not indexed" mean?

"Not indexed" means that Google may have crawled the page, but it has not been included in the index. Such pages do not appear in the search results and are invisible to users.

2. what is the difference between "crawled currently not indexed" and "found currently not indexed"?

• "Crawled currently not indexed": Google has visited (crawled) the page, but has not included it in the index for various reasons. Causes can be duplicate content, thin content or technical problems.
• "Found not currently indexed": Google has discovered the URL (for example through external links or the sitemap), but the page has not yet been crawled. Crawling is still pending here.

3. what does indexing mean?

Indexing is the process by which Google includes a page in the search index. Only indexed pages can appear in the search results and thus direct users to the website.

4. what does it mean if a page is not indexed?

If a page is not indexed, it remains invisible to search engines. As a result, it does not receive any organic traffic via Google. This problem often affects pages with low-quality content, technical blockages or a lack of relevance.

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