By Shad Super in Questions —

How Can Website Owners Troubleshoot Google's Indexing Issues Using the URL Inspection Tool?

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Summary

The URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console is a powerful instrument for website owners to troubleshoot indexing issues. It allows you to inspect the current status of a URL in Google's index, identify issues, and understand how Googlebot views your website. This guide details how to effectively use the tool to diagnose and resolve indexing issues.

Accessing the URL Inspection Tool

To begin using the URL Inspection Tool, you need access to Google Search Console. Once logged in:

  • Navigate to the property (website) you want to inspect.
  • Enter the URL you want to inspect in the search bar at the top and press Enter.

The tool will display the indexed status of the URL and any related issues.

Understanding the Indexed Status

The tool provides crucial information about whether a URL is indexed by Google, and if not, why it might not be:

  • URL is on Google: Indicates that the URL is indexed and appears in search results.
  • URL is not on Google: Indicates the URL is not indexed, accompanied by potential reasons.

For detailed analysis, the tool shows:

  • Coverage: Information about the URL's indexing status and reasons for exclusions.
  • Enhancements: Details about applied enhancements like AMP, mobile usability, and more.

For more details on indexing status, see Google's [URL Inspection Tool Guide](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/9012289?hl=en) [Google Search Console Help, 2023].

Diagnosing Common Indexing Issues

Coverage Issues

The Coverage report indicates why a page may not be indexed. Common issues include:

  • Submitted URL marked ‘noindex’: Ensure the page is not blocked by a ‘noindex’ directive.
  • Submitted URL blocked by robots.txt: Check your robots.txt file to ensure it isn’t accidentally blocking Googlebot.

For more on robots.txt, refer to [Google Developers, 2023].

Enhancement Issues

Enhancements like AMP and mobile usability are also checked:

  • AMP validation errors: Use the AMP test tool to identify and fix issues [AMP Test, 2023].
  • Mobile usability issues: Ensure the page is mobile-friendly, especially with Google's mobile-first indexing [Mobile-First Indexing, 2023].

Requesting Indexing

If a page isn't indexed, you can request indexing:

  • Click on “Request Indexing” after making necessary fixes.
  • Google will re-crawl the page, although this doesn’t guarantee indexing.

See more on requesting indexing in Google’s [URL Inspection Tool Help, 2023].

Conclusion

The Google URL Inspection Tool is invaluable for diagnosing and fixing indexing issues. By understanding coverage and enhancement reports, addressing common issues, and following best practices, website owners can ensure their pages are indexed correctly and visible in search results.

References

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