How Can You Check if Your Website Is Being Indexed Under Mobile-First Indexing in Google Search Console?
Summary
To check if your website is being indexed under mobile-first indexing in Google Search Console, you need to inspect specific properties and use the "URL Inspection" tool. Google's mobile-first indexing means that Google predominantly uses the mobile version of the content for indexing and ranking. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to verify this status in Google Search Console.
Using Google Search Console to Check Mobile-First Indexing
1. Access Google Search Console
First, log in to your Google Search Console account. If you haven't set up your website in Search Console, follow their instructions to add and verify your property.
2. Navigate to Settings
In the left-hand sidebar of the Google Search Console dashboard, scroll down and click on the “Settings” option. This will open the settings page for your website property.
3. Check Mobile-First Indexing Status
On the Settings page, you will see a section titled "Indexing Crawler". Here, you can check whether Google is currently indexing your site using mobile-first indexing or not. If your site is being indexed using the mobile-first approach, you will see an indication such as "Googlebot Smartphone" as the primary crawler.
Example:
<p>Indexing Crawler: Googlebot Smartphone</p>
4. Use the URL Inspection Tool
For checking individual pages, use the "URL Inspection" tool in Google Search Console. Enter the URL of the page you want to check and hit Enter. After the inspection, scroll down to find “Coverage” and then look for the "Crawled as" section, which denotes if it was crawled by the "Googlebot Smartphone."
Examples and Practical Tips
Example of Mobile-First Indexing Notification
If your site has been switched to mobile-first indexing, you may receive an email notification from Google Search Console. The email will contain messages like “Mobile-first indexing enabled for...” followed by your domain name.
Tip: Optimize for Mobile
Ensure your website is mobile-friendly because, with mobile-first indexing, Google will predominantly use the mobile version of your site content for indexing and ranking. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to check your site.
Conclusion
Verifying if your website is being indexed under mobile-first indexing in Google Search Console involves checking settings and using the URL Inspection tool. Ensuring that your site is optimized for mobile users is crucial due to Google's shift towards mobile-first indexing.