Understanding the Discrepancy Between Google Search Console Reports and URL Inspection Results
If you’ve noticed a puzzling inconsistency in your Google Search Console (GSC) reports—where certain pages are listed as “Crawled – currently not indexed” but then appear as “Indexed” when you use the URL Inspection tool—you’re not alone. This situation can cause confusion for website owners and SEO professionals alike, raising questions about the true indexing status of their pages.
What Does the “Crawled – currently not indexed” Status Signify?
In GSC, the “Crawled – currently not indexed” status indicates that Google has successfully crawled the page but has not added it to its search index. This can happen for various reasons, such as quality concerns, duplicate content, or whether Google deems the page valuable enough to serve in search results.
Contradiction in URL Inspection Tool Results
Interestingly, when inspecting individual URLs using the Google URL Inspection tool, the reports often state that the URL is “On Google” and “Page is indexed.” This discrepancy can lead to confusion: Is the page truly indexed or not?
Understanding the Discrepancy
This inconsistency is usually due to the way Google updates and reports on indexing status. The “Crawled – currently not indexed” message reflects a recent crawl where the page has yet to be added to the live search index, perhaps due to processing delays or editorial decisions. Meanwhile, the URL Inspection tool may show a snapshot of the current status, which can differ based on the timing of the last crawl and index update.
What Should Website Owners Do?
- Monitor Trends Over Time: Check if the “not indexed” status persists over several days or weeks. Temporary statuses can resolve themselves without intervention.
- Review Content Quality and Uniqueness: Ensure your pages offer valuable, original content aligning with Google’s quality guidelines.
- Check for Technical Issues: Use GSC and other tools to identify any crawl errors or server issues that could hinder indexing.
- Resubmit URLs if Necessary: In some cases, requesting re-indexing via GSC can help expedite the process.
- Patience Is Key: Indexing processes can sometimes take time, especially during major site updates or if Google is experiencing high crawling demands.
In Summary
While it may seem contradictory, the different statuses reported by Google Search Console and the URL Inspection tool are part of the complex and sometimes asynchronous process of website