Previously, we discussed the Google Search Console issue “Discovered – currently not indexed” — if you missed that article, you can read it here.
Let’s take a closer look at another common indexing issue: “Crawled – currently not indexed.”
At first glance, these two statuses may seem similar — after all, both indicate that your page isn't appearing in Google search results. If you investigate further, you’ll find that they are two entirely different stages in the indexing process and mean very different things when it comes to diagnosing and fixing SEO problems.
In this article, we’ll break down what “Crawled – currently not indexed” really means, why it happens, and most importantly, what you can do to fix it.
Let’s find “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” pages in Google Search Console.
To check if your site has any pages affected by the “Crawled – currently not indexed” status, follow these steps:
Open Google Search Console for your property.
In the left-hand menu, go to Indexing → Pages.
Go down and find the text titled “Why pages aren’t indexed.”
Find “Crawled – currently not indexed” in the list of reasons.
If it appears, click it to see:
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A chart showing how the number of affected pages has changed over time.
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A list of example URLs with this issue.
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The option to inspect individual URLs and request indexing (after fixing any issues).
Understanding the Difference Between “Discovered” and “Crawled” but Not Indexed
In Google Search Console, you may come across different reasons why your pages are not indexed.
Two of the most common and often confused statuses are:
“Discovered – currently not indexed” and “Crawled – currently not indexed.”
Below is a comparison table that clearly outlines what each status means, the common reasons behind them, and what actions you can take.
Why Google Chooses Not to Index a Page After Crawling It
When Google visits (or “crawls”) a page but doesn’t add it to its search index, it’s usually not by accident. Google is very selective — it only wants to show pages in search results that are useful and relevant. Since it can’t index everything on the internet, it tries to focus on content that offers real value to users.
Here are the main reasons why Google might skip indexing a page after crawling it:
1. Thin or Low-Quality Content
Pages with very little or no useful content often don’t get indexed. This includes pages that are mostly empty, have copied content, or just provide minimal value.
2. Duplicate or Similar Content
If your page’s content closely matches another page already indexed (either on your site or elsewhere), Google may choose to index only the best version to avoid cluttering search results.
3. Technical or On-Page Issues
Problems such as incorrect or conflicting canonical tags, meta tags that discourage indexing (like no-index), or poor site structure can lead to exclusion from the index.
If multiple pages target the same keywords or topics, Google might index only the strongest one and ignore the rest to avoid confusing users.
5. Poor User Experience Signals
Slow loading speed, intrusive ads, or other negative user experience factors may influence Google’s decision not to index certain pages.
6. Crawl Budget and Prioritization
Sometimes Google’s algorithm decides the page isn’t important enough to include immediately, especially on large sites with many pages competing for attention.
Be Patient! Indexing Doesn’t Happen Overnight.
Google needs to evaluate the quality and relevance of your page before deciding whether it deserves a spot in the search index. Make it a habit to monitor your site in Google Search Console as it’s the best way to catch any crawl or indexing issues early. If GSC flags a problem, don’t ignore it — address it promptly.
When you make changes to your content or technical setup, keep track of what you adjusted– this way, you can better understand what’s hurting your site’s visibility over time.
If your page has been crawled but isn’t indexed yet, don’t panic. Indexing takes time, especially for newer websites or recently published content.