Analysing Google Search Console Indexing Effectively

For the fundamentals (reports, performance, key features), start with our Google Search Console guide. Here, we focus on analysing indexing in Google Search Console: how to read the signals objectively, diagnose exclusions, and then take a methodical approach so that Google retains the pages that truly matter in its index.

Analysing Indexing in Google Search Console: Methods, Diagnostics and Actionable Steps

In a context where Google captures a very large share of search (89.9% global market share according to Webnyxt, 2026, with figures detailed in our SEO statistics), indexing is not a minor technical detail: it is a prerequisite for visibility. But "being indexed" does not mean "ranking well", nor does it guarantee traffic. The aim is to align what you want to rank, what Google crawls and understands, and what Google ultimately chooses to keep in its index.

Connecting Your Site to Google Search Console: Properties, Access Rights and Key Checks

Reliable indexing analysis starts with clean configuration. Choosing the wrong property or having incomplete permissions creates blind spots: you end up diagnosing only part of the site, or a variant that is not the one actually in use.

How to Connect Google Search Console for Your Configuration

There are two main approaches:

• Domain property: covers all variants. Choose this when you want a complete, site-wide view.
• URL-prefix property: restricts analysis to a specific URL base. This can be useful if you segment by subdomains.

For verification, prioritise a method that matches your technical access. Then add the right users, with permissions aligned to their responsibilities.

What to Check If No Data Appears

If you are seeing nothing, check these points before concluding there is an "indexing issue":

• The correct property: ensure you are viewing the domain and the variant that is genuinely in use.
• Access rights: confirm your account has permission.
• Time lag: data collection is not instantaneous.
• Is the site new? A newly launched site may be known to Google but still lightly crawled.

Understanding the Crawl → Render → Index Cycle

Google follows a sequence: URL discovery, crawling, rendering, and then an indexing decision. A problem at any stage can explain an exclusion.

Why a Crawled Page Is Not Necessarily Indexed

A page can be crawled and still not be indexed if Google determines that:

• the content is too thin or not sufficiently useful;
• the canonical points to another "reference" URL;
• rendering is incomplete (blocked resources, content not loading);
• the page is not important enough within the site architecture.

In other words, "crawled" mainly proves Google could access the URL, not that it considered it worth keeping in the index.

What Indexing Changes for Rankings

Indexing makes a page eligible to rank. It does not guarantee rankings. Clicks are heavily concentrated on the top positions, so think in terms of "clean indexing + ability to reach the top 10" rather than "indexing equals traffic".

Reading Indexing Reports Without Misinterpretation

Indexing reports are genuinely helpful if you avoid two traps: (1) analysing volumes without segmentation, and (2) looking for a single cause when a status can cover multiple real-world scenarios.

Site-Level Analysis: Indexed Pages, Non-Indexed Pages and Trends

The goal is not to index 100% of URLs. The goal is to achieve a high proportion of useful pages indexed whilst reducing URL "noise".

Segment by Page Type and Click Depth

Read your data like a portfolio:

• By template: articles, category pages, product pages.
• By click depth: pages buried too deeply tend to be discovered more slowly.

This prevents broad conclusions such as "Google no longer indexes the site" when the issue is actually isolated to one template.

Spotting Abnormal Variations

Robust analysis relies on a baseline: how many "important" URLs are indexed under normal conditions, and which exclusion statuses are expected. Then compare trends against that baseline.

URL-Level Analysis: Getting Value From URL Inspection

When a status is unclear, URL Inspection acts like a microscope. It helps you confirm what Google has actually taken into account.

Distinguishing "In the Index" From "Crawled – Currently Not Indexed"

• Discovered: Google knows the URL, but may not have crawled it yet.
• Crawled – currently not indexed: Google crawled the page but did not retain it.
• In the index: the URL is eligible to rank.

The key is to treat each state as a hypothesis to test.

Checking the Canonical Version and Blocked Resources

Three checks often change the diagnosis:

• Canonical: Google may choose a different canonical URL from the one you specify.
• Rendering: confirm Google sees a complete page after rendering, not a partial shell.
• Blocked resources: if critical CSS/JS is inaccessible, Google may misinterpret the layout and content.

Resolving the Common Causes of Non-Indexing

Effective troubleshooting follows a simple order: fix anything that blocks access first, then address what reduces perceived value.

Technical Blockers to Fix First

Before rewriting content, ensure Google can access and interpret your pages correctly.

Indexing Directives: noindex, Headers and Conflicting Canonicals

Check explicit exclusion signals: meta robots tags, HTTP headers and inconsistent canonicals.

Access Control: robots.txt, Authentication and Redirects

Review:

• robots.txt: ensure no blocking rules affect key directories.
• Authentication: avoid unintended login walls.
• Redirects: minimise and remove redirect chains.

Quality Issues That Limit Indexing

When technical access is sound, exclusions often come down to prioritisation: Google chooses not to index pages it deems too similar, too weak, or not sufficiently distinctive.

Thin Content and Duplication

Thin or duplicated pages tend to struggle with indexing. Prioritise clear differentiation and an easy-to-scan structure.

Unhelpful Crawl Paths

URL parameters and filters can generate thousands of near-identical URLs. Decide which views genuinely deserve indexing.

Optimising Crawl Budget

Google crawls at scale, but your site still competes with itself for attention. Optimisation is about reducing "noise".

Reducing Non-Strategic URLs

Stabilise templates before scaling page volume. Also reduce non-strategic URLs wherever possible.

Submitting an Indexing Request in Google Search Console

Requesting indexing can help… if you do it at the right time. A manual request is not an indexing strategy for large-scale sites.

When to Request Indexing for a Page

Request indexing when you have a clear reason to believe the page should enter Google's index quickly.

Use Cases: New Page, Fix Applied, Critical Update

• New strategic page.
• Technical fix applied.
• Critical update.

How to Submit a Request via URL Inspection

The standard method is to use the URL Inspection tool and then request crawling after verification.

Validation Steps

Follow this order:

1. Inspect the URL.
2. Test the live URL.
3. Request indexing.

Keep in mind that processing depends on crawl priorities.

Measuring Impact: Metrics and Alerts

Indexing analysis becomes valuable when you connect it to observable outcomes: visibility, clicks and business performance.

Linking Indexing Findings to Performance

Search Console describes what happens before the click. To understand business value after the click, you need to combine it with Google Analytics.

Comparing Indexed vs Non-Indexed Pages

Build a simple comparison:

• indexed pages that perform;
• non-indexed but strategic pages.

Industrialising Analysis With Incremys

Incremys, a 360° SEO SaaS platform, integrates Google Search Console and Google Analytics via API to centralise indexing signals and put them into context alongside performance.

Centralising Search and Performance Data

Centralisation reduces friction between diagnosis and execution.

Identifying Opportunities and Turning Indexing Signals Into Actions

Spot pages that should be strong but remain excluded, then translate the signals into clear, practical next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Indexing in Search Console

How Do I Connect Google Search Console Correctly?

First choose the right property, then verify it using the appropriate method, and finally check you are viewing the correct HTTPS version that is actually used.

How Can I Request Indexing Without Making Unnecessary Requests?

Only submit requests for strategic pages. Use URL Inspection to check rendering and the canonical selection.

How Do I Submit an Indexing Request for a Specific Page?

Use URL Inspection in Google Search Console, run a live test, then request indexing if the URL is eligible.

How Can I Get Multiple Pages Indexed Quickly?

Prioritise a clean sitemap, internal links pointing to new pages, and stable templates.

To explore more topics in SEO, GEO and digital marketing, visit the Incremys Blog.

Further reading

Explore the other sections of our Google Search Console guide:

• Google Search Console
• sitemaps
• noindex
• robots.txt
• crawl stats
• remove outdated content
• 404 errors
• performance
• Search Console and Google Analytics
• API