How to Check If a Page Is Indexed by Google (4 Free Ways)
Four free ways to see whether Google has indexed a page, and what to do when it has not.
A page that is not in Google's index cannot rank, no matter how good it is. So when a new page gets no search traffic, the first question is simple: has Google indexed it at all? Here are four free ways to check, from most to least reliable.
1. URL Inspection in Search Console (most reliable)
- Open Google Search Console for your site.
- Paste the full URL into the search bar at the top.
- Read the result: "URL is on Google" means indexed; "URL is not on Google" shows the reason, such as noindex, a redirect, or "Crawled โ currently not indexed".
It also shows the canonical Google chose and when the page was last crawled. You can request indexing from the same screen.
2. The Page indexing report
In Search Console, Indexing โ Pages lists indexed and not-indexed URLs, grouped by reason. It is the best overview for a whole site. Click a reason to see example URLs. Two common statuses have their own guides: crawled โ currently not indexed and discovered โ currently not indexed.
3. The site: search (quick, approximate)
Type site:example.com/your-page into Google. If the page appears, it is indexed. If not, it may still be indexed โ the site: operator is not a complete or exact tool. Use it for a quick look, not a final answer, and for sites you do not own.
4. Check indexability signals
If a page is not indexed, check that nothing on your side prevents it:
- No
noindexmeta tag or X-Robots-Tag header. - Not blocked in robots.txt.
- Returns a 200 status, not a redirect or error.
- Has a canonical tag pointing to itself, not to another URL.
The free bulk indexability checker checks these signals for a whole list of URLs at once โ useful after a site launch or migration. It shows whether pages can be indexed; Search Console shows whether Google actually indexed them.
What to do if the page is not indexed
- Fix any blocking signal (noindex, robots.txt, wrong canonical, redirect).
- Make sure the page is linked from other pages on your site and listed in your sitemap.
- Improve thin content so the page is worth indexing.
- Request indexing in URL Inspection.
See what a canonical tag is and noindex vs disallow for the two most common blocking mistakes.
After a site launch or migration
Check indexing systematically, not page by page:
- Export your important URLs (or load your sitemap) and run them through a bulk indexability check to catch noindex tags and blocked pages left over from development.
- Submit the new sitemap in Search Console.
- Inspect five to ten of your most important pages individually and request indexing.
- Watch the Page indexing report daily for the first two weeks for sudden rises in excluded pages.
Most launch problems are caught in the first step, before Google has had time to drop pages.
Related guides
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Google take to index a new page?
Anywhere from hours to weeks, depending on the site and how well the page is linked.
Why does site: show fewer pages than Search Console?
The site: operator gives an approximate sample. Search Console's indexing report is more accurate.
Can I check indexing for a competitor's site?
Only roughly, with the site: search. URL Inspection works only for sites you own.
Does requesting indexing guarantee it?
No. It prompts a recrawl; Google still decides whether to index.