The “Submitted URL Marked ‘Noindex’” notification in Google Search Console is a common issue encountered by website administrators and SEO professionals. This error appears in the Coverage report under the “Pages” section, indicating a conflict between a submitted URL and its indexing instructions. Addressing this issue is critical for ensuring proper indexing and maximizing a website’s visibility in search results.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the error, its causes, and detailed steps to resolve it. Targeted at website owners, developers, and SEO specialists, the content is structured to deliver actionable insights in a formal and professional manner. The current date is February 28, 2025, and the information presented reflects the latest practices in SEO and Google Search Console functionality.
Definition of “Submitted URL Marked ‘Noindex’”
The “Submitted URL Marked ‘Noindex’” error occurs when a URL submitted to Google via a sitemap or manual indexing request contains a “noindex” directive. A “noindex” directive, typically implemented as a meta tag (<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex”>) or an X-Robots-Tag in the HTTP header, instructs search engines not to include the page in their index. When Google detects this directive on a URL explicitly submitted for indexing, it flags the discrepancy as an error in Search Console.
This conflict arises because submitting a URL signals an intent for it to be indexed, while the “noindex” directive explicitly prohibits indexing. Google Search Console highlights this issue to alert website administrators to potential misconfigurations requiring resolution.
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1- Causes of the Error
Several factors may lead to the “Submitted URL Marked ‘Noindex’” error. Understanding these causes is essential for effective troubleshooting:
- Unintentional Noindex Directives
A “noindex” tag may have been inadvertently added to a page’s HTML or server configuration. This is common in content management systems (CMS) where SEO plugins or settings allow users to apply “noindex” to specific pages, such as archives or drafts, without proper documentation. - Inconsistent Sitemap Configuration
Sitemaps may include URLs not intended for indexing, such as login pages, administrative sections, or temporary pages, which are often marked “noindex” by design. Including these in a submitted sitemap triggers the error. - Legacy Configurations
Pages initially set to “noindex” during development or testing phases may retain this directive after being submitted for indexing, leading to a mismatch. - Server-Side Directives
An X-Robots-Tag in the HTTP header can apply “noindex” instructions, particularly to non-HTML resources like PDFs or images. This is less visible than HTML meta tags and may go unnoticed. - CMS or Theme Defaults
Certain CMS platforms or website themes automatically apply “noindex” tags to specific page types (e.g., tag pages, search results) to prevent duplicate content issues. If these pages are included in a sitemap, the error occurs.
2- Impact on Website Performance
The significance of this error depends on the affected URLs. For pages intentionally excluded from search results—such as internal tools or transactional pages—the “noindex” directive is appropriate, and the issue lies in the sitemap submission. However, for pages intended for indexing—such as product listings, articles, or landing pages—the error prevents visibility in search results, potentially reducing organic traffic.
Additionally, unresolved errors may contribute to inefficient use of Google’s crawl budget, the finite resources allocated to scanning a website. Submitting URLs that cannot be indexed wastes crawling capacity, which could impact larger sites with extensive page counts.
- Identifying Affected URLs
To address the error, administrators must first identify the URLs involved. Follow these steps in Google Search Console:
- Access the Coverage Report
Navigate to the “Pages” section under “Indexing” in the left sidebar of Google Search Console. - Locate the Error
In the “Why pages aren’t indexed” section, find the entry labeled “Submitted URL marked ‘noindex’” and note the number of affected URLs. - Review the URL List
Click the error to access a detailed table listing the specific URLs. Export this data using the “Export” option for further analysis if necessary.
✔️ Also Read: Why Google’s Rich Results Tool Can Be Misleading?
3- Resolving the Error
Resolution depends on whether the affected URLs should be indexed. Below are formal procedures for both scenarios.
Case 1: URLs Intended for Indexing
If the URLs are meant to appear in search results, the “noindex” directive must be removed, and Google must be prompted to recrawl the pages.
Step 1: Verify the Noindex Directive
Inspect the page’s source code by accessing it in a browser, right-clicking, and selecting “View Page Source.” Use the search function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to locate <meta name=”robots” content=”noindex”>. For HTTP header directives, employ an SEO tool like Screaming Frog or consult a developer.
Step 2: Remove the Directive
Adjust the configuration based on the platform:
WordPress: Access the page in the editor, navigate to the SEO plugin settings (e.g., Yoast SEO, Rank Math), and enable indexing by setting the option to “index” or equivalent.
Shopify: Modify settings via an SEO app or edit the theme’s code to eliminate the “noindex” tag.
Custom Websites: Update the HTML file or server configuration to remove the directive.
Step 3: Conduct a Live Test
In Google Search Console, use the “URL Inspection” tool. Enter the URL, select “Test Live URL,” and confirm the “noindex” directive is no longer present.
Step 4: Request Indexing
Within the URL Inspection tool, select “Request Indexing” to expedite Google’s reprocessing of the URL. Note that processing times may vary from days to weeks.
Case 2: URLs Not Intended for Indexing
If the URLs should remain excluded from search results, the “noindex” directive is correct, and the sitemap requires adjustment.
Step 1: Examine the Sitemap
Locate the sitemap file (e.g., domain.com/sitemap.xml) or review submitted sitemaps under the “Sitemaps” section in Search Console. Confirm the presence of the affected URLs.
Step 2: Exclude the URLs
Modify the sitemap based on the platform:
WordPress: Ensure SEO plugins exclude “noindex” pages automatically or manually edit the sitemap file.
Shopify: Use an SEO app or adjust the theme’s sitemap generation settings.
Custom Websites: Edit the XML sitemap to remove the URLs.
Step 3: Update Sitemap Submission
In the “Sitemaps” section of Search Console, remove the outdated sitemap and submit the revised version.
Step 4: Validate the Resolution
Return to the Coverage report, select “Validate Fix” next to the error, and allow Google time to reassess the URLs (typically one to two weeks).
3- Verification and Monitoring
Post-resolution, monitor the Coverage report over the subsequent weeks to ensure the error count decreases. Persistent issues may indicate overlooked “noindex” directives or sitemap inaccuracies, necessitating further investigation.
- Preventative Measures To minimize future occurrences of this error, consider the following best practices:
- Sitemap Audits: Regularly review sitemaps using tools like Screaming Frog to ensure only indexable URLs are included prior to submission.
- Automated Tools: Leverage CMS plugins or SEO tools to align sitemap generation with indexing preferences.
- Pre-Launch Protocols: Apply “noindex” directives during development but remove them before submitting sitemaps for live sites.
- Team Coordination: Establish clear guidelines for team members managing website settings to maintain consistency.
✔️ Also Read: How to Submit a Sitemap to Google: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Sum up
The “Submitted URL Marked ‘Noindex’” error in Google Search Console highlights a configuration conflict that, while not inherently severe, requires prompt attention to optimize indexing and crawl efficiency. By systematically identifying affected URLs and applying the appropriate fixes—either removing “noindex” directives or refining sitemaps—administrators can resolve the issue effectively. Implementing preventative measures further ensures long-term alignment between a website’s indexing goals and Google’s crawling behavior.
This guide offers a structured approach to addressing the error, suitable for professionals managing websites across various platforms. For additional assistance, Google Search Console documentation and SEO forums provide valuable resources.
