A deindexed page is a webpage removed from search engine indexes, making it invisible in search results and organic traffic.
What Is a Deindexed Page?
When a page is deindexed, it no longer appears in Google or other search engines. This typically happens when the page violates guidelines or when it’s blocked from being crawled or indexed. Unlike a low-ranking page, a deindexed page won’t appear in search results at all—even if you search for its exact URL.
Common Reasons for Deindexing:
- Manual Penalty – Due to black-hat SEO tactics or spammy content.
- Robots.txt Blocking – Improper settings that prevent crawling.
- Noindex Meta Tag – Tells search engines not to index the page.
- Duplicate or Thin Content – Pages that offer no unique value.
- Malware or Security Issues – Google may remove pages for safety concerns.
How to Check if a Page Is Deindexed:
- Search
site:yourdomain.com/page-url
in Google. - Use tools like Google Search Console for index coverage reports.
- Use URL Inspection Tool in GSC to see current indexing status.
How to Fix Deindexed Pages:
- Identify the cause (manual action, noindex, etc.).
- Resolve the issue (remove noindex tag, improve content, fix robots.txt).
- Request reindexing via Google Search Console.
Best Practices:
- Regularly monitor index coverage in Search Console.
- Ensure quality, unique, and secure content.
- Avoid black-hat SEO techniques.
- Keep technical SEO hygiene up to date.
Example:
A product page with thin content and excessive keyword stuffing was deindexed. After improving content and removing spammy links, reindexing was requested—and the page returned to search results in days.