A noindex tag is a directive that tells search engines not to include a specific webpage in their search results. When a page has a noindex tag, search engines can still crawl it, but they won’t index or rank it.
The noindex tag is commonly used to keep low-value, duplicate, or private pages out of search engines like Google, while allowing important pages to remain visible.
How the Noindex Tag Works
When a search engine crawler visits a page with a noindex directive, it reads the instruction and excludes the page from its index.
Noindex can be implemented in two main ways:
- Meta robots tag (HTML)
<meta name="robots" content="noindex">
- HTTP header
X-Robots-Tag: noindex
Once processed, the page will not appear in search results, even if it has backlinks.
Why Noindex Tags Matter for SEO
Noindex tags are important because they:
- Prevent low-quality pages from ranking
- Reduce duplicate content issues
- Improve crawl efficiency
- Focus SEO value on important pages
- Help maintain a clean search index presence
Using noindex strategically can actually improve overall SEO performance.
Common Use Cases for Noindex Tags
Noindex tags are often used on:
- Thank-you or confirmation pages
- Internal search result pages
- Filtered or faceted URLs
- Login and account pages
- Staging or test environments
- Thin or outdated content
These pages don’t need to rank but still serve a functional purpose.
Noindex vs. Nofollow
| Noindex | Nofollow |
|---|---|
| Removes a page from search results | Prevents link crawling |
| Affects indexing | Affects link equity flow |
| Page can still be crawled | Links are not followed |
| Used for page control | Used for link control |
They serve different purposes and can be used together when needed.
Noindex vs. Canonical Tag
- Noindex: Removes a page from search results
- Canonical tag: Consolidates duplicate pages into one preferred URL
If you want a page gone from search results, use noindex.
If you want to choose which version ranks, use a canonical tag.
Best Practices for Using Noindex Tags
- Don’t noindex important SEO pages
- Ensure noindexed pages are still crawlable
- Remove internal links to pages that shouldn’t matter
- Use self-canonicals on indexable pages
- Monitor changes in Google Search Console
Common Noindex Mistakes
- Accidentally noindexing entire sites
- Blocking noindexed pages in robots.txt (prevents crawlers from seeing the tag)
- Leaving noindex on pages after launch
- Using noindex instead of canonical
- Forgetting to test after implementation
How Long Does Noindex Take to Work?
Typically, search engines remove noindexed pages after the next crawl. This can take a few days or weeks depending on crawl frequency.
FAQs About Noindex Tags
Does noindex remove a page immediately?
Not instantly. The page must be crawled first.
Can a noindexed page still get traffic?
Yes, from direct visits, referrals, or paid traffic.
Can I use noindex on paginated pages?
Yes, depending on your SEO strategy.
Should noindexed pages be in sitemaps?
No. Sitemaps should only include indexable pages.
Can noindex hurt SEO?
Only if used incorrectly. When used properly, it improves site quality and focus.