If you’re seeing Google Search Console errors and feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Almost every website will face indexing or crawl issues at some point. These errors can affect your site’s SEO performance, but they’re usually fixable with the right approach. In this guide, I’ll break down the most common Google Search Console errors, what they mean, and exactly how you can fix them.
1. Server Errors (5xx)
What It Means
Server errors usually mean Google tried to crawl your site, but your server didn’t respond correctly. These errors typically occur due to server downtime, timeouts, or overloaded hosting.
How To Fix It
- Check your hosting performance and uptime logs.
- Use tools like GTmetrix or Pingdom to monitor downtime.
- Upgrade your hosting plan if your server is frequently unavailable.
- Use the URL Inspection Tool in Search Console to test the affected pages.
Tip: If you’re on shared hosting and see frequent 5xx errors, consider moving to VPS or cloud hosting.
Short Description: Google can’t access your site due to server problems. These Google Search Console errors often occur during downtime. Fix by improving hosting and testing live URLs.
2. Page With Redirect
What It Means
Google found a redirect but couldn’t properly follow it or ended up in a redirect loop.
How To Fix It
- Use tools like Screaming Frog to audit redirects.
- Avoid redirect chains (e.g., Page A > Page B > Page C).
- Ensure your redirect destination URL exists and returns a 200 status.
Short Description: Redirect-related Google Search Console errors appear when redirects break or loop. Confirm where the redirect leads. Fix incorrect or outdated destination URLs.
3. Alternate Page With Proper Canonical Tag
What It Means
This page isn’t indexed because Google followed the canonical tag pointing to another version.
How To Fix It
- Make sure your canonical tags are pointing to the correct, preferred version.
- Review duplicate content across your site.
Short Description: Google found duplicates and followed your canonical. These aren’t serious Google Search Console errors unless the canonical tag is wrong. Review and adjust if needed.
4. Excluded by ‘Noindex’ Tag
What It Means
The page is being blocked from indexing because of a noindex tag in the HTML or HTTP header.
How To Fix It
- Remove the
noindexdirective if you want the page indexed. - Check for it in your CMS settings, plugins, or manually in the page code.
Short Description: A noindex tag tells Google not to index a page. These Google Search Console errors may be intentional or accidental. Remove the tag if you want the page indexed.
5. Not Found (404)
What It Means
Google tried to crawl a page that doesn’t exist.
How To Fix It
- Create a redirect to a relevant page if the content has moved.
- Leave it as is if the page is no longer necessary.
- Use Google Search Console’s URL Inspection Tool to see when the error occurred.
Short Description: 404 errors mean the page is missing. These are common Google Search Console errors when URLs are deleted or changed. Use redirects or let them drop naturally.
6. Soft 404
What It Means
Google thinks the page has no useful content, even though it returns a 200 OK.
How To Fix It
- Add meaningful content to the page.
- If the page shouldn’t exist, redirect it to a related page.
- Check for typos or broken layouts that could make it look empty.
Short Description: Google thinks the page is empty or thin, but it’s returning a 200 OK. These Google Search Console errors often mean weak content. Improve or redirect the page.
7. Blocked Due to Other 4xx Issue
What It Means
Google couldn’t access the page due to a 4xx error like 410 (Gone) or 429 (Too Many Requests).
How To Fix It
- Review your server logs to identify the error.
- For 429 errors, reduce the crawl rate in Search Console.
- Fix broken links and adjust firewall or DDoS protections if needed.
Short Description: Issues like 410 or 429 stop Google from crawling your pages. These Google Search Console errors often point to rate limits or broken links. Check server and fix headers.
8. Crawled – Currently Not Indexed
What It Means
Google has crawled your page but decided not to index it.
How To Fix It
- Improve content quality and internal linking.
- Ensure the page is not thin, duplicated, or low-value.
- Request indexing via the URL Inspection Tool after updates.
Short Description: Google crawled the page but didn’t index it. These Google Search Console errors often mean low content value. Enhance quality and interlink the page.
9. Duplicate, Google Chose Different Canonical
What It Means
Google found multiple versions of a page and decided to index a different one than you specified.
How To Fix It
- Strengthen internal linking to your preferred URL.
- Review your canonical and ensure consistent signals (title tags, content, backlinks).
Short Description: Google ignored your preferred version. These Google Search Console errors usually relate to SEO signals. Strengthen internal links and adjust canonical tags.
10. Blocked by robots.txt
What It Means
Google was prevented from crawling a page due to rules in your robots.txt file.
How To Fix It
- Open your
robots.txtand review disallowed paths. - If you want the page crawled, remove the blocking directive.
Short Description: Your robots.txt is stopping Google from crawling a page. These Google Search Console errors need you to review crawl rules. Remove blocks or add proper directives.
11. Unauthorized Request Errors (401)
What It Means
Googlebot was denied access to your page due to authentication requirements.
How To Fix It
- Allow Googlebot access if the content is meant to be public.
- If the content is private, consider excluding it from indexing.
Short Description: Pages behind login walls return 401 errors. These Google Search Console errors mean bots can’t access the content. Exclude or secure them properly.
12. Discovered – Currently Not Indexed
What It Means
Google knows about the page, but hasn’t crawled or indexed it yet.
How To Fix It
- Improve internal linking.
- Submit the URL manually for indexing.
- Build external backlinks to help Google prioritize it.
Short Description: Google knows the page exists but hasn’t crawled it yet. These Google Search Console errors are about crawl priorities. Strengthen internal links and request indexing.
13. Duplicate Without User-Selected Canonical
What It Means
Google found duplicate pages but you haven’t specified which one should be indexed.
How To Fix It
- Add a canonical tag to your preferred version.
- Consolidate similar content when possible.
Short Description: Google sees similar content but no clear preference. These Google Search Console errors are solved with canonical tags. Point to your chosen version.
14. Blocked Due to Access Forbidden (403)
What It Means
Google tried to access your page but was denied due to server permissions.
How To Fix It
- Whitelist Googlebot’s IP addresses.
- Review security plugins or firewalls that may block access.
Short Description: 403 errors block Google from accessing pages. These Google Search Console errors often result from firewall settings. Whitelist Googlebot to fix them.
15. Indexed, Though Blocked by robots.txt
What It Means
The page is indexed even though robots.txt blocks crawling. This creates mixed signals.
How To Fix It
- Add a
noindextag to remove it from the index, then block it with robots.txt. - Or remove the robots.txt block if the page should stay indexed.
Short Description: Google indexed a page before it was blocked. These mixed-signal Google Search Console errors can confuse bots. Use noindex before blocking in robots.txt.
Final Thoughts
Google Search Console errors are not the end of the world—they’re clues. Each one points to something Google wants you to improve. By fixing them, you help your site get crawled, indexed, and ranked more efficiently. Make it a habit to check your Search Console weekly, keep your site clean, and stay ahead of technical SEO issues.
Bonus Tip: After fixing any error, always use the URL Inspection Tool to validate your fix. This speeds up re-crawling and indexing.
