Fix Index Coverage Errors in Search Console

• Understand the Problem: Google categorizes your URLs into Valid, Valid with warnings, Excluded, and Error. Focus on fixing "Error" pages first.
• Common Errors:
  • 5xx Server Errors: Caused by server overload or misconfigurations.
  • 404 Errors: Broken links or deleted pages without redirects.
  • Robots.txt Blocking: Overly restrictive rules blocking important pages.
• How to Fix:
  • Address server issues by upgrading hosting or using a CDN.
  • Set up 301 redirects for deleted pages.
  • Update robots.txt rules and test them with GSC tools.
• Prevent Future Issues: Regularly check the Index Coverage report, update your sitemap, and set up alerts for new errors.

Quick Tip: Use the "Validate Fix" tool in GSC to ensure your corrections are effective.

Want to improve your site’s visibility? Start by fixing indexing errors today.

Find and Fix Index Coverage Errors in Google Search Console

Types of Index Coverage Errors

Index coverage errors can hurt your website’s visibility in search results. Knowing the common types of errors can help you spot and fix problems quickly.

Here’s a breakdown of key error types, their causes, and how they affect indexing.

Server Errors (5xx)

Server errors (5xx) happen when your server can’t handle Googlebot’s request. These errors block Google from accessing and indexing your site.

Key 5xx errors include:

When Google encounters these errors, it might crawl your site less often to avoid overloading your server.

404 Page Errors

404 errors show up when Google tries to crawl pages that no longer exist. While some 404s are expected (like after removing outdated content), others need fixing.

Common reasons for 404 errors:

• Pages deleted without proper redirects
• Incorrect internal links
• Mistyped URLs in your sitemap
• Problems during content migrations

These errors waste your crawl budget and frustrate users who land on broken links.

Robots.txt Blocking

Robots.txt blocking errors occur when your robots.txt file stops Google from accessing important pages. This often happens due to overly broad rules, outdated configurations, or leftover development settings.

For example, Stagetimer, an event management SaaS, saw monthly visitors jump from 40–50 to over 8,838 after fixing such issues.

Using Google Search Console’s Index Coverage report to monitor these errors ensures your site stays accessible to both users and search engines. Regular checks can make a big difference.

Reading the Index Coverage Report

Understanding how to use the Index Coverage report is crucial for tackling indexing issues on your site.

Finding the Report

Start by logging into Google Search Console (GSC). Navigate to the "Pages" section under "Index", where you’ll find the full Index Coverage report. The graph here shows how your site’s indexing status has changed over time, helping you spot trends or sudden shifts.

Once you have the report open, focus on the error classifications to identify any problems.

Understanding Error Messages

The Index Coverage report categorizes your pages into four main groups:

This structure makes it easy to see where to focus your attention.

"The Index Coverage report gives you a fantastic overview and understanding of how Google views your website." – Matthew Jones, LinkedIn

Which Errors to Fix First

After reviewing the error messages, prioritize fixes based on how critical and urgent they are.

1. High-Priority Issues

Start with errors labeled "failed" or "not started", especially those caused by your website’s configuration.

2. Warning Messages

Handle warnings like "Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt" by updating your robots.txt file or using noindex tags where appropriate.

3. Sitemap Discrepancies

Check for pages that are indexed but missing from your sitemap. Add these pages to your XML sitemap to improve crawling.

If your site is going through updates or changes, it’s a good idea to review the Index Coverage report weekly.

"The ‘Excluded’ section of the Coverage report has quickly become a key data source when doing SEO audits to identify and prioritize pages with technical and content configuration issues." – Aleyda Solís, International SEO Consultant & Founder, Orainti

sbb-itb-55d8047

How to Fix Each Error Type

Fixing 5xx Server Errors

To address 5xx server errors, start by reviewing your server logs. These logs can reveal issues like traffic surges, resource shortages, or misconfigurations.

• Keep an eye on CPU, memory, and disk usage. If you’re hitting limits, consider upgrading your hosting or adding load balancing.
• Use a CDN to spread out traffic and reduce the strain on your server.
• Check for recent changes, such as updates, new plugins, or configuration tweaks. Roll back any changes that might be causing problems.

These steps can help stabilize your server and ensure search engines can crawl your site effectively.

Fixing 404 Errors

404 errors can hurt both your SEO and user experience, so it’s important to address them promptly.

Here’s how to tackle these issues:

• Set up 301 redirects for pages with value, especially those with backlinks.
• Update your XML sitemap to reflect the changes.
• Keep an eye on redirect performance to ensure everything works smoothly.

"404 responses are not necessarily a problem, if the page has been removed without any replacement. If your page has moved, use a 301 redirect to the new location." – Google

Fixing Robots.txt Issues

Robots.txt problems can block search engines from accessing important content. Fixing these issues ensures your site is properly indexed.

• Find Blocked URLs: Use Google Search Console’s "TEST ROBOTS.TXT BLOCKING" tool to locate problematic rules and see which content is affected.
• Adjust Blocking Rules:
  • For WordPress with Yoast SEO: Go to Yoast SEO plugin > Tools > File editor.
  • For WordPress with Rank Math: Navigate to Rank Math > General Settings > Edit robots.txt.
• Test and Validate: Use Google’s robots.txt testing tool to confirm your changes. Then, submit affected URLs for reindexing and track improvements in the Index Coverage report.

These fixes will help improve your site’s crawlability and ensure critical content is visible to search engines.

Preventing Future Errors

Setting Up Error Alerts

Make sure Google Search Console (GSC) is set to send email notifications for all your managed domains. This way, you’ll stay informed about issues like "Errors" and "Valid with warning."

Here’s how to organize alerts effectively:

• Use email filters to sort notifications by domain and issue severity.
• Create folders for different types of problems.
• Turn on mobile notifications for critical errors so you can act quickly.

"If you’re making changes to your website (such as adding new content or changing your design), you may want to check it more frequently to troubleshoot any issues as quickly as possible." – Ismail Marketing

Alongside these alerts, schedule regular performance reviews to catch potential problems early.

Regularly Checking Reports

For websites with minimal updates, review the Index Coverage report once a month. For more dynamic websites or those undergoing significant changes, check it weekly to stay on top of any new issues.

Steps to Avoid Errors

Staying ahead of errors requires consistent monitoring and proactive maintenance. Here’s how to tackle it:

Technical Maintenance:

• Conduct technical SEO audits every month.
• Keep an eye on server performance metrics.
• Update XML sitemaps whenever changes are made.
• Double-check your robots.txt file after site updates.

Content Management:

• Train your content team to verify links before publishing.
• Use tools to automatically detect broken links.
• Validate structured data to ensure it’s implemented correctly.
• Regularly compare your indexed pages to your sitemap for accuracy.

Summary

Keeping your site’s index status in good shape is essential for SEO, and Google Search Console’s Index Coverage report is your go-to tool for spotting and fixing crawling or indexing problems that might hurt your search visibility.

Here’s how to maintain strong crawl and index health:

• Check the Index Coverage report often to catch issues early.
• Fix ‘Error’ issues right away to avoid disruptions.
• Use the ‘Validate Fix’ tool to confirm your corrections worked.
• Turn on alerts to stay informed about new problems.
• Stick to solid technical SEO practices to prevent issues from arising.

Once you’ve made updates, the ‘Validate Fix’ feature can confirm whether your changes were effective. For more complicated indexing problems – especially on large or e-commerce sites – consider seeking expert assistance. Bare Digital offers specialized support to tackle these challenges with technical precision.

Staying proactive with regular checks and quick fixes helps protect your site’s visibility in search results.

Related Blog Posts

• Technical SEO Audit Checklist: 15 Essential Elements
• Robots.txt Basics: What It Does for SEO
• How To Optimise URLs For SEO Rankings
• Top Metrics to Measure On-Page SEO Success