How to Remove Google Not Found Indexed Pages

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Introduction: google not found indexed pages how to remove . Search engine optimization (SEO) is vital for maintaining the visibility and credibility of your website. However, sometimes pages that return a “Not Found” error, also known as 404 errors, may still be indexed by Google. These indexed pages can negatively impact your site’s SEO performance and user experience. This article explores the reasons why “Not Found” pages get indexed, the consequences of having such pages indexed, and step-by-step methods to remove them from Google’s index.

Understanding “Not Found” Pages and Indexing

A “Not Found” page, or 404 error page, occurs when a user tries to access a webpage that does not exist on your server. This can happen due to various reasons, such as broken links, deleted pages, or typing errors in the URL. When Google indexes these pages, they appear in search results, leading to a poor user experience and potential damage to your site’s reputation.

Consequences of Indexed “Not Found” Pages

Having “Not Found” pages indexed by Google can have several negative consequences:

1. Poor User Experience: Users clicking on search results leading to 404 error pages may feel frustrated and may leave your site, increasing your bounce rate.

2. Negative SEO Impact: Indexed 404 pages can signal to search engines that your site has broken links and poor maintenance, potentially affecting your overall search rankings.

3. Wasted Crawl Budget: Search engines allocate a specific crawl budget to your site. Wasted crawls on “Not Found” pages mean fewer crawls for your valuable content.

How to Remove “Not Found” Pages from Google Index

Removing indexed “Not Found” pages from Google’s index involves several steps. Here is a comprehensive guide:

1. Identify “Not Found” Pages

To begin, you need to identify the 404 error pages on your website:

Google Search Console: Use Google Search Console to find indexed 404 pages. Go to the “Coverage” report, and look for pages listed under the “Error” tab with a status of “Submitted URL not found (404).”
Crawl Your Website: Use website crawling tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to crawl your site and identify 404 error pages.

2. Fix the Underlying Issues

Once you’ve identified the “Not Found” pages, address the underlying issues:

Fix Broken Links: Update or remove broken links that lead to 404 error pages. Ensure that internal and external links are pointing to valid URLs.
Redirect Deleted Pages: Implement 301 redirects for deleted or moved pages to relevant and existing pages on your site. This ensures that users and search engines are directed to the correct content.
Correct URL Typing Errors: Fix any typing errors in URLs that may be causing 404 errors. Ensure that your URLs are accurate and consistent.

3. Use the URL Removal Tool

To expedite the removal of “Not Found” pages from Google’s index, use the URL removal tool in Google Search Console:

Access the Tool: Go to Google Search Console, navigate to the “Removals” section, and select “New Request.”
Enter the URLs: Enter the URLs of the “Not Found” pages you want to remove and submit the request. This temporarily removes the URLs from Google’s search results.

4. Update Your Sitemap

Ensure that your XML sitemap is up-to-date and does not include “Not Found” pages:

Generate a New Sitemap: Create a new sitemap that excludes the 404 error pages. Use tools like Yoast SEO for WordPress or XML Sitemaps Generator.
Submit the Sitemap: Submit the updated sitemap to Google Search Console to help search engines discover and index the correct pages.

5. Monitor and Maintain

Regularly monitor your website for 404 errors and maintain a healthy link structure:

Set Up Alerts: Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to set up alerts for 404 errors.
Regular Audits: Conduct regular site audits to identify and fix broken links and 404 error pages promptly.

Conclusion

Removing “Not Found” pages from Google’s index is essential for maintaining a positive user experience and optimizing your site’s SEO performance. By identifying and addressing the underlying issues, using the URL removal tool, updating your sitemap, and regularly monitoring your site, you can effectively manage and remove indexed 404 pages. Implementing these steps ensures that your website remains a reliable and authoritative source of information for users and search engines alike.