Google has confirmed an indexing issue affecting some websites, causing delays in newly published content appearing in search results. This blog post will provide a comprehensive overview of the issue, the latest updates, and potential solutions while you wait for Google’s fix. This issue began around January 31st, 2024, and has caused some sites to experience slower-than-usual indexing times.
We’re aware of an indexing issue that has been affecting a small number of websites in Google Search since late January 2024. We understand this can be frustrating for website owners and apologize for any inconvenience caused.
When did the issue start?
The indexing problem began around 11:30 PM ET on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Many website owners reported delays in indexing and displaying their content in search results.
What are the symptoms?
- Newly published content does not appear in search results.
- Existing content may be experiencing ranking fluctuations.
- Website traffic driven by organic search may be declining.
What We Know:
- The issue began around January 31st and may have caused slower-than-usual indexing times for some websites.
- It appears to have primarily impacted a small subset of sites, though many website owners and publishers reported difficulties indexing their content.
- Google’s engineering teams have been actively investigating the root cause and working on a fix.
Timeline:
- February 1st: Google acknowledges the issue and begins investigating.
- February 3rd: Google provides an update, stating the issue is being mitigated, and systems are stabilizing. A fix is still in development, with the next update expected within 48 hours.
- February 5th (current): No further updates have been released yet.
What Google is doing:
- Google’s engineering teams are working diligently to identify the root cause of the problem and implement a solution.
- They continuously monitor the situation and will provide updates as they become available.
- As of February 3rd, Google stated that they “mitigated the issue” and are working on a permanent solution, with an update expected within 48 hours.
What can you do in the meantime?
- Remain calm and patient: Google is aware of the issue and is working on a solution.
- Continue creating high-quality content: Focus on creating valuable content that adheres to SEO best practices.
- Monitor your website traffic and rankings: Track any changes and document them for future reference.
- Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console: This helps ensure Google is aware of your new content.
- Avoid making drastic SEO changes: Wait until the issue is resolved before making significant adjustments.
- Stay informed: Follow Google’s official channels for the latest updates.
- Indexing Tools: Make use of Google indexing Tools
Latest Update (February 5, 2024):
As of today, February 5th, Google hasn’t provided a further update on the official fix. However, some reports suggest that the indexing process seems to be returning to normal for many websites. Monitoring your website and waiting for Google’s official confirmation before drawing any conclusions is still advisable.
This situation is developing, and Google will likely provide more information soon. Stay tuned for further updates and focus on creating great content for your audience.
Update 8th Feb 2024
As of February 8 at 3:36 am PST, the Google Search Status Dashboard indicated the indexing issue had been fixed. Google states: “We fixed the issue with indexing. There will be no more updates.”