Common Google Search Console Errors

At Lillian Purge, we specialise in Local SEO Services and deliver expert guidance on Common Google Search Console errors and how to fix them so you can resolve problems quickly and keep your site performing at its best.

Google Search Console (GSC) is an invaluable platform for monitoring your website’s performance in search results. It reports technical and indexing issues that might stop your pages from appearing correctly on Google. Left unresolved, these errors can negatively impact organic visibility, user experience, and local search rankings.

This guide outlines the most common Google Search Console errors and how to fix them effectively.

1. Crawled – Currently Not Indexed

This message means that Google has crawled your page but decided not to index it yet. It’s not necessarily an error but could indicate issues with content quality or relevance.

How to Fix It

• Review the page’s content to ensure it provides unique, valuable information.

• Avoid duplicate or thin content.

• Strengthen internal linking by connecting the page to other relevant parts of your site.

• Resubmit the URL for indexing once improvements are made.

2. Submitted URL Not Found (404)

This occurs when you’ve submitted a URL in your sitemap that leads to a page no longer available or deleted. A 404 page tells Google that the content is missing. While occasional 404s are normal, too many can harm user experience and link equity.

How to Fix It

• Identify 404 pages in Google Search Console under “Coverage.”

• Redirect broken URLs to relevant live pages using 301 redirects.

• Update your sitemap to remove deleted URLs.

• Fix internal links pointing to the missing pages.

3. Server Error (5xx)

A server error indicates that Googlebot tried to access your page but the server didn’t respond correctly. This can occur during site downtime or when hosting resources are overloaded.

How to Fix It

• Contact your hosting provider to check server health and capacity.

• Reduce heavy scripts or plugins that slow server response.

• Use uptime monitoring tools to track performance issues.

• Resubmit affected URLs once the issue is resolved.

4. Redirect Error

Redirect errors appear when there are issues in how your pages are redirected. Common causes include redirect loops, chains, or broken URLs. These can confuse Google and prevent proper indexing.

How to Fix It

• Check redirects with tools like Screaming Frog to identify loops or chains.

• Use single-step 301 redirects instead of multiple redirects.

• Ensure the destination URL is live and returns a 200 status code.

5. Duplicate Without User-Selected Canonical

This warning means Google found duplicate pages but wasn’t sure which one to index. Without clear canonical tags, search engines might index the wrong version, splitting SEO value.

How to Fix It

• Add canonical tags to the preferred version of the page.

• Use consistent internal linking that points to the canonical URL.

• Remove unnecessary duplicate pages or combine similar content.

6. Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag

This is an informational message rather than an error. It means Google found duplicate content but has successfully identified the canonical version. No action is usually needed unless you notice unexpected pages being treated as duplicates.

How to Fix It

• Double-check that the correct canonical tag is used.

• Review internal links to confirm they point to the canonical version.

7. Mobile Usability Errors

Mobile usability errors mean certain elements on your site aren’t displaying properly on mobile devices. This can hurt rankings since Google uses mobile-first indexing.

How to Fix It

• Use responsive design that adapts to all screen sizes.

• Ensure text is readable without zooming.

• Make clickable elements large enough and well-spaced.

• Test your site in Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool.

8. Page Indexed Without Content

This happens when Google indexes a page but can’t see any meaningful content. Causes include rendering issues, blocked resources, or empty pages.

How to Fix It

• Check if JavaScript or CSS is blocking content from loading.

• Inspect the page using Google’s URL Inspection tool.

• Add relevant text and media if the page lacks valuable information.

9. Blocked by Robots.txt

If your robots.txt file accidentally blocks important URLs, Google can’t crawl or index them. This often happens when disallow rules are misconfigured.

How to Fix It

• Open your robots.txt file and look for “Disallow” commands blocking key pages.

• Remove unnecessary restrictions.

• Test the file in Google Search Console’s robots.txt tester.

10. Sitemap Errors

Sitemap issues occur when your submitted sitemap contains invalid or outdated URLs. Google may ignore parts of it, delaying indexing.

How to Fix It

• Ensure all URLs in the sitemap return a 200 status code.

• Remove redirects, 404 pages, and non-canonical URLs.

• Resubmit your sitemap in GSC once cleaned.

11. Indexed, Though Blocked by Robots.txt

This error means Google indexed a page that your robots.txt file blocks. This happens when the page was previously indexed before restrictions were added.

How to Fix It

• Allow the page to be crawled again or use the “noindex” tag if you don’t want it in search results.

• Remove blocking rules in robots.txt that contradict your indexing goals.

12. Soft 404 Errors

A soft 404 occurs when a page returns a 200 OK status but displays an error message like “Page not found.” This confuses Google because the page appears valid but lacks content.

How to Fix It

• Ensure real missing pages return a proper 404 status code.

• For temporary issues, use a 302 redirect.

• For deleted pages, redirect to the most relevant live page.

13. Indexed, Not Submitted in Sitemap

This simply means Google found and indexed pages that aren’t included in your sitemap. While not harmful, it’s good practice to keep your sitemap up to date.

How to Fix It

• Add valuable indexed pages to your sitemap.

• Exclude thin or low-quality pages that shouldn’t be indexed.

Why Fixing GSC Errors Matters

Ignoring Search Console errors can prevent your pages from appearing in search results or cause ranking drops. By resolving these issues promptly, you help Google crawl and index your site more efficiently, improving both visibility and performance.

Regularly reviewing GSC data also provides insight into how users find your site, which keywords drive traffic, and where improvements can be made.

Final Thoughts

Google Search Console is one of the most important tools for maintaining a healthy website and strong SEO performance. Understanding common errors and fixing them quickly helps ensure your site remains visible, accessible, and optimised for both users and search engines.

At Lillian Purge, we help businesses identify and resolve technical SEO issues, including Search Console errors, crawl problems, and indexing challenges. Our proactive approach ensures your website stays fully optimised for consistent growth in local and organic search results.

We have also written in depth articles on Do I Need Google Search Console? and How to submit a sitemap in Google Search Console as well as our Google Search Console Hub to give you further guidance.