Fix: “URL is not on Google: Indexing errors” in Search Console

The redirect error in Google Search Console occurs when Googlebot tries to follow a redirect but cannot reach the destination URL. As a result, both the original and target pages remain unindexed.

This typically happens due to issues such as broken redirects, infinite loops, or chains that exceed Google’s crawl limit (around ten hops). When such errors occur, Googlebot struggles to discover content efficiently, wastes crawl budget, and the site may suffer SEO losses.

In most cases, these errors arise from technical misconfigurations or overlooked migration steps. Common triggers include:

• Redirect chains that exceed Google’s crawl limit.
• Infinite loops where URLs redirect back to each other endlessly.
• Invalid or empty targets that lead Googlebot to non-existent destinations.
• Overly long URLs that cannot be processed correctly.
• Server or CDN conflicts caused by rewrite rules overlapping with CMS settings.
• Poorly planned migrations that leave outdated internal links, missing redirects, or unresolved 404s.

Each of these issues disrupts the redirect path and prevents Googlebot from reaching the intended page.

The good news is that most can be corrected with straightforward adjustments.

The first step is to confirm how Googlebot views the page.

Use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to test the live URL and check whether the redirect path completes successfully.

Once you’ve identified the problem, apply these solutions:

• Ensure your SSL certificate is valid and your HTTPS/CDN settings are configured consistently across the site.
• Review CMS plugins and server rules for duplicate or conflicting redirects, and simplify them to avoid loops.
• Repair or replace broken destination URLs, confirm that canonical tags point to the correct version, and keep your XML sitemap updated with only final, working URLs.
• During site migrations, plan one-to-one redirects, update all internal links, and avoid redirecting everything to the homepage (Google specifically warns against this practice).

By matching each solution to its corresponding cause, you create a clean redirect structure that allows Googlebot to crawl without unnecessary detours.

This not only resolves the error in Search Console but also strengthens long-term SEO stability.

1. Resubmit URL in Google Search Console

Resubmitting a URL in Google Search Console asks Google to re-test and re-crawl the page to confirm it is accessible.

This frequently resolves errors caused by temporary server hiccups, cached redirects, or stale reporting.

Keep in mind that the tool has crawl quotas, and repeated requests do not speed up indexing.

Delays or inconsistencies in reports are normal.

1. Launch your web browser.
2. Visit Google Search Console and log in to your account.
3. Click URL Inspection, enter your page URL, and select Test Live URL.
4. If the result shows “URL is not on Google”, click Request Indexing.
5. Wait for Google to confirm it has attempted to crawl the URL. (This only triggers a crawl request; it does not guarantee immediate indexing.)
6. After processing, re-run Test Live URL to verify the fix.

2. Use Redirection Plugin (WordPress)

The Redirection plugin in WordPress allows you to create, edit, and manage redirect rules by mapping old URLs to their correct final destinations. It helps you set the proper HTTP status codes and replace complex server-level rules with clear one-to-one redirects.

This approach removes unnecessary hops and fixes misconfigured or conflicting rules, which often cause redirect loops. Using this plugin ensures Googlebot follows a single, clean redirect path that preserves link equity and enables the target page to be crawled successfully. The plugin also logs 404 errors, helping you catch missed redirects.

1. Open your web browser.
2. Access your WordPress admin panel by adding /wp-admin to your website URL (for example, www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
3. Log in with your credentials.
4. On the left menu, click Plugins > Add New.
5. Search for Redirection and click Install Now.
6. After installation, click Activate.
7. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and click Settings under the Redirection plugin.
8. Click Start Setup, follow the on-screen steps, and finish by clicking Finish Setup.
9. Select Continue > Ready to begin.
10. Click on Redirects.
11. In the Add New Redirection section, enter the Original URL and the Target URL. Leave Query Parameters unchanged and set the Group to Redirections.
12. Select the correct HTTP code (301 for permanent redirects, 302 for temporary). For SEO, always use 301 for permanent moves so signals pass correctly.
13. Click Add Redirect.
14. Finally, click Check Redirect to confirm everything is working properly.