Google Search is having issues with indexing starting earlier this morning. Several hours later, Google confirmed the issue. I am seeing tons of reports from SEOs on X that Google is having indexing issues, tons. So I am posting this story to see if I can see firsthand if Google is indeed still having indexing issues. In fact, minutes after posting this story, this specific story was crawled, indexed and ranked in Google Search. But there are tons of complaints from India and other regions about indexing issues with Google Search.
Update: Google is looking into it. Google’s Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan confirmed:
It’s being looked at.
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) December 21, 2023
Update again: Google has confirmed the issue saying, “Google is investigating reports about delayed indexing in Google Search that’s affecting a small number of sites. We’re working on identifying the root cause. Next update will be within 12 hours.” John Mueller also posted about it on LinkedIn.
Update at 5:30 pm ET, Google has confirmed fixing the issue saying, “We identified and fixed the issue with indexing. Sites may still experience some delayed indexing until the previously affected URLs have been reprocessed. There will be no more updates.”
Based on some of my tests, looking at recent content from the Wall Street Journal, the Washinton Post nad others, I am seeing that content indexed in Google Search.
For example, this story was published less than 45 minutes ago and I see it ranking Google Search:
Same with this story from The Washington Post:
But like I said, I am seeing tons of complaints on Twitter this morning. Maybe Google fixed it, but I do not see any confirmation from Google on this topic yet.
It seems like most of the complaints are coming out of India this morning. I am not sure if it is an issue only impacting that region or if they are just awake before everyone else and noticing the issue first?
Here are some of those complaints:
Facing A Lot Of Indexing Issue On Multiple Sites since this morning. Is It a technical glitch from Google’s end?@googlesearchc @searchliaison @JohnMu @rustybrick
— Adarsh tripathi (@adarshgnr98) December 21, 2023
Is there any issue with Google’s indexing? New content is not being indexed from past 1-hour@rustybrick@sengineland@glenngabe@googlesearchc
— Nishu Kadian (@nishu_kadian) December 21, 2023
Facing Indexing Issue from last 3-4 hours. This is from Google end ?#indexing #google@googlesearchc @searchliaison @JohnMu @rustybrick
— Mahesh Rawat (@mahirawat29) December 21, 2023
@rustybrick – From last couple of hours we are facing indexing issue. #google #indexing #issue @GoogleIndia
— SATENDRA (@IM_Satendra) December 21, 2023
@rustybrick @googlesearchc @searchliaison
Hello, I think there is a problem with indexing. News in Turkey has not been indexed for the last 2 hours? Can you check?
For example, when you type news, the news from 10-20 hours ago is displayed. pic.twitter.com/SwWP2vM1Mh
— Ramazan Buldu (@rmznbld) December 21, 2023
Google Indexing Issue @rustybrick @lilyraynyc Please confirm.
— Shweta Verma Nagar (@swetav07) December 21, 2023
@JohnMu @rustybrick news websites in India facing indexing issues from today morning
— Kamlesh Shukla (@iKamleshShukla) December 21, 2023
Yes, many Indian publishers are facing the indexing issue since morning!
— Prakash pandey 🇮🇳 (@prakashpandey07) December 21, 2023
🚨 SEO Community Alert! 🚨None of my articles from today have been indexed by Google.Curious if anyone else is facing this 🤔 Checked competitor data too – it’s a ghost town for the past 10 hours. Is it some glitch? 🕵️♂️ @JohnMu @rustybrick, any insights? #SEO #GoogleIndexing
— Shauvik Kumar (@shauvikkumar) December 21, 2023
🔴🔴 Google has index problems since this morning. This Friday is the most important day for SEO in spanish media… What’s going on? Is Google aware? Can be fixed? Any news on this? @rustybrick @sengineland @glenngabe @googlesearchc @JohnMu
— Sandra Sánchez (@_SandraSM_) December 21, 2023
‘@JohnMu @rustybrick News Websites Are Facing Significant Indexing Delays of Over 5 Hours, any update.
— Sabin K V (@sabinkv) December 21, 2023
@googlesearchc @searchliaison Indexation issues are getting reported from multiple websites today, especially news websites, any updates please? thanks
CC: @glenngabe @rustybrick— Sandeep Amar (@sancalls) December 21, 2023
Observing Indexing issues and delayed indexing on Google from this morning in India for multiple news publisher sites. #seo #Google
— Dhairya Bagga 🇮🇳 (@ImDhairyaBagga) December 21, 2023
@JohnMu @rustybrick @methode @glenngabe – noticing indexing issues for major publisher websites across India.
— Shahank Gupta (@Shashankgupt_24) December 21, 2023
@googlenews@googlesearchc@searchliaison@rustybrick@sejournal@sengineland
Could there be a worldwide indexing problem? For example, the Guardian’s latest news is displayed 6, 7, 8 hours ago. pic.twitter.com/hYLcAxaBxs
— Ramazan Buldu (@rmznbld) December 21, 2023
Same situation in the news in Turkey
— Kanal 46 (@kanal46_) December 21, 2023
There are currently no comments from Google on this potential issue and nothing on the Google Search Status dashboard.
I will update this story as I track to see this story being crawled, indexed and ranked and if any comments come out from an official Google representative.
Update: Minutes after posting this article, Google Search Console reports this URL as being indexed and healthy:
Plus, Google Search has ranked the story in Google Search:
And it is also in Google News:
Also, those in India can see this content:
Yes pic.twitter.com/cAAausyLE5
— Shameem Adhikarath (@shemiadhikarath) December 21, 2023
Yes, I can see that. pic.twitter.com/ecaWWT0zO6
— Hardik Oza (@Ozaemotion) December 21, 2023
Update 2: Some are saying if the site has an AMP version, then it has an issue, otherwise it does not. I did not verify this:
hi @rustybrick, what I mean is that there are sites in Italy with “fresh” content but it seems that only those without a corresponding AMP version are being updated: pic.twitter.com/5nLXwNYLYf
— Gab (@gabmrocca) December 21, 2023
Update 3: At 7:30am ET I am hearing from some that the issue is resolved or resolving.
Update 4: Google is looking into it. Google’s Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan confirmed:
It’s being looked at.
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) December 21, 2023
Update 5: Google has confirmed the issue saying, “Google is investigating reports about delayed indexing in Google Search that’s affecting a small number of sites. We’re working on identifying the root cause. Next update will be within 12 hours.”
Update 6: Google fixed the issue at 5:30 pm ET:
Google fixed the indexing issue saying, “We identified and fixed the issue with indexing. Sites may still experience some delayed indexing until the previously affected URLs have been reprocessed. There will be no more updates.” Story update at https://t.co/7VCcZC6Dtn pic.twitter.com/PgvhKUCkcQ
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) December 21, 2023
Stay tuned.
Forum discussion at X.
