How do I get my website indexed by Google?

Make sure Google can find and crawl your pages, then ask it to. Submit your sitemap in Google Search Console, use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing of important pages, and ensure your pages are linked from other pages and not blocked by a noindex tag or robots file. Most pages of a well-built, linked site index within about two weeks.

How long does it take Google to index a page?

For a well-built, properly linked site, most pages get found and indexed within about two weeks, and often faster when you submit them directly through Search Console. Brand-new sites can take a little longer to be crawled at all. If a page is still not indexed after a few weeks, check Search Console for the reason.

Why is my page not indexed by Google?

Common reasons include the page being too new to be crawled, a noindex tag accidentally left on, a robots file blocking Google, no links pointing to the page so Google cannot find it, or content too thin for Google to index. Search Console's Pages report tells you which pages are indexed and why others are not.

How do I ask Google to index my page?

Use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console. Enter the page's address, check its status, and if it is not indexed, click to request indexing. This puts the page in Google's queue and often speeds up indexing for important pages, especially newly published ones.

Do I need a sitemap to get indexed?

You do not strictly need one, since Google can find pages by following links, but a sitemap helps Google discover all your pages efficiently, which is especially valuable for newer sites or after adding many pages. Submitting your sitemap in Search Console is a simple step that makes indexing more reliable.

What is a noindex tag and how does it block indexing?

A noindex tag is an instruction in a page's code telling search engines not to add it to their index. It is useful for pages you genuinely want hidden, but if it is accidentally left on pages you want found, those pages will never appear in search. If a page is not indexing, checking for an unintended noindex tag is one of the first things to do.

Will a thin page get indexed and rank?

It might get indexed, but thin pages often struggle to rank and are sometimes not indexed at all, because Google may decide they add little value. Getting indexed is necessary but not sufficient; a page also needs genuine substance to rank. Building real depth gives a page the best chance of being both indexed and ranked.

How to Get Your Website Indexed by Google

Quick answer

To get your website indexed by Google, make sure Google can find and crawl your pages, then ask it to. Submit your sitemap in Google Search Console, use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing of important pages, and make sure your pages are linked from other pages and not blocked by a noindex tag or robots file. Most pages of a well-built, linked site get indexed within about two weeks. Indexing is the step before ranking: a page must be indexed before it can appear in search at all.

Indexing is how a page enters Google’s database so it can appear in search. If your pages are not indexed, they cannot rank, no matter how good they are. The good news is that getting indexed is usually straightforward. This guide explains how, building on getting found on Google.

Indexing vs ranking

It helps to separate two things. Indexing means Google has found your page, read it, and added it to its database. Ranking means deciding where to show it for a given search. Indexing comes first and is largely a yes-or-no question; ranking is the competition that follows. If a page is not indexed, it is invisible to search entirely, so getting indexed is the essential first step.

How to get your website indexed, step by step

Step 1: Set up Search Console

Add and verify your site in Google Search Console, the tool you use to submit pages and confirm indexing.

Step 2: Submit your sitemap

Submit your sitemap so Google can discover all your pages at once. Most platforms generate one at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml.

Step 3: Request indexing of key pages

Use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to check a page’s status and request indexing for your most important pages, which can speed things up.

Step 4: Make sure pages are crawlable and linked

Ensure your pages are linked from other pages on your site, since Google follows links to find content. Check that nothing is accidentally blocking Google with a noindex tag or a robots file rule.

Why a page might not get indexed

Common reasons include a page being too new and not yet crawled, a noindex tag accidentally left on, a robots file blocking Google, a page with no links pointing to it so Google cannot find it, or thin content Google chooses not to index. Search Console’s Pages report tells you which of your pages are indexed and why others are not, which makes diagnosing the problem straightforward.

How long indexing takes

For a well-built, properly linked site, most pages get found and indexed within about two weeks, and often faster when you submit them directly. Brand-new sites can take a little longer to be crawled at all. If a page is still not indexed after a few weeks, check Search Console for the reason rather than assuming it will resolve on its own.

Common mistakes

Leaving a noindex tag on pages you want indexed.
Blocking Google with a robots file rule.
Orphan pages with no links pointing to them.
Never submitting a sitemap or using Search Console.
Assuming thin pages will be indexed and rank.

Indexing is the floor, not the ceiling

It is worth being clear about what indexing does and does not do. Getting a page indexed makes it eligible to appear in search, but it does not guarantee a good position; that is the separate, harder work of ranking. So indexing is the floor you have to clear before anything else matters, not the finish line. A thin page that gets indexed but never ranks has cleared the floor and gone no further.

This is why getting indexed quickly is necessary but not sufficient. The pages that both index and rank are the ones with genuine substance, clear structure, and internal links pointing to them. So while you submit your sitemap and request indexing to clear the floor fast, the work that actually pays off is building pages worth ranking and connecting them well. Treat indexing as the routine first step, confirm it in Search Console, and then put your real effort into the depth and structure that decide whether an indexed page climbs or sits unseen.

The key idea

Getting indexed means Google has found and added your page to its database, the step before ranking. Submit your sitemap, request indexing of key pages in Search Console, and make sure pages are linked and not blocked. Most pages of a well-built site index within about two weeks. A page must be indexed before it can rank at all.

The bottom line

Indexing is the gateway to search: no index, no ranking. Set up Search Console, submit your sitemap, request indexing for key pages, and make sure nothing is blocking Google. If pages are missing, the reason is usually visible in Search Console. If your business is missing entirely, see why your business isn’t showing up, or get a free audit.