How to request indexing in Google Search Console
To request indexing, open Google Search Console, paste the page's full URL into the URL Inspection bar at the top, wait for the result, and click Request indexing. Google runs a quick live test and adds the URL to a priority crawl queue. It does not guarantee the page will be indexed, and the number of requests you can make per day is limited.
Use it for a handful of important pages: a new cornerstone post, a page you just fixed, a correction that matters. For everything else, a clean sitemap and good internal links do the job without manual requests.
Step by step
1. Make sure the page is ready
Requesting indexing for a page Google cannot index wastes a request. Before you start, check the page returns 200, is not blocked in robots.txt, has no noindex in its source or headers, and has a canonical pointing to itself. In Hydrogen SEO, the SEO Settings sheet (⌘E / Ctrl+E) shows the page's robots and canonical settings in one place.
2. Inspect the URL
Paste the full URL into the search bar at the top of Search Console and press Enter. Use the exact version you want indexed, with the right protocol, host and trailing slash. Wait for the result to load; this takes a few seconds.
3. Test the live version
If the page is new or you just changed it, click Test live URL first. Check that Page availability says the URL can be indexed and open View tested page to confirm Google sees your real content. Fix anything the live test flags before requesting.
4. Click Request indexing
Click Request indexing. Google runs its own test, which can take a minute or two, then shows Indexing requested. The URL is now in a priority queue. Requesting the same URL again does not move it further up.
5. Know the quota
There is a daily limit on requests per property. Google does not publish the exact number, and when you hit it, Search Console shows a quota message until the next day. That limit is why this tool is for priorities, not bulk submission.
6. Use the sitemap for many URLs
For new sites, migrations, or dozens of updated posts, rely on your XML sitemap. Hydrogen SEO keeps it current with lastmod dates that change when content changes, and Google rereads submitted sitemaps on its own schedule. Submit the sitemap once under Sitemaps in Search Console; there is no need to resubmit after each post. See submitting a sitemap to Google.
7. Check back later
Inspect the URL again after a few days. If it shows URL is on Google, you are done. If it still shows URL is not on Google, read the reason in Page indexing. A page that was crawled and not indexed needs content work, not another request; see fixing Crawled - currently not indexed.
What a request does and does not do
| It does | It does not |
|---|---|
| Queue a crawl of that URL sooner than it might happen otherwise | Guarantee the page is indexed |
| Pick up changes to a page you already have indexed | Improve rankings |
| Work for one URL at a time | Work in bulk or through an API for normal pages |
Google's Indexing API is limited to specific content types, such as job postings and livestream videos, so it is not a way around the quota for ordinary posts.
What about IndexNow?
IndexNow is a protocol for notifying search engines about changed URLs. Bing, Yandex and some other engines support it. Google does not, so IndexNow pings do not replace Search Console for Google. The IndexNow glossary entry explains how it works.
Common questions
How long does it take after I request indexing?
Often a few days, sometimes longer. The request only speeds up the crawl; the indexing decision is made on the page's merits.
How many URLs can I submit per day?
There is a daily quota per property that Google does not publish. When you reach it, Search Console tells you to try again the next day.
Should I request indexing every time I publish?
No. A submitted sitemap and a link from an existing page are enough for most posts. Save requests for pages where timing matters.