Google has confirmed it is working on resolving an indexing issue that it says is "affecting a small number of sites." Google said that some "sites may experience slower than usual indexing times." The search company is looking to "identifying the root cause" and hopes to fix the issue soon.
The indexing issue seems to have started about 5-6 hours ago, around 11:30pm ET on Wednesday, January 31st. There are tons of complaints from content publishers and news publishers that their content has not been indexed.
Google posted an update over here at 4:42 am ET this morning saying:
We're investigating an issue with indexing in Google Search that's affecting a small number of sites. Sites may experience slower than usual indexing times. We're working on identifying the root cause. Next update will be within 12 hours.
If you are noticing issues with your content being indexed and showing up in Google Search over the past several hours, you are not alone. Google is working on fixing the issue.
Google's Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, did reply to at least one of those concerns as well:
Will pass this on
β Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) February 1, 2024
Here are some of the complaints:
seems like it is impacting @seroundtable but not @sengineland
β Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) February 1, 2024
Facing the same issue. This is not only in live news.. for every news.
β Sourabh Sagar (@BKPraja37317461) February 1, 2024
Google has indexing issues again... That this happens every month is starting to be normal πͺ@rustybrick@sengineland@glenngabe@googlesearchc@JohnMu
β Sandra SΓ‘nchez (@_SandraSM_) February 1, 2024
@rustybrick There seem to be some indexing/search problems?
β ΠΠΈΠ»ΠΊΠΈ (@Serty_SN) February 1, 2024
Hello @GoogleEngineers, We've noticed articles aren't getting indexed. I'd appreciate any assistance or advice you could provide to help resolve this matter. Thanks in advance for your support! #GoogleIndexing" @googlesearchc @searchliaison@GoogleIndia @rustybrick @JohnMu
β Chandramani Das (@DasChandramani) February 1, 2024
@googlenews @googlesearchc @searchliaison @rustybrick @sengineland @JohnMu
β Ramazan Buldu (@rmznbld) February 1, 2024
News has been indexed late for the last 10 hours and most news is not indexed. Can you check please? You can see the times of the latest indexed news of the relevant news sites from the screenshots. pic.twitter.com/xBVrdiAZRS
Facing Indexing issue @googlesearchc @rustybrick @glenngabe @methode
β Shahank Gupta (@Shashankgupt_24) February 1, 2024
Multiple publishers in India facing indexing issue.
There is Indexing Issue today with #Google. Sites/Articles are not getting indexed. @googlesearchc @searchliaison @GoogleIndia @rustybrick
β KD (@kdsharmakr) February 1, 2024
@searchliaison Indian news publishers are facing serious google indexing issues since morning - today is a very important day with Country's annual budget is presented by the finance minister, it really hurts the users to get quality content.
β Sandeep Amar (@sancalls) February 1, 2024
CC @glenngabe @rustybrick
Is Google Indexing issue back again?@rustybrick@JohnMu
β Safikul Islam (@safikul) February 1, 2024
@govind_rautela Yes Sirji, there is an indexing issue, everyone facing since morning pic.twitter.com/02Muuatfys
β SK Sharma (@_sharma1124) February 1, 2024
Google Indexing issue is back again? @rustybrick @JohnMu
β Kamlesh Shukla (@iKamleshShukla) February 1, 2024
Update: Google posted an update at 11:10 am ET saying, "We've identified the issue with indexing, and we're working on a fix. Next update will be within 12 hours."
Forum discussion at X.
Update 2: Still not fixed at 5:30 am ET on Friday, February 2nd:
The Google Search indexing issue is still not fixed after almost 30 hours of it being an issue https://t.co/wOw8QKWWFP pic.twitter.com/QHbXhtcR0i
β Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) February 2, 2024
Update 3: Google posted an update at 2:31pm ET saying, "The issue with indexing has been mitigated and our systems are becoming stable, but we're still working on a fix. Next update will be within 12 hours."
The Google indexing issue has been somewhat mitigated but the fix is not there yet - this is the latest update - story updated at https://t.co/wOw8QKWWFP pic.twitter.com/exGIfnQJuG
β Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) February 2, 2024
Update 4: Now at three full days and still not fully fixed:
Google Search indexing issue still not fully fixed after almost 3 days now - original story at https://t.co/wOw8QKWWFP pic.twitter.com/SKfyCh0RQz
β Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) February 3, 2024
Update 5: Now over four days later, still not fully resolved:
Now four days after confirming the Google Search indexing issue but 4 days and 6 hours after the issue started, it is still not resolved - original story updated at https://t.co/wOw8QKXuvn pic.twitter.com/9BULjWqbxw
β Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) February 5, 2024
Update 6: Gary Illyes from Google commented on LinkedIn saying "some things take a long time to get fixed properly Β―\_(γ)_/Β―. "Mitigated" means there's no outside-visible impact anymore. We keep it in this state until it's properly fixed in case something regresses, so we don't have to open a new incident."
Update 7: Now things are "stable" but a fix is still in the works:
Google is still working on a fix but things are "stable" now with the indexing issue - story updated at https://t.co/wOw8QKWWFP pic.twitter.com/RRd1AhES60
β Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) February 7, 2024
Update: 7.5 days later, now fully resolved:
After 7.5 days or so, Google has finally fully resolved that search indexing issue - original story updated at https://t.co/wOw8QKWWFP pic.twitter.com/S7kjH5NCkH
β Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) February 8, 2024
Update: In June, the Google Search team talked a bit about this issue:
