WordPress site not showing in Google: what to check first
By Hamza Rivera, updated
Short answer: If a WordPress site is not showing in Google, first open Settings, then Reading, and make sure "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" is unticked. That setting adds a noindex tag to every page. Then check robots.txt, submit a sitemap in Search Console and use the URL Inspection tool to ask Google to crawl the page.
A new WordPress site that never shows up in Google usually has a simple cause. Work down this list in order. Each step is quick to check, and the first one explains a large share of cases.
For help with a WordPress site that will not index, see WordPress SEO services.
1. The "Discourage search engines" setting
In the WordPress dashboard go to Settings, then Reading. If the box "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" is ticked, WordPress adds a robots meta tag with noindex and nofollow to your pages. WordPress documents this, and notes that it does not block access to the site and that it is up to search engines to honor the request. Developers often tick it during a build and forget to untick it at launch. Untick it, save, and load a page's source to confirm the tag is gone.
2. A noindex tag from an SEO plugin or theme
SEO plugins can set noindex on a single page, on a whole post type or on categories. Open the page in the editor, check the plugin's settings box for that page, then check the plugin's global settings. A page that is set to noindex will stay out of search results.
3. The robots.txt file
Open your domain followed by /robots.txt. A line reading Disallow: / under User-agent: * tells crawlers to stay out of the whole site. A staging rule that was copied across to the live site is the usual cause.
4. The sitemap
A sitemap does not force indexing, but it tells Google which URLs exist. Most SEO plugins create one at /sitemap.xml or /sitemap_index.xml. Submit it in Google Search Console under Sitemaps. If you have not set up Search Console, verify the site there first, because it is where Google reports what it did with each page.
5. Ask Google to crawl the page
In Search Console, paste the page address into the URL Inspection tool. It shows whether the page is on Google, and if it is not, it shows the reason. Google's documentation says you can use the tool to request a crawl, that crawling can take from a few days to a few weeks, that there is a quota on requests and that requesting a crawl does not guarantee the page will be included. Submitting the same URL repeatedly does not speed it up. Our post on how long a new page takes to appear in Google goes into the timing.
6. The page is thin or a duplicate
If Search Console says a page was crawled but not indexed, look at the content. A page with a few lines of text, or one that repeats another page on the site, may be skipped. Add the details a visitor would want, such as what you do, where, and how to contact you.
7. The site was hacked
If pages you did not write show up in Google, or the site is flagged, the cause may be an infection. See our page on cleaning up WordPress SEO spam.
Where to go from here
If you have been through the list and the site is still missing, see our WordPress SEO services page. Passieon is an independent agency and is not affiliated with Google or WordPress.
Sources
- WordPress Documentation: Settings, Reading screen, read November 10, 2026.
- Google Search Central: Ask Google to recrawl your URLs, read November 10, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my WordPress site not showing up in Google?
The most common cause is the "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" setting under Settings, Reading. Other causes are a noindex tag from a plugin, a robots.txt that blocks the site, or Google not having crawled the pages yet.
What does the Discourage search engines setting do?
It adds a robots meta tag with noindex and nofollow to your pages. WordPress notes it does not block access, and it is up to search engines to honor it.
How long does it take for a new site to appear on Google?
Google says crawling can take from a few days to a few weeks. Requesting a crawl does not guarantee inclusion.
Should I submit my page over and over in Search Console?
No. Google says submitting the same URL multiple times does not get it crawled faster, and there is a quota on requests.
Do I need a sitemap?
A sitemap is not required, but it helps Google find your URLs and shows in Search Console which ones it picked up.
What does crawled, currently not indexed mean?
Google visited the page and chose not to add it. Look at whether the page is thin, repeats another page or adds little a visitor would want, and improve it.
Want this done for your site? See what our WordPress SEO services page covers, or read the client results.
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