Noindex
Also called: noindex tag, meta robots noindex, X-Robots-Tag
Updated November 9, 2026
Noindex is a rule, written in a page's robots meta tag or sent in an HTTP header, that tells Google and other search engines that support it not to show that page in search results.
Why it matters on a small site
Some pages have no reason to be on Google: the thank you page after a booking form, a test copy of the site, a page for staff only. Noindex keeps them out, even when other sites link to them.
On the wrong pages the same rule does damage, and it is one of the first things to rule out when a site doesn't show up at all, as our guide to why a site is not on Google explains. On Wix, WordPress or Blogger it may be set from a search engine settings page rather than in the code, so a switch left on since the site was built can hide pages you want found.
How to check yours
- Open the page, view its source and search for noindex. A page you want on Google should have no match.
- In Google Search Console, paste the address into URL Inspection. It shows the HTML Googlebot received, so you can see whether the rule is there, and lets you ask for a new crawl once it is gone.
- In the Page indexing report, open the reason URL marked 'noindex'. It lists every page where Google found the rule: remove it from any page there that you want on Google.
Mistakes that cause trouble
- Blocking the same page in robots.txt. Google then never reads the noindex, and the page can still appear in results, for example when other pages link to it.
- Writing noindex inside robots.txt. Google doesn't support it there: it belongs on the page or in the HTTP header.
Often confused with
- Nofollow link
Nofollow sits on a single link and asks Google not to follow it or associate your site with the page it points to. Noindex sits on your own page and keeps that page out of results.
- robots.txt
Robots.txt stops Google from crawling an address, not from listing it: a blocked page can still show up without its content. Noindex works only when Google may crawl the page and read the rule.
Frequently asked questions
›How long does it take for a noindex page to leave Google?
Until Google crawls it again, which can take months for less important pages. You can ask for a new crawl with URL Inspection.
›Can I put noindex in robots.txt?
No, Google doesn't support it there. Use the robots meta tag on the page, or the X-Robots-Tag header for files such as PDFs.
›Does noindex work on Bing and other search engines?
Those that support the rule follow it, but Google warns that some may read it differently, so the page could still appear there.
Read more
Sources
- Google Search Central Block Search indexing with noindex
- Search Console Help Page indexing report