How to Check Which Pages Google Sees: The Free, Official Tool You Need

Every page missing from Google’s index means lost traffic and missed business opportunities. If you’re scratching your head wondering which pages Google actually sees on your site, you’re not alone. The good news? Google offers a free, official way to check your indexing status. I’m here to show you exactly how to use it — step by step — so you never miss a beat.

To speed things up, you can also use the Free XML Sitemap URL Extractor to instantly see all URLs your site has submitted to Google — helping you compare and verify what’s indexed vs. what’s missing.

Quick-Check Flowchart: Is Your Page Indexed?

Before diving deep, ask yourself:

1. Have you checked your page using Google Search Console’s URL Inspection Tool?
    - Yes 👉 Jump to Fixing Indexing Issues.
    - No 👉 Start with Using the Free Tool below.

This simple check helps you quickly diagnose your situation and guides you to the right solution faster.

Using the Free Tool: Google Search Console Explained

Google Search Console (GSC) is your best friend for understanding how Google crawls and indexes your website. It’s free, reliable, and loaded with features that keep you in the know.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use Google Search Console to Check Indexing

Set Up and Verify Your Site:

Go to Google Search Console and add your website as a property. Follow verification steps like uploading an HTML file or adding a DNS record.

Use the URL Inspection Tool:

• Enter the full URL you want to check.
• Press Enter.
• If it says “URL is on Google,” your page is indexed. You’ll see crawl details and enhancement info.
• If it says “URL is not on Google,” you’ll get reasons like “Blocked by robots.txt” or “Crawled – currently not indexed.”

Request Indexing if Needed:

If your page isn’t indexed but is ready, click Request Indexing to speed up Google’s crawl.

Check the Coverage Report for Site-Wide Health:

Navigate to Coverage in GSC. It shows:

• Valid: Indexed pages
• Error: Pages with crawl/indexing issues
• Excluded: Pages intentionally left out (e.g., noindex)
  Use this to spot trends and fix issues at scale.

The Top Reasons Your Page Isn’t Indexed

If you find pages missing, these common culprits might be the cause:

• Noindex Tag: A meta tag tells Google to skip the page.
• Robots.txt Blocking: The crawler is blocked from accessing the page.
• Canonical URL Conflicts: Your page points Google to index a different URL.
• Orphan Pages: Pages not linked internally, making them invisible to crawlers.
• Duplicate or Thin Content: Google avoids indexing low-value or redundant pages.
• Pages Behind Authentication: Content hidden behind logins won’t be crawled.

Fixing Indexing Issues: How to Get Your Page Seen by Google

Here’s how you tackle those problems:

• Remove Noindex Tags: Edit your page’s meta tags to allow indexing.
• Update robots.txt: Make sure your important pages aren’t blocked. Test with GSC’s robots.txt tester.
• Fix Canonical URLs: Ensure canonical tags point correctly to your preferred URL.
• Add Internal Links: Link to orphan pages from other well-trafficked pages.
• Improve Content: Make pages unique, detailed, and useful.
• Make Content Accessible: Avoid login walls on pages meant to be public.

Your Page is on Google: What’s Next?

Indexing is step one. Ranking better requires more work. Once your page is indexed, follow this checklist:

• Optimize Title & Meta Description: Write clear, enticing snippets that encourage clicks.
• Build Internal Links: Help Google find and rank the page by linking from related content.
• Share on Social Media: Drive initial traffic and engagement.
• Include in XML Sitemap: Make sure your sitemap is updated and submitted in GSC.

These actions boost your page’s chances of ranking higher and getting more visitors.

Quick Comparison: site: Operator vs. Google Search Console

Method	Accuracy	Best For	Pros	Cons
site:yourdomain.com	Low to Medium	Quick index check	Easy, no account required	Results incomplete, no error details
Google Search Console	High	Detailed, diagnostic insights	Official, comprehensive reports	Requires verification and setup

Google Search Console is the gold standard for indexing data. The site: operator is handy for a fast glance but misses details.

Why Does This Matter?

Pages invisible to Google don’t bring organic traffic. That means lost leads, missed sales, and a weaker online presence. Every day your important pages stay unindexed, you risk falling behind competitors.

Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Site’s Visibility Now

You’ve got the free tools and know-how to check which pages Google sees and fix what’s missing. Don’t let hidden pages cost you traffic or revenue. Start today — audit your site with Google Search Console, fix indexing issues, and watch your organic presence grow.

For a fast way to extract your sitemap URLs and see what pages are ready for Google’s crawler, try this free tool: Free XML Sitemap URL Extractor