Solving the 'Discovered – Currently Not Indexed' Puzzle After a Redirect

Hey there, fellow store owners and ecommerce operators! Ever felt that sinking feeling when you check Google Search Console and see your crucial product or category page listed as "Discovered – currently not indexed"? It's a common headache, especially after making changes like redirecting old URLs to new ones. Recently, this exact scenario sparked a lively discussion in the community, and it's a perfect opportunity to dive into what's really going on and how to fix it.

The original poster in a recent community thread highlighted this very issue: a page moved, an old URL redirected to a new one, and now Google acknowledges the page exists but isn't putting it in search results. Their big question was, "Would a strong backlink push Google to finally crawl it?" It's a valid thought, but let's unpack the nuances together.

Understanding "Discovered – currently not indexed"

First, what does this status actually mean? When Google Search Console reports "Discovered – currently not indexed," it tells us a few things:

• Google knows about the page: It found the URL, perhaps through a sitemap, an internal link, or even the redirect itself.
• Google hasn't crawled it (or fully processed it) yet: For some reason, it hasn't allocated resources to crawl the page's content, or it has crawled it but hasn't deemed it worthy of indexing yet.
• It's not an error, but a waiting game (sometimes): Unlike "Crawled – currently not indexed" (where Google *did* crawl but chose not to index), "Discovered" implies it's still in the queue.

This is particularly common after redirects. When you implement a 301 redirect, Google needs time to process that change. It has to re-evaluate the old URL, discover the new one, transfer any 'link equity' (the value passed from the old page), and then decide to crawl and index the new page.

The Backlink Question: A Silver Bullet?

The original poster's idea about a strong backlink is understandable. Backlinks are indeed powerful signals of authority and relevance. They tell Google that other reputable sites vouch for your content, which can absolutely influence crawl frequency and indexing priority. However, for a page specifically stuck in "Discovered – currently not indexed" after a redirect, a backlink alone might not be the direct, immediate solution.

Community insights often point out that while backlinks boost overall site authority and can indirectly help, the "Discovered" status usually hints at more fundamental issues or simply a need for Google to catch up. Think of it this way: a backlink might tell Google, "This page is important!" but if Google hasn't even fully processed the redirect or has other reasons to delay crawling, that signal might not jump the queue as quickly as you'd hope.

Actionable Steps to Get Your Pages Indexed

So, if not just a backlink, what should you do? Drawing from common expert advice, here's a checklist for store owners:

1. Verify the Redirect:

   • Use a redirect checker tool to ensure your 301 redirect is correctly implemented from the old URL to the new one.
   • Confirm there are no redirect chains (e.g., old URL > intermediate URL > new URL), which can dilute signals and confuse crawlers.

2. Check Your Sitemap:

   • Make sure the new URL is included in your XML sitemap.
   • Submit or re-submit your updated sitemap via Google Search Console. This explicitly tells Google about your new pages.

3. Internal Linking Strategy:

   • Update any internal links on your site that might still be pointing to the old URL. They should now point directly to the new URL.
   • Add new, relevant internal links from high-authority pages on your site to the new page. This is a powerful signal of importance to Google and helps crawlers discover it more readily.

4. Inspect for Blocking Issues:

   • Use Google Search Console's URL Inspection tool for the new page. It will tell you if there are any "noindex" tags or "robots.txt" rules preventing Google from crawling or indexing the page. This is a common culprit after migrations or platform updates, especially for platforms like Wix where Wix dev change tracking might reveal unintended configuration shifts.
   • Ensure the page is canonicalized correctly, pointing to itself (the new URL).

5. Content Quality and Uniqueness:

   • Is the content on the new page high-quality, unique, and valuable to users? Google prioritizes good content. If the redirect was part of a larger content refresh, ensure the new content is genuinely better.
   • Even for product pages, ensure descriptions are unique and helpful.

6. Request Indexing in Google Search Console:

   • For the new URL, use the "Request Indexing" feature in Google Search Console. While not a guarantee, it can often prompt Google to re-evaluate the page sooner.

7. Patience is a Virtue (Sometimes):

   • After significant changes like redirects, Google can take days, or even weeks, to fully process everything. Continue monitoring Search Console.

8. Overall Site Health:

   • Ensure your site is fast, mobile-friendly, and secure. A healthy site encourages more frequent crawling. Regular checks, perhaps with a Magento app for security audit, can ensure your site isn't inadvertently hindering Google's efforts due to underlying issues.

EShopSet Team Comment

The "Discovered – currently not indexed" status after a redirect is frustratingly common, and while backlinks are crucial for long-term SEO, they aren't the primary immediate fix here. Store owners should prioritize technical SEO hygiene: clear redirects, updated sitemaps, strong internal linking, and diligent monitoring for crawl blockers. EShopSet's bundled apps for SEO auditing and site monitoring are invaluable for quickly identifying and rectifying these technical issues, ensuring your valuable content gets indexed and seen.

Ultimately, getting your pages indexed is about clear communication with search engines. By following these steps and regularly monitoring your site's performance through tools like Google Search Console, you'll not only resolve the "Discovered – currently not indexed" issue but also build a more robust and visible online store. Happy indexing!