Google De-Indexing Millions of Pages: What’s Happening and How to Recover

Google De-Indexing Millions of Pages: What's Happening and How to Recover


The SEO world has been abuzz with reports of Google removing a massive number of pages from its search index. This sudden and widespread de-indexing has left many website owners and digital marketers scrambling to understand what's going on and how to address the issue.

In this in-depth blog post, we'll dive into the details of this unfolding situation, explore the potential causes, and provide actionable strategies to help you recover any pages that have been removed from Google's index.


The Scope of the De-Indexing Issue

According to multiple reports, the de-indexing issue appears to have started around May 20th, 2025, with a significant spike in the number of pages being removed from Google's index. SEOs and webmasters across various industries have been sharing their experiences and observations, painting a concerning picture of the scale of this problem.

One example comes from Paul P on X, who shared a screenshot showing a dramatic drop in the number of indexed pages for his website. He stated, "It seems that starting in June, Google has been removing a large number of pages from its index." This sentiment has been echoed by numerous other SEO professionals and website owners.

The Search Engine Roundtable also reported on the issue, noting that "several individuals have inquired whether Google has been indexing fewer pages on websites since late May." While nothing has been officially confirmed by Google, the volume of complaints and reports suggests that this is a widespread phenomenon.


Theories Behind the De-Indexing

As the SEO community grapples with this development, several theories have emerged to explain the potential causes behind the de-indexing of pages. Let's explore some of the leading hypotheses:


Changes to Google's Topical Authority Algorithm

One of the most compelling theories is that Google has made changes to its approach to topical authority. According to a post on the r/SEO subreddit, the legendary web linker, a respected moderator on the subreddit, suggested that "Google changed its topical authority formula" and that website owners should focus on "rebuilding topical authority" rather than simply resubmitting de-indexed pages.

The idea is that Google's algorithms have become more stringent in evaluating the topical relevance and authority of a website's content. Pages that are deemed to be off-topic or lacking in topical authority may be at a higher risk of being removed from the index.


Targeting Low-Quality or Irrelevant Content

Another theory is that Google is actively targeting and removing pages that it deems to be low-quality or irrelevant to users. Several SEO professionals have reported that the pages being de-indexed tend to be those with little to no traffic, outdated content, or content that is not closely aligned with the website's core focus.

As one commenter on the r/SEO subreddit noted, "the pages falling off the index were a bit crap in my opinion." This suggests that Google may be prioritizing the quality and relevance of content over simply indexing as many pages as possible.


Potential Connection to an Upcoming Core Update

Some SEOs have speculated that the de-indexing issue could be a precursor to an upcoming Google Core Update. VJ, another SEO professional, commented that "it looks like something big is on the way or Google is testing a pre-update for the next Google core update."

While this connection is not yet confirmed, it's possible that Google is making adjustments to its indexing algorithms in preparation for a more significant update to its search ranking factors. This could explain the widespread de-indexing as Google aims to refine its index and prioritize higher-quality, more relevant content.


Checking and Addressing De-Indexed Pages

If you've noticed a drop in the number of pages indexed for your website, there are a few steps you can take to assess the situation and potentially recover your de-indexed content:


Analyze Your Google Search Console Data

- Log into your Google Search Console account and navigate to the "Indexing" section.

- Click on the "Pages" tab and select the "Not indexed" filter to see which of your pages have been removed from Google's index.

- Examine the list of de-indexed pages and look for any patterns or common characteristics, such as low traffic, lack of internal links, or outdated content.


Update and Resubmit Affected Pages

For pages that you deem important and worthy of being indexed, consider the following steps:

- Review the content and make any necessary updates to improve its quality, relevance, and alignment with your website's core topics.

- Ensure that the page is properly internally linked from other relevant pages on your site, as suggested by the web linker.

- Resubmit the updated page through the Google Search Console "Fetch as Google" tool to request a re-indexing.




Focus on Rebuilding Topical Authority

As mentioned earlier, the changes to Google's topical authority algorithm may be a key factor in the de-indexing issue. To address this, consider the following strategies:

- Carefully review your website's content and structure to ensure a strong, cohesive topical focus.

- Eliminate or consolidate any pages that are off-topic or do not directly support your website's core themes and offerings.

- Strengthen the internal linking structure of your website, ensuring that related pages are well-connected and reinforce your topical authority.

- Invest in external marketing and link building efforts that are laser-focused on your website's primary topics and areas of expertise.

By taking these steps, you can work to rebuild and solidify your website's topical authority in the eyes of Google's algorithms, which may help in recovering de-indexed pages and maintaining a strong presence in the search results.


Community Insights and Reactions

As the SEO community grapples with this issue, various professionals have shared their observations and insights, providing a valuable perspective on the situation.


Positive Impacts on Traffic and Relevance

Interestingly, some website owners have reported that the de-indexing of pages has not had a negative impact on their overall traffic. In fact, some have even seen an increase in traffic and better-qualified leads.

As one commenter on the r/SEO subreddit noted, "Google may remove pages that don't get clicked or that get irrelevant clicks and instead send you more qualified traffic - traffic that is interested in what you do and who you are and what your business is."

This suggests that the de-indexing may be a positive step in refining Google's search results, prioritizing content that is more relevant and valuable to users.


Addressing Specific Issues with De-Indexed Pages

Several SEO professionals have shared their experiences and insights on the specific factors that may have contributed to the de-indexing of their pages. These insights can be valuable in guiding your own recovery efforts.

For example, one commenter on the r/SEO subreddit noted that pages with the following characteristics were more likely to be de-indexed:

- Keyword used too often, especially in the beginning of the page

- Content not updated for 2 years or more

- Significant content overlap with other pages on the website

- Lack of internal links pointing to the page

By addressing these issues and ensuring that your content is well-optimized, up-to-date, and properly interlinked, you may be able to improve the chances of having your de-indexed pages restored to Google's search index.


Potential Impact on Backlinks and Link Echoes

Another interesting perspective comes from a commenter who suggested that the de-indexing of pages may be related to the removal of backlinks pointing to those pages from other websites.

As one commenter noted, "chances are a lot of our sites had backlinks removed from other sites' pages pointing towards us, so maybe your page had a drop in backlinks."

This ties into the concept of "link echoes" or "link ghosts," which is discussed in the 21 SEO Experiments article. The idea is that the positive or negative effects of backlinks can persist even after the backlinks themselves have been removed. This could be a contributing factor in the de-indexing of certain pages.


Google's Stance on Unrelated Content

Interestingly, Google's John Mueller has weighed in on the issue of unrelated content on websites, which may be a relevant factor in the de-indexing situation.

As reported by Search Engine Roundtable, Mueller responded to a complaint about indexing issues and ranking drops, stating, "One of the things I noticed is that there's a lot of totally unrelated content on the site."

This suggests that Google may be cracking down on websites that publish a significant amount of content that is not closely aligned with their core topics and offerings. By focusing on topical relevance and authority, Google's algorithms may be more aggressively removing pages that do not contribute to a cohesive and valuable user experience.


Final Thoughts and Recommendations

The recent wave of de-indexing by Google has undoubtedly caused concern and disruption within the SEO community. However, it's important to approach this situation with a measured and strategic response.

Based on the insights and theories discussed in this article, here are some key recommendations to help you navigate this challenge:

- Closely monitor your Google Search Console data to identify any pages that have been removed from the index.

- Carefully review the content and structure of your website to ensure a strong, cohesive topical focus.

- Update and resubmit any important pages that have been de-indexed, addressing any issues related to keyword usage, content quality, and internal linking.

- Invest in external marketing and link building efforts that reinforce your website's topical authority and expertise.

- Be prepared for potential further changes to Google's algorithms, as this de-indexing issue may be a precursor to a more significant Core Update.

By taking a proactive and strategic approach, you can navigate this period of uncertainty and potentially emerge with a stronger, more relevant, and better-performing website in the eyes of Google's search algorithms.

Remember, the goal is not just to have as many pages indexed as possible, but to ensure that your website provides a valuable and engaging experience for your target audience. By focusing on quality, relevance, and topical authority, you can position your website for long-term success in the ever-evolving world of search engine optimization.