Why can't Google find my website?

How a page gets into Google Search

Before a page can appear in search results, it goes through three steps:

1. Discovery: Google finds the address – through links from other pages or through a SitemapSitemapPlain EnglishA file listing a website’s important pages for search engines, like a table of contents.More in the glossary.
2. Reading: A Google program fetches the page and reads its content. This is called CrawlingCrawlingPlain EnglishSearch engine programs, called crawlers, automatically visit websites and follow links from page to page.More in the glossary.
3. Indexing: Google decides whether the page goes into its indexIndexingPlain EnglishFor a page to appear in Google Search, Google must find it, read it and add it to its index — a vast directory of the web. This is called indexing.More in the glossary – a huge directory of the web.

Only pages in the index can be shown for a search. Where a page then ranks is a separate question – that’s what SEOSEOPlain EnglishSearch engine optimisation: work that helps a website get found in unpaid search results.More in the glossary is for.

The most common reasons

The website is brand new

Google doesn’t visit every new address straight away. Without links from other sites, it can take a while before a new website is discovered at all.

A technical block keeps Google out

Two settings are often overlooked – especially if the website used to run as a test version:

• A “noindex” instruction in the code tells Google not to index the page.
• The robots.txtrobots.txtPlain EnglishA small text file that tells search engine crawlers which parts of a website they may or may not access.More in the glossary file can stop Google from reading entire sections.

Google knows the page but hasn’t indexed it (yet)

Search Console then shows something like “Discovered – currently not indexed” or “Crawled – currently not indexed”. Sometimes it’s just a matter of time, sometimes a sign of thin or duplicate content.

The content doesn’t match the search

If the page is in the index but nobody finds it, the content is often the reason: the page doesn’t answer the question people type into Google. That’s a job for SEO, not for the technical setup.

How to check for yourself

The free website SEO check tests a page’s technical basics, including Googlebot access, noindex, page titles and a sitemap. Use Search Console afterwards to confirm whether Google has actually indexed the page.

Quick test in Google Search

Type site:yourdomain.at into Google – using your own address. If nothing appears, the website is very likely not in the index yet. The list is only a rough indication, though, not a complete overview.

A precise look in Search Console

1. Set up Google Search ConsoleGoogle Search ConsolePlain EnglishA free Google tool that shows how Google sees your website: which pages are indexed, where there are problems and which searches your pages appear for.More in the glossary and verify that you own the website.
2. Enter the address of a page in the URL inspection tool. You’ll see straight away whether it is indexed.
3. Open the “Pages” report under “Indexing”. It lists which pages aren’t indexed – and why.

Tip: Write down the reasons Google gives. They’re the best starting point for a conversation with whoever looks after your website.

What helps – and what doesn’t

• Submit a sitemap: in Search Console under “Sitemaps”, so Google knows all your important addresses.
• Request indexing: for individual important pages, right in the URL inspection tool.
• Remove blocks: check and fix “noindex” and overly strict robots.txt rules.
• Link internally: important pages should be reachable from the homepage and the menu.

What doesn’t help: submitting the same page over and over or relying on quick tricks. There’s no guarantee of indexing – but you can make Google’s job as easy as possible.