Why Sitemap Submitted but URLs Not Indexed

Published: 31 Jan 2026

Submitting a sitemap in Google Search Console is supposed to help your pages appear in search results faster. But many website owners face a frustrating issue where the sitemap is submitted successfully, yet several URLs remain unindexed for weeks or even months.

If you’re wondering why sitemap submitted but URLs not indexed, this guide explains the real reasons behind it and shows you exactly how to fix the problem using proven SEO practices.

What Does “Sitemap Submitted but URLs Not Indexed” Mean?

When Google Search Console shows this status, it means:

Google has found your URLs
Google has processed your sitemap
But Google has decided not to add some pages to its index

This is an important distinction.
A sitemap only helps Google discover URLs. It does not force Google to index them.

Indexing is based on quality, relevance, and trust.

Why Sitemap Submitted but URLs Not Indexed (Main Reasons)

Below are the most common and impactful reasons this issue occurs, especially on content and tech-focused websites.

1. Thin or Low-Quality Content

One of the biggest reasons why sitemap submitted but URLs not indexed is content quality.

Google may crawl your page but skip indexing if it believes the content:

Is too short
Adds no new information
Repeats what already exists on your site or other websites
Does not fully satisfy user intent

Pages that lack depth, examples, or clear answers are often ignored.

Solution:
Expand content, add useful explanations, FAQs, visuals, and ensure the page solves a specific problem completely.

2. Duplicate or Similar Pages

If multiple URLs on your site contain very similar content, Google may index only one version and ignore the rest.

Common causes include:

Tag pages
Filter URLs
Pagination URLs
Slight keyword variations across multiple pages

This leads to sitemap URLs being discovered but not indexed.

Solution:
Use canonical tags correctly and remove unnecessary URLs from your sitemap.

3. Weak Internal Linking Structure

Google uses internal links to understand which pages matter most. Pages with few or no internal links are often treated as low priority.

This issue is closely connected to Why Google Indexes Pages but doesn’t Rank It, because pages with weak internal signals struggle with both indexing and rankings.

Solution:
Link unindexed pages from:

High-traffic articles
Category pages
Contextual content using descriptive anchor text

4. Crawl Budget Limitations

Google does not crawl all websites equally. If your site contains:

Too many low-value pages
Old unused URLs
Auto-generated pages

Google may limit crawling and indexing of new content—even if it’s included in the sitemap.

Solution:
Remove thin or unnecessary pages and focus on quality over quantity.

5. Technical SEO Issues

Even if no errors are shown in Search Console, technical issues can silently prevent indexing, such as:

Slow page speed
Poor mobile usability
Incorrect canonical tags
JavaScript rendering issues
Soft 404 behavior

These issues reduce Google’s confidence in indexing the page.

Solution:
Ensure pages load fast, are mobile-friendly, and have clean technical signals.

6. Content Does Not Meet Search Intent

Google evaluates whether your content matches what users are actually looking for. If your page:

Targets the wrong keyword intent
Answers the question poorly
Is less helpful than competing pages

Google may choose not to index it at all.

This is another reason sitemap submission alone doesn’t guarantee visibility.

7. New Pages Need Time and Signals

For newer websites or freshly published pages, indexing delays are common. Google often waits for:

Internal link reinforcement
User engagement signals
Content updates

Before committing pages to the index.

Sitemap Mistakes That Prevent Indexing

Sometimes the issue lies within the sitemap itself.

Avoid including:

Noindex URLs
Redirected URLs
Canonicalized URLs
Parameter-based URLs
Outdated or deleted pages

A sitemap should only contain clean, indexable URLs.

How to Fix “Sitemap Submitted but URLs Not Indexed”

Follow this step-by-step process to increase indexing success.

Step 1: Improve Content Quality

Update unindexed pages by:

Increasing content depth
Adding FAQs and explanations
Improving readability and structure
Including relevant internal links

Pages with strong content are indexed faster.

Step 2: Strengthen Internal Linking

Add contextual internal links from authoritative pages on your site. This tells Google the page is important and worth indexing.

Step 3: Clean and Optimize Your Sitemap

Remove all low-quality or non-indexable URLs. A clean sitemap improves Google’s trust in your site.

Step 4: Request Indexing the Right Way

Use the URL Inspection Tool after making improvements. Repeated requests without changes usually fail.

Step 5: Monitor Search Console Data

Watch for:

Impressions
Crawled but not indexed status changes
Crawl statistics

Pages that begin receiving impressions are likely close to indexing.

How Indexing Affects Rankings and Traffic

Pages that are not indexed:

Cannot rank
Receive zero organic traffic
Reduce overall site authority

Even indexed pages may struggle if quality and relevance are weak, which connects directly to Why Google Indexes Pages but doesn’t Rank It.

Indexing is only the first step. Rankings come later.

Best Practices to Avoid Indexing Issues Long-Term

Publish fewer but higher-quality pages
Avoid mass or auto-generated content
Update existing posts regularly
Build strong topical authority
Focus on user intent, not keyword stuffing

These practices improve both indexing stability and organic traffic growth.

Final Thoughts

If you’re dealing with why sitemap submitted but URLs not indexed, remember this:

Google indexes pages it trusts and finds genuinely useful.

By improving content quality, strengthening internal links, and fixing technical signals, you significantly increase the chances of your pages being indexed and ranked.

This approach builds a healthier website, stronger SEO performance, and long-term AdSense revenue potential.

Why does Google crawl my page but not index it?

Google may crawl a page to evaluate quality but decide it doesn’t meet indexing standards due to thin content, duplication, or low value.

How long should I wait before worrying about indexing?

For new pages, wait 1–3 weeks. If the page remains unindexed after improvements, further optimization is needed.

Does submitting a sitemap guarantee indexing?

No. A sitemap helps discovery, but indexing depends on quality, relevance, and site authority.

Yes. Strong internal linking signals importance and improves crawl priority.

Should I remove unindexed URLs from my sitemap?

If they remain unindexed after optimization, yes. Keeping only quality URLs improves sitemap trust.

Do Google updates affect indexing?

Yes. Core updates can raise quality thresholds, causing more pages to be crawled but not indexed.