Google: Hreflang URLs Can Appear Despite ‘Not Indexed’ Status

Image credit: Abondance

Google clarified Tuesday that alternate language or regional URLs using hreflang annotations can appear in search results even if Google Search Console marks them as “not indexed.”

This distinction, explained by Google’s Gary Illyes, addresses a common concern among webmasters regarding the visibility of localized content versions despite their indexing status.

Illyes stated that hreflang alternate URLs are not always indexed in the traditional sense, particularly when they are part of a duplicate content cluster.

When a URL is canonicalized, other URLs within its duplicate cluster can become “alternate names” linked to the canonical version, Illyes said.

These alternate names, which include hreflang versions, retain the ability to appear in search results if a user’s query specifically justifies their display.

For example, Illyes noted that such URLs could surface in response to specific commands like “site:” queries.

Faiez Javaid, reporting for Search Engine Watch, highlighted that seeing hreflang URLs marked “not indexed” in Google Search Console is therefore not necessarily an indication of a problem.

Instead, these URLs are effectively linked to their canonical counterparts as alternate names, allowing Google to surface them in appropriate contexts.

Google can surface these alternate language or regional versions in specific search scenarios, ensuring users receive the most relevant content for their query and location.

The clarification aims to provide a better understanding of how Google processes and presents localized content, separating indexing status from potential search visibility for alternate versions.

Source: Abondance