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What is Noindex Tag in SEO? A Complete Guide to When & How to Use it?

What is Noindex Tag in SEO? A Complete Guide to When & How to Use it?

What is Noindex Tag in SEO? A Complete Guide to When & How to Use it?

What is Noindex Tag in SEO? A Complete Guide to When & How to Use it?

What is Noindex Tag in SEO? A Complete Guide to When & How to Use it?

Noindex

Noindex

Noindex

Noindex

A noindex tells search engines not to show a page in search results. It’s added in the page’s HTML or in the HTTP header to keep the page from being indexed.

A noindex tells search engines not to show a page in search results. It’s added in the page’s HTML or in the HTTP header to keep the page from being indexed.

A noindex tells search engines not to show a page in search results. It’s added in the page’s HTML or in the HTTP header to keep the page from being indexed.

A noindex tells search engines not to show a page in search results. It’s added in the page’s HTML or in the HTTP header to keep the page from being indexed.

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Nimisha G.

Nimisha G.

Nimisha G.

5 Min Read

5 Min

5 Min

Oct 31, 2025

Oct 31, 2025

Oct 31, 2025

What Does "Noindex" Mean?

What Does "Noindex" Mean?

What Does "Noindex" Mean?

The noindex directive tells search engine crawlers not to add a certain page to their index. A page with a noindex tag won't show up in search engine results pages (SERPs), even if it has links to other pages.


There are many ways to use noindex, such as:


  • HTML meta tags

  • Headers for HTTP

  • Robots.txt (with some limits)


The most common way to do this is to put a meta tag in the <head> section of an HTML page:


<meta name="robots" content="noindex" />

The noindex directive tells search engine crawlers not to add a certain page to their index. A page with a noindex tag won't show up in search engine results pages (SERPs), even if it has links to other pages.


There are many ways to use noindex, such as:


  • HTML meta tags

  • Headers for HTTP

  • Robots.txt (with some limits)


The most common way to do this is to put a meta tag in the <head> section of an HTML page:


<meta name="robots" content="noindex" />

The noindex directive tells search engine crawlers not to add a certain page to their index. A page with a noindex tag won't show up in search engine results pages (SERPs), even if it has links to other pages.


There are many ways to use noindex, such as:


  • HTML meta tags

  • Headers for HTTP

  • Robots.txt (with some limits)


The most common way to do this is to put a meta tag in the <head> section of an HTML page:


<meta name="robots" content="noindex" />

Image showing HTML code of no index tag
Image showing HTML code of no index tag
Image showing HTML code of no index tag
Image showing HTML code of no index tag
Image showing HTML code of no index tag

Why Should You Use Noindex?

Why Should You Use Noindex?

Why Should You Use Noindex?

Avoid Duplicate Content Issues: If your site has more than one page with the same or similar content (like printer-friendly versions or session IDs), noindex stops these pages from fighting for search rankings.

Avoid Duplicate Content Issues: If your site has more than one page with the same or similar content (like printer-friendly versions or session IDs), noindex stops these pages from fighting for search rankings.

Avoid Duplicate Content Issues: If your site has more than one page with the same or similar content (like printer-friendly versions or session IDs), noindex stops these pages from fighting for search rankings.

Keep Low-Quality or Thin Content Out of Search: Terms and conditions, privacy policies, and thank-you pages are examples of pages with little content that don't usually help search users. Noindex stops these from weakening your site's SEO.

Keep Low-Quality or Thin Content Out of Search: Terms and conditions, privacy policies, and thank-you pages are examples of pages with little content that don't usually help search users. Noindex stops these from weakening your site's SEO.

Keep Low-Quality or Thin Content Out of Search: Terms and conditions, privacy policies, and thank-you pages are examples of pages with little content that don't usually help search users. Noindex stops these from weakening your site's SEO.

Keep an eye on private or sensitive information: You shouldn't be able to search for some pages, like internal admin pages or content that only members can see. Noindex helps keep Google from indexing these pages.

Keep an eye on private or sensitive information: You shouldn't be able to search for some pages, like internal admin pages or content that only members can see. Noindex helps keep Google from indexing these pages.

Keep an eye on private or sensitive information: You shouldn't be able to search for some pages, like internal admin pages or content that only members can see. Noindex helps keep Google from indexing these pages.

Manage Crawl Budget: If you have a big website, not indexing pages that aren't important can help search engines focus their crawl budget on your most important content, which will improve the site's SEO as a whole.

Manage Crawl Budget: If you have a big website, not indexing pages that aren't important can help search engines focus their crawl budget on your most important content, which will improve the site's SEO as a whole.

Manage Crawl Budget: If you have a big website, not indexing pages that aren't important can help search engines focus their crawl budget on your most important content, which will improve the site's SEO as a whole.

How to Implement Noindex Correctly?

How to Implement Noindex Correctly?

How to Implement Noindex Correctly?

Using Meta Tags: Put this line in the <head> section of your page's HTML:


<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>


  • Noindex: Stops the page from being added to search engine results.

  • Nofollow: stops search engines from following links on that page. Only use this if you want to stop both indexing and link crawling.

Using Meta Tags: Put this line in the <head> section of your page's HTML:


<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>


  • Noindex: Stops the page from being added to search engine results.

  • Nofollow: stops search engines from following links on that page. Only use this if you want to stop both indexing and link crawling.

Using Meta Tags: Put this line in the <head> section of your page's HTML:


<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>


  • Noindex: Stops the page from being added to search engine results.

  • Nofollow: stops search engines from following links on that page. Only use this if you want to stop both indexing and link crawling.

HTTP Header Response: You can add an X-Robots-Tag to the HTTP header for files that aren't HTML, like PDFs, or if you want to add noindex at the server level:


  • X-Robots-Tag: noindex, nofollow

HTTP Header Response: You can add an X-Robots-Tag to the HTTP header for files that aren't HTML, like PDFs, or if you want to add noindex at the server level:


  • X-Robots-Tag: noindex, nofollow

HTTP Header Response: You can add an X-Robots-Tag to the HTTP header for files that aren't HTML, like PDFs, or if you want to add noindex at the server level:


  • X-Robots-Tag: noindex, nofollow

The Robots.txt File: Robots.txt can stop crawlers from getting to a page, but it doesn't guarantee that it won't be indexed. If search engines find links to a URL they can't crawl, they might still index it. Use noindex instead for full exclusion.

The Robots.txt File: Robots.txt can stop crawlers from getting to a page, but it doesn't guarantee that it won't be indexed. If search engines find links to a URL they can't crawl, they might still index it. Use noindex instead for full exclusion.

The Robots.txt File: Robots.txt can stop crawlers from getting to a page, but it doesn't guarantee that it won't be indexed. If search engines find links to a URL they can't crawl, they might still index it. Use noindex instead for full exclusion.

Image of Robot.txt file
Image of Robot.txt file
Image of Robot.txt file
Image of Robot.txt file
Image of Robot.txt file

When You Shouldn't Use Noindex?

When You Shouldn't Use Noindex?

When You Shouldn't Use Noindex?

How to Check if Noindex is Working?

How to Check if Noindex is Working?

How to Check if Noindex is Working?

  • Use Google Search Console to see which pages are not indexed in the Coverage report.

  • Use SEO audit tools like Screaming Frog to look through your site and find pages that have noindex tags.

  • Check the page source by hand and look for the meta robots tag.

  • Check the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to see if Google has added or removed a URL.

  • Use Google Search Console to see which pages are not indexed in the Coverage report.

  • Use SEO audit tools like Screaming Frog to look through your site and find pages that have noindex tags.

  • Check the page source by hand and look for the meta robots tag.

  • Check the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to see if Google has added or removed a URL.

  • Use Google Search Console to see which pages are not indexed in the Coverage report.

  • Use SEO audit tools like Screaming Frog to look through your site and find pages that have noindex tags.

  • Check the page source by hand and look for the meta robots tag.

  • Check the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to see if Google has added or removed a URL.

Common Noindex Mistakes to Avoid

Common Noindex Mistakes to Avoid

Common Noindex Mistakes to Avoid

Table for Common noindex mistakes to avoid
Table for Common noindex mistakes to avoid
Table for Common noindex mistakes to avoid
Table for Common noindex mistakes to avoid
Table for Common noindex mistakes to avoid

What's the Difference Between Noindex and Nofollow?

What's the Difference Between Noindex and Nofollow?

What's the Difference Between Noindex and Nofollow?

  • Noindex: This tells search engines not to add the page to their index. You won't be able to find the page in search results.


  • Nofollow: This tells search engines not to follow links on the page. This means that the page won't pass link equity to pages that are linked to it.


If you want to stop both indexing and link crawling, you can use both "noindex" and "nofollow."

  • Noindex: This tells search engines not to add the page to their index. You won't be able to find the page in search results.


  • Nofollow: This tells search engines not to follow links on the page. This means that the page won't pass link equity to pages that are linked to it.


If you want to stop both indexing and link crawling, you can use both "noindex" and "nofollow."

  • Noindex: This tells search engines not to add the page to their index. You won't be able to find the page in search results.


  • Nofollow: This tells search engines not to follow links on the page. This means that the page won't pass link equity to pages that are linked to it.


If you want to stop both indexing and link crawling, you can use both "noindex" and "nofollow."

How to Use Noindex in Your SEO Plan?

How to Use Noindex in Your SEO Plan?

How to Use Noindex in Your SEO Plan?

Using noindex in the right way can:



  • Keep sensitive or duplicate content from being seen by the public.


  • Help large sites manage their crawl budget, which makes crawling faster and better for their rankings.


But if you use noindex too much, it can make your site less visible, so be careful how you use it.

Using noindex in the right way can:



  • Keep sensitive or duplicate content from being seen by the public.


  • Help large sites manage their crawl budget, which makes crawling faster and better for their rankings.


But if you use noindex too much, it can make your site less visible, so be careful how you use it.

Using noindex in the right way can:



  • Keep sensitive or duplicate content from being seen by the public.


  • Help large sites manage their crawl budget, which makes crawling faster and better for their rankings.


But if you use noindex too much, it can make your site less visible, so be careful how you use it.

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Alternative Ways to Hide Pages from Search Engines

Alternative Ways to Hide Pages from Search Engines

Alternative Ways to Hide Pages from Search Engines

  • Password protection: Only let people in who have a login.


  • Canonical tags: Instead of noindexing all versions, use canonical URLs to combine duplicate content.


  • Robots.txt: To stop crawling but not indexing (not as reliable for full exclusion).

  • Password protection: Only let people in who have a login.


  • Canonical tags: Instead of noindexing all versions, use canonical URLs to combine duplicate content.


  • Robots.txt: To stop crawling but not indexing (not as reliable for full exclusion).

  • Password protection: Only let people in who have a login.


  • Canonical tags: Instead of noindexing all versions, use canonical URLs to combine duplicate content.


  • Robots.txt: To stop crawling but not indexing (not as reliable for full exclusion).

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

The noindex tag is a very useful SEO tool that lets you choose what search engines index. When used correctly, it helps your site be better, stops problems with duplicate content, and keeps private pages from showing up in public search results.


But you have to be careful with it, just like with any tool. To avoid SEO problems that you didn't mean to happen, always check which pages have noindex tags and keep an eye on your site's indexing status.

The noindex tag is a very useful SEO tool that lets you choose what search engines index. When used correctly, it helps your site be better, stops problems with duplicate content, and keeps private pages from showing up in public search results.


But you have to be careful with it, just like with any tool. To avoid SEO problems that you didn't mean to happen, always check which pages have noindex tags and keep an eye on your site's indexing status.

The noindex tag is a very useful SEO tool that lets you choose what search engines index. When used correctly, it helps your site be better, stops problems with duplicate content, and keeps private pages from showing up in public search results.


But you have to be careful with it, just like with any tool. To avoid SEO problems that you didn't mean to happen, always check which pages have noindex tags and keep an eye on your site's indexing status.

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Uncover Hidden Pages and Boost Your Website’s Search Visibility!

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Stop letting noindex tags block your growth. We’ll help you uncover hidden pages, fix indexation errors, and get your content back in front of the right audience. More visibility, more clicks, more results — let’s optimize together!

Stop letting noindex tags block your growth. We’ll help you uncover hidden pages, fix indexation errors, and get your content back in front of the right audience. More visibility, more clicks, more results — let’s optimize together!

Stop letting noindex tags block your growth. We’ll help you uncover hidden pages, fix indexation errors, and get your content back in front of the right audience. More visibility, more clicks, more results — let’s optimize together!

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