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How to Fix Google Search Console Errors
Digital Marketing
September 1, 2025 No Comments

How to Fix Google Search Console Errors Step by Step (2025 Guide)

If you’re seeing Google Search Console errors, you’re not alone. From crawl errors to indexing issues and confusing coverage errors, these problems can stop your pages from showing up in search results. The good news: most of these errors are easy to fix once you understand what they mean. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to fix Google Search Console errors step by step, so you can resolve issues quickly and improve your website’s SEO performance.

Why Google Search Console Errors Matter

Google Search Console (GSC) is one of the most powerful free SEO tools for website owners. It shows how your site performs in search, alerts you to technical problems, and highlights issues preventing Google from indexing your pages.

But when you see a long list of errors, it can feel intimidating. These issues - if left unchecked - can hurt your rankings, block pages from appearing in search, and reduce traffic.

The good news? Most errors are fixable if you know what they mean. This guide explains the most common problems step by step, so you can identify, fix, and prevent them in the future.

Types of Google Search Console Errors You’ll See

1. Coverage Errors

Coverage errors happen when Google has trouble crawling or indexing your site.

  • 404 (Page Not Found): Page doesn’t exist.
  • Soft 404: Page loads but looks empty or unhelpful.
  • Server Error (5xx): Hosting server failed to respond.
  • Redirect Errors: Redirect loops, chains, or broken redirects prevent Google from reaching the final page.

2. Sitemap Errors

Your sitemap should only include valid, indexable pages. Errors appear when it contains:

  • Broken or outdated URLs
  • Pages marked “noindex”
  • Incorrect XML formatting

3. Mobile Usability Errors

Mobile-first indexing means errors here affect SEO directly. Problems include:

  • Small text sizes
  • Clickable elements too close together
  • Content wider than screen

4. Indexing Errors

These occur when Google decides not to index a page. Common causes:

  • Noindex tag applied to important pages
  • Pages blocked by robots.txt
  • Blocked resources like JavaScript or CSS

5. Duplicate Content Issues

Google may skip indexing duplicate or near-duplicate pages. Causes include:

Multiple URLs showing the same content (e.g., ?utm_source= parameters)

Duplicate category or tag pages in CMS platforms

Poor content differentiation between similar pages

6. Canonical Tag Issues

Canonical tags help Google know which version of a page is the “main” one. Errors occur when:

  • Multiple pages point to themselves instead of the preferred version
  • Missing canonical tags on duplicate content
  • Incorrect canonical pointing to unrelated URLs

7. Crawl Anomalies

Odd, inconsistent errors that don’t fit elsewhere. Usually need further testing with the URL Inspection Tool or server log analysis.

8. Core Web Vitals Errors

These measure page experience and affect ranking. Issues include:

  • Slow Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Page content takes too long to appear.
  • High Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Page elements move while loading.
  • Poor First Input Delay (FID): Pages react slowly to user clicks.

How to Find Errors in Google Search Console

  • Log in to Google Search Console.
  • Open the Pages (Coverage) report for crawl and index issues.
  • Check Enhancements for mobile and Core Web Vitals errors.
  • Review Sitemaps for submission problems.
  • Use URL Inspection Tool for detailed debugging.

Step-by-Step Fixes for Common Errors

Fixing 404 Errors

  • Redirect broken pages with 301 redirects.

  • Update or remove outdated internal links.

  • Exclude deleted pages from your sitemap.

Fixing Redirect Errors

  • Avoid redirect chains (keep it one step).
  • Fix redirect loops by pointing pages directly to the final destination.
  • Use server-side redirects instead of JavaScript-based ones.

Fixing Soft 404s

  • Add meaningful content to thin pages.
  • Ensure live pages return 200 status code.
  • Mark truly missing pages with 404/410 status.

Fixing Server Errors (5xx)

  • Monitor server uptime.
  • Upgrade hosting if performance is weak.
  • Ensure Googlebot isn’t blocked by your firewall.

Fixing Noindex Tag Errors

  • Remove noindex tags from important pages.
  • Use noindex only for private or duplicate pages you don’t want indexed.
  • Re-submit fixed pages via URL Inspection.

Fixing Duplicate Content Issues

  • Consolidate similar pages into one.
  • Add unique, valuable content to each page.
  • Use canonical tags to tell Google which page is primary.

Fixing Canonical Issues

  • Ensure only the preferred URL has a self-referencing canonical.
  • Don’t point canonicals to irrelevant pages.
  • Use 301 redirects to consolidate duplicate versions (e.g., http://, https://, www. vs non-www).

Fixing Sitemap Issues

  • Remove “noindex” and blocked URLs.

  • Submit only live, important pages.

  • Validate sitemap format before submitting.

Fixing Mobile Usability Errors

  • Use a responsive design that adjusts to all devices.
  • Increase font size for better readability.
  • Space out links and buttons.

Fixing Core Web Vitals

  • Compress and lazy-load images.
  • Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
  • Minify and defer JavaScript execution.

How to Prevent Google Search Console Errors in the Future

  • Keep your sitemap clean and updated.
  • Run a monthly SEO audit.
  • Monitor redirects after any redesign or migration.
  • Fix duplicate content as soon as it’s detected.

Best Practices for Monitoring & Maintenance

  • Enable GSC email alerts for new issues.
  • Connect with Google Analytics for deeper analysis.
  • Use tools like Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, and Semrush for ongoing checks.

Helpful Tools & Resources

Get Professional Help with Google Search Console Errors

Fixing Google Search Console errors can be time-consuming, especially if you’re running a growing business. That’s where OveliTHub comes in.

At OveliTHub, we specialize in:

  • Full Website Audits - Identifying technical SEO issues that impact indexing and ranking.
  • Error Fixing Services - Resolving problems like redirects, noindex tags, duplicate content, canonical errors, and Core Web Vitals.
  • Ongoing SEO Maintenance - Keeping your website healthy and error-free for long-term success.
  • Performance Optimization - Speeding up your site and improving user experience.

By partnering with OveliTHub, you can focus on growing your business while our experts keep your site optimized for Google search.

👉 Need help fixing your Google Search Console errors? Contact OveliTHub today and let us handle the technical side of SEO for you.

Conclusion: Stay Ahead by Fixing Errors Early

Fixing Google Search Console coverage errors and other issues isn’t just about cleaning up your reports — it’s about making sure your site is visible, crawlable, and ranking well. By taking the time to resolve search console issues, you’ll reduce wasted crawl budget, fix broken pages, and give your site the best chance to perform in Google search results. Stay proactive, monitor errors regularly, and you’ll turn Search Console from a source of frustration into one of your most powerful SEO tools.

Make it a habit to check your GSC dashboard weekly, fix problems as they appear, and keep your site optimized for both Google and your visitors.

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