How to Identify and Remove Crawl Errors in GSC

Crawl Errors in GSC

Google Search Console (GSC) is one of the most powerful free tools offered by Google to website owners, marketers, and SEO specialists. Among its many capabilities, one of its most crucial features is the ability to identify and fix crawl errors. Crawl errors directly affect how Google indexes your website, which can lead to significant drops in rankings and traffic if not addressed quickly.

This comprehensive guide will help you understand what crawl errors are, how to identify them in Google Search Console, and step-by-step instructions to remove them effectively. As the best digital marketing company in Vizag, we understand how critical this process is for maintaining a strong online presence.

What Are Crawl Errors in Google Search Console?

Crawl errors occur when Googlebot — Google’s automated crawler — attempts to access a page on your website but fails to do so. These errors prevent Google from properly indexing your pages, meaning they may not appear in search results at all.

Crawl errors are divided into two main categories:

1. Site Errors – Affect your entire website and occur when Google cannot access it at all.

2. URL Errors – Affect specific pages on your site.

Ignoring these errors can result in:

• Reduced rankings

• Missing pages from Google’s index

• Loss of organic traffic

Why Crawl Errors Matter for SEO

Google’s ultimate goal is to provide users with the most relevant and accessible results. If its crawler cannot reach your content, it assumes the page is unavailable or unimportant. Over time, this can lead to ranking drops, even if your content is high-quality.

A website plagued with crawl errors may:

• Lose visibility in SERPs

• Miss opportunities for targeted keyword rankings

• Fail to capture valuable organic leads

For brands, especially those investing in digital marketing services in Vizag, fixing crawl errors is non-negotiable.

Common Types of Crawl Errors in GSC

Understanding the types of crawl errors you may encounter in Google Search Console is the first step toward fixing them.

1. DNS Errors

These happen when Googlebot can’t communicate with your domain’s server. It could be due to hosting downtime, server overload, or DNS configuration issues.

2. Server Errors (5xx)

Occur when your server takes too long to respond or returns an internal server error.

3. Soft 404s

Googlebot detects that a page looks like a 404 (page not found) but actually returns a 200 OK status code.

4. 404 Errors (Not Found)

The requested page doesn’t exist. This is one of the most common crawl errors.

5. Redirect Errors

Happen when there’s an incorrect redirect loop or a redirect chain that is too long.

6. Blocked by Robots.txt

Occurs when your robots.txt file blocks Googlebot from crawling certain pages that you may want indexed.

How to Identify Crawl Errors in Google Search Console

Google Search Console provides detailed reports that make identifying crawl errors straightforward.

Step 1: Log into Google Search Console

Select your property (website) from the GSC dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to the Indexing Section

Go to the “Pages” report. Here, you’ll see errors under “Not Indexed” and “Why Pages Aren’t Indexed.”

Step 3: Check Coverage Report

The coverage report will list all issues and affected URLs.

You’ll find:

• Exact error type

• The specific URL affected

• When Google last tried to crawl it

Step 4: Analyze Affected URLs

Open each URL to understand why it’s failing. GSC provides explanations and hints.

How to Remove Crawl Errors

1. Fix DNS Issues

Contact your hosting provider to ensure your DNS server is stable and responsive. Switch to a reliable DNS provider if issues persist.

2. Resolve Server Errors

• Optimize server performance.

• Increase hosting bandwidth.

• Ensure your CMS or scripts are not overloading the server.

3. Address Soft 404s

If a page truly doesn’t exist, return a 404 status code. If it exists, ensure it has valuable content and a 200 status code.

4. Fix 404 Errors

• Restore the missing page.

• Redirect it to a relevant existing page using a 301 redirect.

5. Repair Redirect Errors

Avoid redirect loops and long chains. Keep redirects simple and direct.

6. Update Robots.txt

Ensure your robots.txt file isn’t blocking important pages you want indexed.

Best Practices to Prevent Future Crawl Errors

While fixing current errors is important, preventing future ones is even better.

• Regularly Monitor GSC: Check reports weekly.

• Maintain a Healthy Sitemap: Keep your sitemap.xml updated.

• Audit Internal Links: Ensure links point to live pages.

• Optimize Page Load Times: Slow pages can lead to timeouts.

The Role of a Digital Marketing Agency in Fixing Crawl Errors

A professional digital marketing agency in Vizag brings both the technical expertise and the SEO strategy needed to tackle crawl errors efficiently. From setting up GSC correctly to monitoring crawl health, agencies ensure your website stays search-engine friendly.

Partnering with experts like Leadraft gives you access to advanced technical SEO audits, error resolution, and preventive strategies — ensuring your site ranks well and performs optimally.

Crawl errors are not just technical glitches; they are roadblocks to your online visibility and search engine performance. By using Google Search Console to identify these errors and taking proactive steps to fix them, you safeguard your rankings, enhance user experience, and maintain your competitive edge.

Whether you are managing your site in-house or working with the best digital marketing company in Vizag, addressing crawl errors should be a routine part of your SEO strategy. With consistent monitoring, quick fixes, and preventive measures, your website can remain healthy, visible, and profitable.