Imagine you are throwing a huge birthday party. You send out a fancy invitation to your best friend (Google). They arrive at your house, excited to celebrate. But when they try to open the front door, they find it triple-locked with a "DO NOT ENTER" sign taped to it.
This is exactly what is happening when you see the error "Submitted URL Marked ‘noindex’" in Google Search Console.
In simple terms: Your XML Sitemap is the invitation saying, "Please come visit this page!" But your page’s Noindex Tag is the locked door saying, "Go away, I don't want to be seen!"
Google hates mixed signals. This error means you have a logical conflict in your SEO strategy, and you need to pick a side.
The "Mixed Signal" Breakdown
What is an XML Sitemap vs. Noindex Tag?
To fix this, you need to understand the two players in this game:
- The XML Sitemap: This is a map you submit to Google. It lists all the pages you consider "VIPs" (Very Important Pages). You are telling Google, "These are the pages I want you to rank."
- The 'noindex' Tag: This is a piece of code on a specific page that tells Google, "Do not show this page in search results." You use this for private pages like "Thank You" pages, "Admin" logins, or "Cart" pages.
The error happens when a page is on the VIP list (Sitemap) but is wearing a "Do Not Disturb" sign (Noindex).
Why Does This Error Happen?
You probably didn't do this on purpose. Here are the most common causes:
- The "Utility" Pages: You sitemap automatically included pages like /login, /checkout, or /privacy-policy, but your SEO plugin (like Yoast) correctly marked them as "noindex."
- The Accidental Checkbox: You wrote a great blog post, but you accidentally checked the "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" box in WordPress settings.
- Plugin Conflict: One plugin added the page to the sitemap, while another plugin set it to noindex.
The Decision Tree: How to Fix It
Fixing this is not technical; it is logical. You have to decide: Do I want this page on Google?
| Your Goal | The Fix |
|---|---|
| "I DO NOT want this page on Google" (e.g., Thank You Page, Admin Page) |
Exclude it from the Sitemap. The 'noindex' tag is correct. The mistake is that you included it in the Sitemap. Go to your SEO plugin settings and "Exclude" this page type from the Sitemap. |
| "I DO want this page on Google" (e.g., Blog Post, Product Page) |
Remove the 'noindex' tag. The Sitemap is correct. The mistake is the 'noindex' tag. Go to the page editor and ensure "Index" is selected in the SEO settings. |
✅ Pro Tip: How to Check in WordPress
If you use Yoast SEO or RankMath, go to the page in question. Scroll down to the "Advanced" tab. Look for the setting: "Allow search engines to show this Post in search results?" If it says No, that is your 'noindex' tag.
How to Re-Submit Your Sitemap
Once you have fixed the issue (either by removing the tag or removing the page from the sitemap), you need to tell Google you fixed it.
- Log in to Google Search Console.
- Go to Sitemaps on the left menu.
- Click on your sitemap URL (usually sitemap_index.xml).
- It usually updates automatically, but you can force it by entering the sitemap URL again and hitting "Submit."
- Go back to the "Page Indexing" report and click "Validate Fix."
Summary: Clear Communication is Key
Google is a robot. It follows your instructions literally. If you give it conflicting instructions, it errors out. By aligning your XML Sitemap (what you want indexed) with your Meta Tags (what is allowed to be indexed), you ensure Google spends its time ranking your best content, not deciphering your mixed signals.
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