How do I remove a page from Google (noindex)?

Which pages should not be in Google?

• Thank you pages after a form or order. Someone landing there via Google has not filled anything out.
• Test and draft pages that have been published anyway.
• Almost duplicate pages, such as a print version or a copy for a campaign.
• Pages with little value for a searcher, such as an internal price list that you only share via a link.

Your homepage, service pages, and blog posts should never be set to noindex. And your own 404 page is already automatically excluded.

Step 1: Open Advanced in Yoast

1. Open the page in the editor.
2. Scroll down to the Yoast SEO block below the page.
3. Expand the Advanced section.

Step 2: Turn off search engines for this page

1. In Allow search engines to show this content in search results? the default setting of your site is shown, for example, “Yes (current default for Pages)”.
2. Choose No.
3. Click Save.

Yoast will now add a noindex code to the page and remove it from your sitemap. The page will still be accessible to anyone with the link.

Is the page already there? Use Search Console

A noindex only works when Google visits the page again. This can take days to weeks. Need it faster, for example, because there is something on it that really shouldn’t be there?

1. Open Google Search Console for your website. Not linked yet? Read linking your website to Search Console.
2. Go to Removals and make a new request.
3. Paste the URL of the page and submit the request.

Such a removal is temporary, about half a year. Therefore, also set the page to noindex (step 2), otherwise it will come back later.

Noindex or remove?

• Noindex: the page should remain accessible for those who have the link, but not in Google. Like a thank you page.
• Remove: the page is no longer useful. Redirect the old URL to the best replacement; read setting up a redirect.

Not working?

• The page is still in Google after weeks. Check if the choice is really set to No and if you have saved it. Request in Search Console under URL inspection for the page to be re-evaluated.
• You do not see the Advanced section. Expand the Yoast SEO block below the page. Advanced is at the bottom, under the analysis.
• A page is accidentally out of Google. Set the choice back to the default (Yes) and save. Request in Search Console for the page to be re-indexed.

Can’t figure it out? Contact us, call 06 35 66 47 73 or email info@lefcreative.nl.