A noindex tag is an HTML meta directive that tells search engine crawlers not to index a page, preventing it from appearing in search engine results (SERPs). While useful for nonessential pages, applying it to important content can harm SEO by preventing valuable pages from being indexed and ranked.

Accidentally adding a noindex tag to your WordPress site can be a frustrating experience. After all, what’s the point of creating amazing content if search engines can’t find it?

You’re not alone—this is a common mistake many website owners make. But don’t worry! The good news is that removing the noindex tag is easier than you might think.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to remove the noindex tag in WordPress, enabling search engines like Google to crawl and index your content, which will enhance your site’s visibility and SEO performance.

How Do Noindex Tags Affect Your WordPress SEO?

While noindex tags are useful for certain pages (like admin or thank-you pages), accidentally adding them to critical content—such as blog posts or product pages—can have serious consequences, including:

  • Decreased Organic Traffic: Search engines won’t index your content, meaning potential visitors won’t find your pages through search results.
  • Negative Impact on Rankings: Without being indexed, your pages can’t rank, leading to lost visibility and missed opportunities to climb the SERPs.
  • Reduced User Engagement and Conversions: With less visibility comes fewer visitors, which can directly affect user interaction and conversion rates on your site.
Also Read: Understanding the ABCs of SEO – Types, How it Works, Pros and Cons

6 Proven Methods to Remove Noindex Tags in WordPress

Wondering how to remove the noindex tag in WordPress? Follow the methods given below.

Method 1: Using Yoast SEO Plugin

Let’s start with the simplest and the easiest method—the Yoast SEO way. Follow these simple steps:

  1. Start by visiting the blog post or page where you wish to eliminate the noindex tag.
  2. Open Yoast Settings. Scroll down the settings till you find the Yoast SEO meta box.
  3. Now, click on the ‘Advanced’ tab.
  4. It will ‘show—Allow search engines to show this post in search results?’ Simply click ‘Yes.’

Method 2: Adjusting The WordPress Settings

This method is a great way to customise and control things like

  • how many posts appear on your homepage?
  • whether to show full posts
  • What private posts to hide

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Log in to your WordPress
  2. Navigate to the WordPress Dashboard and select Settings. There, click on the Reading option
  3. From there on, scroll down to the Search Engine Visibility section
  4. There will be a box labelled “Discourage search engines from indexing this site”; if it is checked, uncheck it. This allows spider bots to crawl your site
  5. Afterwards, click on the Save Changes button at the bottom

Method 3: Editing HTML Directly

Those comfortable with the code can remove the noindex tag directly from your HTML. After all, it is an HTML tag! Here are the steps:

  • Go to Appearance > Theme Editor in your WP.
  • Locate and open header.php.
  • Look for the snippet code: <meta name=”robots” content=”noindex”>
  • Now, delete this line of code.

Method 4: Custom Function in Functions.php

To get a little more advanced, you can add a custom function in functions.php:

  • Head to your WordPress dashboard. Then, head over to Appearance and select Theme Editor.
  • Find the functions.php of your active theme located on the right sidebar.
  • Now, you have to add the following code snippet at the end of the file:
function remove_noindex_tag() {

if (is_single()) {

remove_action(‘wp_head’, ‘no_index’);

}

}

add_action(‘wp’, ‘remove_noindex_tag’);
  • Lastly, update your file to save the PHP changes.

Method 5: Adjusting robots.txt File

Your robots.txt file tells Google, Yahoo, and others which pages to crawl or ignore. Thus, if you accidentally block some important pages, they will not be indexed. So, this affects visibility. Want to fix this? Follow these quick steps to edit:

  1. Access Your Site: Use an FTP client or your web hosting file manager to find your site files.
  2. 2. Locate robots.txt: Look in the root directory of your website. If you cannot find one, you can create a new text file named robots.txt.
  3. 3. Edit the File: Open it and make sure important pages are allowed. For example:
  • javascript
  • User-agent: *
  • Disallow: /private/
  • Allow: /important-page/

4. Save and Upload: Save changes and put the file back in the root folder if you edited it locally. 

Pro Tip: When editing your robots.txt file, be cautious about blocking entire sections of your site that could impact your SEO. For example, you might want to block a “Thank You” page or a user login page but don’t accidentally block your blog posts or product pages. Always double-check the Allow and Disallow directives to ensure your important content is still open to search engine crawlers.

6 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Managing Noindex Tags

Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for when handling noindex tags:

  • Neglecting Plugin Updates: Keep your SEO plugins up to date to avoid bugs and compatibility issues.
  • Forgetting Backups: Always back up your files before making any changes to prevent data loss.
  • Applying Global Noindex by Mistake: Double-check plugin settings to ensure you haven’t accidentally applied a global noindex across your site.
  • Skipping Testing: Use SEO tools to verify that changes have been applied correctly before assuming the issue is resolved.
  • Overlooking Cache Clearing: Make sure to clear your site’s cache so that changes take effect immediately.
  • Skipping Regular SEO Audits: Perform routine SEO audits to catch issues like accidental noindex tags early on.
Also Read: What Role Does Domain Play in SEO?

To Wrap Up

Getting your WordPress site indexed is crucial for boosting visibility, driving traffic, and improving SEO rankings.

It may take some time for your site to recover, so be patient as you wait for the results to show up in Google and other search engines.

But don’t leave your SEO to chance—take control of your site’s performance today. At Crazy Domains, we offer more than just reliable WordPress hosting; we provide expert support to help you optimise your site and achieve long-term online success. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your site to the next level, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

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