How to Submit Modified Webpage Content to Google?

Updating content is one of the routine tasks for webmasters and bloggers. However, Google needs long time to index the updated content. Till the time, you will see the old meta description and title in Google search results. In order to speed up the indexing, after updating your content it is necessary to submit the modified content to Google. This will help Google to reindex the updated content and show in the search results.

What Scenarios Reindex Required?

Below are some of the situations, you can request for re-indexing.

• Updated content in an article
• Deleted a page and combined content with another page
• Changed the URL and setup 301 redirect
• Migrated website to another domain
• Split website into two or more domains or subdomains or subdirectories

In of change in URL, make sure to submit the new URL to Google and setup 301 redirect from old URL. This will help you to retain the search engine ranking position of the old URL.

Prerequisites for Submitting Modified Content

Google Search Console is the only option available for webmasters to submit new and modified content. You should have the followings in order to request for reindexing:

• Have a Google Search Console account. If you don’t have one, register using your Google account.
• Submit your website and verify the ownership.
• Submit your XML Sitemap (optional step).

Content management systems like WordPress allows you to create XML Sitemap using plugins. You can submit this XML Sitemap so that Google can crawl all the pages on your site. However, when you modified the content there is additional option in Search Console to request for reindexing.

URL Validation Tool

Google Search Console has a URL Validation Tool to validate the indexing status of your URL. In addition to checking the status, you can also request for re-indexing the modified content.

Testing Current Indexed Page Content

Follow the below instructions to submit modified webpage content to Google:

• Login to your Google Search Console account.
• If you have multiple websites, select the website from the top left corner.
• Click on the “URL inspection” link to highlight the search box on the top bar.

• Enter the modified URL in the text box and click on the search icon.
• Google will retrieve the page content and you will see the below progress box.

After few seconds, you will details of the submitted URL like below. Depending on the situation, you will see either URL is on Google or available to Google. Click on the “View Crawled Page” to check the content of the indexed page.

Testing Live URL

Unfortunately, you can only view the HTML content of the indexed page. In order to view the screenshot under “Screenshot” tab, you should test the live URL.

Click on the “Screenshot” tab and click on the “Test Live URL” link.

Again, you will see the progress of testing live URL.

Finally, you will see the screenshot of your live page. This is only to ensure Google can crawl and find the latest updated page you want to request for reindexing.

How to Submit Modified Webpage Content to Google?

Now that you have checked the page is on Google or not and the live screenshot of the page. Now, you can click on the “Request Indexing” link against “Page Changed?” option.

This will submit reindexing request to Google for crawling modified content on the submitted URL.

After successful submission, you will see a message like below to confirm the reindexing status.

You will see the status changed to “Indexing requested”. In case if you want to request again, click on the “Request Again” link to resubmit your request.

Questions on Request Indexing

Here are some of the questions you may have after submitting the content.