IndexNow FAQ Every Question Answered
Comprehensive answers to the most frequently asked IndexNow questions covering setup, error codes, platform integration, and advanced usage.
Basics
What is IndexNow?
IndexNow is an open URL notification protocol that allows website owners to instantly notify search engines when content is published or updated, rather than waiting for search engine bots to discover changes through periodic crawling.
Who created IndexNow?
IndexNow was co-created by Microsoft (Bing) and Yandex. It was publicly announced in October 2021 and has since been adopted by additional search engines. The protocol specification is open and publicly available at indexnow.org.
Is IndexNow free?
Yes, completely free. There are no licensing fees, usage costs, or paid tiers. The protocol is open and free for any website owner or developer to implement.
What is the difference between IndexNow and an XML sitemap?
An XML sitemap is a passive catalog search engines discover and read it on their own schedule. IndexNow is an active push mechanism you proactively notify search engines the moment content changes. Both serve different purposes and should be used together.
Does IndexNow guarantee my page will rank better?
No. IndexNow affects indexing speed and crawl efficiency, not ranking. Ranking is determined by content quality, relevance, authority, and many other factors. However, being indexed faster means your content is eligible to rank sooner.
API Key & Setup
How do I get an IndexNow API key?
Generate any unique alphanumeric string of 8–128 characters. Use our free Key Generator tool which uses your browser's Web Crypto API to create a cryptographically random 32-character key. There is no registration required just generate a key and host the verification file.
Where do I put the IndexNow key file?
Create a plain text file named exactly {your-key}.txt (replace with your actual key). The file must contain only the key string no HTML, no newlines, no BOM characters. Upload it to your domain root: https://yourdomain.com/{your-key}.txt
Can I use one key for multiple domains?
No. Each domain requires its own unique key and its own verification file at that domain's root. Using the same key across different domains is not supported.
Do I need to rotate my IndexNow key?
There is no mandatory rotation period. However, if you suspect your key has been compromised or used without your authorization, generate a new key, update the key file on your server, and begin submitting with the new key. Old submissions with the previous key remain valid.
What characters are allowed in an IndexNow key?
Alphanumeric characters only (A–Z, a–z, 0–9). Minimum 8 characters, maximum 128 characters. Hyphens and underscores are not permitted.
Submission
How do I submit a single URL to IndexNow?
Make a GET request: GET https://api.indexnow.org/indexnow?url=https://yourdomain.com/page&key=your-key-here. Or use our free URL Submitter tool.
How do I submit multiple URLs at once?
Use a POST request with a JSON body containing your host, key, and a urlList array with up to 10,000 URLs. Our free Bulk URL Submitter tool handles this through a browser interface.
How many URLs can I submit per request?
Up to 10,000 URLs per POST request. For more than 10,000 URLs, split into multiple requests.
How often can I submit the same URL?
Do not submit the same URL more than once in a 24-hour period. Re-submitting unchanged pages wastes your submission quota and can negatively affect your submission quality score.
Should I use http:// or https:// in submitted URLs?
Always use https:// URLs. HTTP submissions are accepted but deprioritized in Bing's indexing pipeline. If your site has SSL, submit the HTTPS version exclusively.
Error Codes
What does IndexNow 403 Forbidden mean?
A 403 error means Bing could not verify your key file. The most common causes: file does not exist at the expected URL, file returns a non-200 status code, file content has extra whitespace or characters, file requires authentication to access, or the key in the submission does not match the file content.
What does IndexNow 422 Unprocessable Entity mean?
A 422 error means the URLs in your urlList do not match the host field in your POST request. All submitted URLs must be from the exact same domain specified in the host parameter.
What does IndexNow 429 Too Many Requests mean?
You've hit a rate limit. Reduce submission frequency, batch your URLs into larger requests instead of many small ones, and implement exponential backoff in any automated submission scripts.
What does IndexNow 400 Bad Request mean?
Your request format is invalid. Common causes: malformed JSON in the request body, missing required fields (host, key, urlList), invalid URL encoding in the url parameter for GET requests, or urlList being empty.
CMS & Platform Integration
How do I use IndexNow with WordPress?
Install Rank Math SEO (free) or Yoast SEO Premium. Both include built-in IndexNow support. In Rank Math: Settings → General Settings → IndexNow, enable the toggle. The plugin handles key generation, key file hosting, and automatic submission on publish.
Does Shopify support IndexNow?
Yes. Shopify Online Store 2.0 themes include native IndexNow support for product pages, collection pages, and blog posts. No additional apps required check your Shopify admin under Online Store → Preferences.
How do I implement IndexNow on a Next.js site?
Create a route handler (app/api/indexnow/route.ts) that makes POST requests to api.indexnow.org after content updates. Host your key file in the /public directory as /public/{key}.txt. Our How-To guide covers the complete implementation with code.
Can I use IndexNow with a headless CMS?
Yes. Implement IndexNow submission as a webhook or post-publish event in your CMS. Most headless CMS platforms (Contentful, Sanity, Strapi) support webhooks that you can connect to an IndexNow submission function.
Verification & Troubleshooting
How do I check if my IndexNow submission was accepted?
Check the HTTP response status code. 200 OK or 202 Accepted means the submission was received. Then verify indexing via Bing Webmaster Tools → URL Inspection or by searching site:yourdomain.com/page on Bing.
Why isn't my page appearing in Bing after IndexNow submission?
Common causes: 403 key file error (check accessibility), page has noindex tag or robots.txt block, content quality filters (thin/duplicate content), HTTPS certificate errors, or page returns non-200 status code. Verify all these before re-submitting.
How do I monitor IndexNow submissions in Bing Webmaster Tools?
Log in to Bing Webmaster Tools, select your property, and navigate to the IndexNow section in the left sidebar. You'll see total submissions, success/failure rates, and individual URL history.
Question Not Answered Here?
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