Does clicking on the “Test Live URL” on Google Search Console after using the “Request Indexing” link make Google index your page sooner? Or was it just a coincidence?
“Ask David” answer: The short answer is no, if you experienced Google indexing your page soon after testing the Live URL, it was just a coincidence. Clicking “Test Live URL” does not make Google index your page faster.
Request Indexing is like “dropping a letter in the mailbox,” while Test Live URL is just “checking if you have a stamp.” One gets the job done; the other just confirms you’re ready.
While it sounds like it might “nudge” Google, the Test Live URL feature and the Request Indexing button serve two completely different purposes.
The Key Difference
| Feature | Purpose | Effect on Indexing |
| Test Live URL | Debugging: It checks your page in real-time to see if Google can access it (checking for noindex tags, robots.txt blocks, or rendering issues). | None. This is a sandbox test. It does not send data to Google’s permanent index or move you up in the queue. |
| Request Indexing | Submission: It adds your URL to a priority crawl queue. | High. This is the actual “manual submission” that tells Google you have new or updated content ready to be indexed. |
How the “Live Test” actually works
When you click Test Live URL, Google sends a “Googlebot” to fetch your page right that second. However, this is a disposable crawl. Once the test is done and the results are shown to you in Search Console, that data is effectively discarded by the indexing system. It’s like a “practice run” to make sure your code is correct before you ask for the real thing.
How to actually speed up indexing
If you want Google to index your page as fast as possible, “Test Live URL” is just the first step. Follow this workflow:
- Test Live URL: Run this first to ensure there are no “Page cannot be indexed” errors.
- Request Indexing: Once the live test is green, click the Request Indexing button. This is what actually puts you on the “to-do list” for the permanent indexers.
- Internal Linking: Link to your new page from an existing, high-traffic page on your site (like your homepage). Google crawls these pages more often and will find the new link naturally.
- Sitemap: Ensure the URL is in your XML sitemap and that the sitemap has been submitted to Search Console.
Related: Why Isn’t My Page Indexed on Google Yet?
How to Set Up Google Search Console for Your Website: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Submit a Sitemap to Google Search Console: A Step-by-Step Guide
Why You Should Be Using Bing Webmaster Tools (Even If You’re Already on Google Search Console)
Internal Linking Dos and Don’ts: What to Avoid and What to Focus On
The Power of Links: How Internal and External Links Boost SEO