If you're using Google’s Request Indexing tool in Search Console, you might get an error saying you’ve hit the daily quota after indexing only a few pages. You may also notice that your colleague can index many more pages without any issues. So, why is this happening and how can you fix it?

Why You’re Hitting the Daily Quota

  1. Emergency Use Only The Request Indexing tool is meant for urgent content, like new or updated pages. It is not for indexing a lot of pages every day. If you use it too often, you will quickly hit the daily limit.

  2. Soft Daily Limit There isn't an exact limit, but the tool usually allows around 10 requests per day. Once you reach this, you’ll get an error saying you've hit the daily quota. This limit is there to prevent overuse of the tool.

  3. Why Others Can Index More Pages Your colleague may be able to index more pages because they might:

    • Spread out requests over time.
    • Have a more trusted site with extra crawling privileges.
    • Be using the URL Inspection API, which allows up to 200 requests per day.

How to Fix the Issue

  1. Use the Tool for Important Pages Only Only use the Request Indexing tool for pages that need to be indexed right away, such as new blog posts or updated product pages. Don’t use it for everything on your site.

  2. Index Pages in Batches Instead of submitting a lot of pages all at once, try submitting smaller batches over time. Focus on the most important pages first.

  3. Try the URL Inspection API If you have a large website, use the URL Inspection API. It allows up to 200 requests per day, which is more than the manual tool. It also lets you automate indexing, saving time.

  4. Optimize Your Website for Crawling Make sure your website is set up for regular crawling by Google. Here’s how:

    • Submit your XML sitemap to Google regularly.
    • Check that your robots.txt file isn’t blocking important pages.
    • Improve your site’s loading speed, so Google can crawl it faster.

  5. Be Patient If you hit the daily limit, you just have to wait until it resets the next day. During this time, work on improving your site’s crawl settings so you don't rely too much on the tool.

At the End

The “daily quota reached” error happens because the Request Indexing tool is meant for urgent use, not regular indexing. To fix this, use the tool sparingly, focus on your most important pages, and consider using the URL Inspection API for more indexing requests. Optimizing your site for Google’s regular crawling can help reduce the need for manual indexing. By following these steps, you can avoid hitting the limit and get your pages indexed quickly.