Mueller Confirms Phantom Noindex Errors in Search Console

Google’s John Mueller has publicly acknowledged the presence of “phantom noindex errors” within Google Search Console. These specific errors, which can be a source of confusion for webmasters, are explained as directly reflecting “hidden indexing signals.” Mueller clarifies that these underlying signals become apparent or are “surfaced” specifically during the process of Googlebot accessing and crawling a website. This acknowledgement indicates that what might appear to be an erroneous ‘noindex’ report for a page is, in fact, Google’s system interpreting subtle, often less obvious cues about a page’s intended indexing status. The statement, while concise, validates the experience of webmasters encountering these seemingly inexplicable noindex reports, attributing them to the intricate indexing logic at play during Googlebot’s operational activities.

(Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-on-phantom-noindex-errors-in-search-console/565225/)