How do I notify search engines that a page was deleted?

Definition: A deletion notification submits a removed page's URL through IndexNow, a protocol for reporting website changes to participating search engines. The removed page itself returns an HTTP status code indicating missing content, such as 404 (Not Found) or 410 (Gone).

Key facts

• As of 17 October 2026, IndexNow's protocol documentation accepts the same URL submission format for added, updated and deleted pages.
• IndexNow's FAQ explicitly recommends submitting deleted URLs that return HTTP 404 or 410.
• Google's HTTP status documentation says previously indexed URLs returning client errors are removed from its index; it treats 404 and 410 alike.
• Google's removal guidance offers a Removals tool for urgent search-result removal, with requests lasting about six months.

How is a deleted URL submitted?

IndexNow's documentation describes a request with a url parameter containing the changed address and a key parameter proving control of the website. The same request format covers deletion, without a separate deletion field. The URL must be escaped and encoded.

The following example matches the request shown in the IndexNow FAQ. For a deletion, the url parameter contains the deleted page's encoded address, and the key value is replaced with the website's own verification key.

https://api.indexnow.org/indexnow?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.example.com%2Fpage1&key=50283fcd8c764cfd9bd79a8b4002f647

Manual setup requires a UTF-8 text file named after the key, with .txt appended, containing that key. Hosting it at the website's root lets search engines verify ownership. A key file elsewhere on the same host requires the keyLocation parameter and limits which URL paths it covers.

The protocol recommends automating submissions when content is deleted. For bulk changes, a JSON POST request can contain up to 10,000 URLs in urlList. Participating engines share submitted URLs with the other participating engines.

What does the notification response confirm?

The response comes from the submission endpoint. IndexNow's response table defines these results:

• 200 means the URL was submitted successfully; the documentation limits this confirmation to receipt.
• 202 means the URL was received and key validation is pending.
• 400 indicates an invalid request format.
• 403 indicates an invalid key, including a missing key file or incorrect file contents.
• 422 indicates URLs outside the host or a key that fails the protocol's format requirements.
• 429 indicates too many requests, potentially treated as spam.

These codes describe the notification request. The deleted page has its own response, which the search engine encounters when fetching that address. IndexNow's FAQ says engines evaluate whether to crawl a submitted URL using their crawl quota, scheduling logic and quality signals.

What must the deleted page return?

The IndexNow FAQ recommends submitting deleted pages that return 404 or 410. Google's HTTP documentation names these statuses as “not found” and “gone” and treats both as signals that content is absent. Previously indexed URLs returning these responses are removed from Google Search's index.

A page displaying a missing-content message while returning 200 sends a success response. Google's documentation explains that an error message or empty page returned with a success status can produce a soft 404, a missing-content classification reported in Search Console.

Google's removal guidance also warns against using a robots.txt file to block a page from search results. For a deleted page, checking the actual response at its old address establishes whether the server reports the removal.

Related terms

• IndexNow
• HTTP status codes
• Soft 404
• robots.txt

FAQ

Can I submit an address that now redirects?

Yes. IndexNow's FAQ also accepts redirected URLs, including pages using 301 or 302 redirects. Submit the changed address so participating engines can evaluate its current response.

Should I treat a 202 response as a failed notification?

IndexNow's protocol documentation defines 202 as receipt with key validation pending. Check that your hosted key file remains accessible and contains the submitted key.

How can I request urgent removal from Google Search?

Google's removal guidance directs you to the Removals tool for quick removal and says requests last about six months. Make the removal permanent by removing the underlying content, and cover every URL variation that exposes it.

Sources

1. IndexNow, "Documentation", undated
2. IndexNow, "FAQ", undated
3. Google Search Central, "How HTTP status codes, and network and DNS errors affect Google Search", updated 4 February 2026
4. Google Search Central, "Remove a page hosted on your site from Google", updated 10 December 2025

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