Fix: “We Had a Problem Submitting Your Indexing Request” Error in Google Search Console

If you’ve encountered the message:
“We had a problem submitting your indexing request. Please try again later.”
while trying to submit URLs for indexing in Google Search Console (GSC) — you are not alone. This error has recently become common for webmasters and SEOs alike, and it can be frustrating, especially when urgent indexing is needed.

In this blog post, we explain why this happens, what it means, and how you can fix the URL unable to index issue quickly and correctly.

The Problem: URL Unable to Index in Search Console

The issue usually occurs when attempting to submit a URL via the “Request Indexing” feature in GSC. Instead of confirming that the URL has been added to the indexing queue, an error appears:

“We had a problem submitting your indexing request. Please try again later.”

This affects all URLs, not just one. Even completely valid pages that were previously indexable may throw the same error.

Common Causes of the Google Indexing Error

✅ 1. Indexing Quota Limit Reached

Google has undocumented daily limits on how often a user or account can request indexing. If too many submissions are made within a short time, the feature may be temporarily blocked for that user account.

This restriction applies to:

Multiple submissions for the same URL
Submitting many URLs back-to-back
Repeated use of the manual indexing feature

✅ 2. Temporary Account-Specific Issue

Some users found that the error occurred only on one Google account, while other accounts worked fine for the same website.

Solution: How to Fix the Indexing Request Error on Google Console

✅ Method 1: Wait and Try Again in 24 Hours

The simplest approach is to wait at least 24 hours before retrying. This allows any temporary limit to reset.

✅ Method 2: Share Search Console Access with Another Account

This method has helped many users:

Go to your website in Google Search Console
Navigate to Settings > Users and Permissions
Click Add User and invite another Gmail address with Full Access
Sign in with the new Gmail and request indexing from there

✅ This workaround helps bypass the restriction linked to the original account

✅ Method 3: Avoid Overusing Manual Indexing

Manual indexing is meant for occasional fixes, such as:

Recently updated content
Resolved page errors
Important time-sensitive changes

Avoid using it to index many pages at once. If abused, you may get locked out from the tool — even without warning.

Bonus Tip: Let Google Crawl Naturally

Manual indexing isn’t the only way to get content into Google’s index. You can also:

Submit a sitemap via GSC > Sitemaps
Link your new pages internally from already indexed pages
Share pages on social media or link from other websites to attract bots

Final Thoughts

The “We had a problem submitting your indexing request” error in Search Console can be annoying, but it is usually temporary and account-based. By sharing access with another Google account or waiting 24 hours, the issue often resolves itself.

To avoid future blocks: