Google Removes "Not Selected" Within Google Webmaster Tools Index Status

Feb 8, 2013 - 8:42 am 13 by

Google Webmaster ToolsIf you login to your Google Webmaster Tools and go to the Index status report, then click on advanced, you will see Google removed the "not selected" option from the report.

Not selected was a very intriguing option within the report. We've talked about how you can use not selected in the past, in fact, Google's John Mueller said it is useful in that:

The number of "not selected" URLs is based on URLs that are either substantially similar or redirecting -- if you have changed your site's URL structure and have redirected those URLs, then that would be a good explanation for that. That curve would also be fine and not a signal of a problem.

Google Replaces

Why did Google replace it? Google has not said why yet. There are threads in WebmasterWorld and Google Webmaster Help but no response from an official Googler yet.

Most webmasters probably have never used the feature but many did find it useful.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld and Google Webmaster Help.

Confirmed: John Mueller of Google responded to my question on Google+ confirming it was pulled. He said:

Yep, this was removed on purpose since it was causing more confusion than actually helping webmasters with their sites.

 

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