What To Check When Your Website Is Not Showing On Google After A Redesign

The Hidden Cost of Redesigns

A website redesign can improve design and speed, but it can also create indexing problems if migration signals are missed. The first step is to check whether Google can crawl the new website. Robots.txt, sitemap.xml, canonical tags, noindex rules, redirects, and server responses should all be verified.

Old URLs Blocking the New Ones

Old WordPress or CMS URLs often remain inside Search Console after a migration. This does not mean Google hates the new website. It usually means Google still has old discovery paths and needs clear replacement signals. Proper 301 redirects, a fresh sitemap, internal links to important pages, and updated canonical URLs help Google understand the current structure.

URL Inspection Tool is Your Friend

Search Console URL Inspection is useful for checking important pages one by one. If a page is "unknown to Google," it needs stronger discovery through the sitemap, internal links, and sometimes a manual indexing request. A sitemap helps discovery, but it does not guarantee ranking. The page still needs helpful content, clear intent, and enough authority to compete.

The best redesign SEO process is simple: preserve valuable URLs where possible, redirect old URLs, submit the current sitemap, monitor coverage, and improve pages based on impressions and click-through data.