IndexNow is a free ping that tells Bing and several other search engines about a page on your website. It lets them know the moment that page is added, changed or deleted. It's usually one plugin or setting to turn on. Google doesn't use IndexNow, so it doesn't replace a sitemap or Search Console.
Which search engines use IndexNow?
The IndexNow homepage describes the protocol as "a simple ping" that tells search engines a URL "has been added, updated, or deleted." Its full engine registry lists Bing, Yandex, Seznam.cz, Naver, Yep, Internet Archive and Amazonbot as participants. The IndexNow homepage names Microsoft Bing, Naver, Seznam.cz, Yandex and Yep specifically.
A submission to any one of these engines gets shared with all the others, according to the IndexNow FAQ and documentation. That means one ping can reach several engines at once. This saves a website owner from submitting the same update more than one time.
Does Google use IndexNow?
Google is not on the list of participating engines. In November 2021, Search Engine Roundtable reported that Google said it would test the protocol. Google's John Mueller advised against expecting a broad launch soon. That statement is nearly five years old, and no later confirmation from Google has surfaced.
Google also moved away from its own sitemap ping system. The Google Search Central Blog announced in June 2023 that the sitemap ping endpoint was going away. It told website owners to submit sitemaps through robots.txt and Search Console instead. Google said to use accurate lastmod dates as a signal for crawl scheduling. Google's Indexing API only works for job posting and livestream video pages, so it's not a general option either. For everything else, Google Search Central's guide on recrawling points to the URL Inspection tool for a few URLs. It points to a sitemap for many. It's clear that requesting a crawl doesn't guarantee indexing.
Why IndexNow matters for Copilot answers
Bing ties IndexNow to more than search results. The Bing Webmaster Guidelines recommend using IndexNow whenever URLs are added, updated or removed. Bing says doing so helps "reduce outdated or incorrect URL references in Copilot responses."
For a small business, that's a practical reason to turn IndexNow on. A page with old hours, an old price or a deleted service could stay live in Copilot's answers. A customer could show up expecting something that's no longer true. Our guide to Bing Webmaster Tools and Copilot covers what Bing Webmaster Tools shows about Copilot.
How to turn on IndexNow for your website
Setting up IndexNow starts with a verification key, a text string between 8 and 128 characters placed in a file at your website's root, according to the IndexNow FAQ and documentation. A single submission can include up to 10,000 URLs.
On WordPress, Microsoft's IndexNow plugin generates that key automatically and submits new, updated and deleted pages, while skipping pages marked noindex. It has more than 100,000 active installs. If an SEO plugin is already in use, a separate plugin may not be needed. Bing's setup guide lists several WordPress SEO plugins with IndexNow support, including Yoast, Rank Math, AIOSEO and SEOPress. Rank Math's knowledge base confirms the feature is included in its free version.
For a website behind Cloudflare, Cloudflare's Crawler Hints sends changed content to IndexNow automatically, on every plan including the Free plan. It's a single toggle in the dashboard and applies to the whole website.
Using IndexNow alongside a sitemap
IndexNow isn't meant to replace a sitemap. The IndexNow FAQ recommends using both together and says the protocol helps even small websites. It's also direct about limits: submitting a URL "does not guarantee immediate indexing." Each submission counts toward a crawl quota, and the FAQ recommends waiting at least five minutes before resubmitting the same URL.
For Google, keep the sitemap current with honest lastmod dates, since Google Search Central uses that date as a crawl-scheduling signal. After changing a price, a set of hours or a service page, check Bing Webmaster Tools to confirm the update went through, and use the URL Inspection tool for Google. Avoid resubmitting pages that haven't changed. Our guide to a new website not showing on Google covers new websites that Google hasn't indexed yet.
Frequently asked questions
Does Google support IndexNow?
No. Google is not a participating engine. The only Google statement found on the subject is from November 2021, when Google said it would test the protocol, and no later confirmation has appeared.
Is IndexNow worth it for a small website?
The IndexNow FAQ says yes, and notes the protocol helps even small websites. On WordPress or behind Cloudflare, turning it on is usually a single plugin or setting.
Do I still need a sitemap if I use IndexNow?
Yes. The IndexNow FAQ recommends using IndexNow and sitemaps together, and Google relies on sitemaps for its own crawling.
Does IndexNow help my business show up in Copilot answers?
Bing's guidelines say using IndexNow helps reduce outdated or incorrect URL references in Copilot responses. It doesn't promise a place in any specific answer.
How do I add IndexNow to WordPress?
Turn on IndexNow support in an existing SEO plugin, such as Yoast, Rank Math, AIOSEO or SEOPress, or install Microsoft's IndexNow plugin directly.
IndexNow offers a quick way to tell Bing and a handful of other engines about changes to a website, though Google stays out of that loop. Pairing it with a current sitemap and regular checks in Bing Webmaster Tools and Google's URL Inspection tool covers both sides.
For small businesses that want these settings handled correctly, see TygerLabs' web development services.
