Search Console video indexing reports shows you issues Google may be having when indexing videos on a given web page. When the report shows ‘Video isn’t on a watch page’ this means that videos on your web page is not indexed by Google.
Updated 2025 Video Tutorial: How-to Fix Video isn’t on a watch page Issue
Previous Video Tutorial for Fixing Video isn’t on a watch page Issues
What is a Watch Page?
A web page that is dedicated to video viewing and its main content is the video is considered as a watch page by Google.
What is NOT a Watch Page?
Typical web page, blog post or Product page that includes videos are considered normal pages as opposed to being watch pages.
Search Console Help section insights for a webpage not being a watch page.
Troubleshooting Options
You can use URL Inspection tool to double check IF THE PAGE ITSELF IS INDEXED. This report should show you that URL is on Google & Page is indexed. You need not press on “Request Indexing”.
What if the example URL Page is NOT indexed? Then, check Page Indexing Reports as this could mean more serious issue Google is having indexing the web pages.
Why Videos Aren’t Indexed in Google?
Main reason Google will not index a video is due to website not following Google search essential guidelines and also Video Publishing guidelines. Furthermore, the website must also follow all of Google’s guidelines including content quality guidelines.
How-to Get Videos Indexed without a Watch Page?
Whether a web page has a video on it or not, it is not guaranteed to be indexed by Google unless the website/webpages follow Google guidelines. To get videos indexed without a watch page follow these steps:
- Follow Google guidelines.
- Follow Google Video SEO guidelines.
- Create and Submit Video Sitemap.
- Ensure the web page uses Structured Data for Videos.
- Ensure the content on the web page is quality, original, and worthy of Google’s index.
How-to Get Embedded YouTube Videos Indexed
NOTE: ALL public YouTube Videos are already indexed by Google (simply search Google with your video “TITLE” within double quotes to see).
Therefore: although most website owners embedding YouTube videos on blog posts or Product URLs should not waste time trying to get their YouTube videos become part of their website/webpage, as in “indexed by Google part of a web page already indexed by Google”. If getting embedded YouTube videos double indexed by Google is somehow important for your business website. Then, you can follow these important factors to get YouTube videos indexed being part of your website.
NOTE: not ideal for 99.99% eCommerce Product URLs
- Option 1: Change position of the video from below the fold, to above the fold. As in prominently show your Video in Main Content Area, and then, ensure the other content is related to watching that video
- Option 2: Create a Dedicated Watch Page on its own (if you choose this option, you can link-back to other parts of the website).
Instead of wasting time and resources trying to double index embedded YouTube videos, perhaps you can create new content (or perhaps even create new videos) as that will most likely serve your website better. RankYa Maintains a YouTube Playlist for Google Search Console how-to’s.
Nice article! what if the video is hosted on another server instead of google?
That’s a great question because not everyone uses YouTube for hosting their videos. If you host videos on external server, the same principles will apply.
Basically, Google will almost always index the video under any domain, but when it does, the indexed video becomes part of the domain it is hosted under.
If you want to make that video become part of your own website? Then, there is a lot that must be done. We need to follow all of Google guidelines (technical quality content) on the entire website.
Then, follow Google’s Video SEO best practices. https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/video
NO Watch Page? Google can still index the video
Once again, you do not need to create a dedicated watch page, but you can if you want. Follow these guidelines: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/video#watch-page
So you’re saying the video is not on watch page because the website is not related video hosting?
As detailed in this blog post, video watch page has to follow Google guidelines for video publishing, and also, the main content of the page must be focused on watching a video.