The quick version:
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Google seems to be slowly removing pages from the index entirely on many websites.
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Google doesn’t explain why, making it difficult to diagnose.
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De-indexing is far more serious than a ranking drop because the page cannot rank at all.
Check, don’t guess
Use the URL Inspection Tool to see if your important pages are still indexed. If money pages or cornerstone content are down, that’s your priority.
First, rule out the obvious
Look for accidental noindex tags, blocked resources, or thin content that Google may have decided isn’t worth keeping. Sometimes the cause is on your part, even if a broader pattern is occurring.
If your pages are clean
Then you find yourself in the frustrating zone where the cause lies with Google and there is no public answer yet. Site owners are currently comparing notes on Reddit and asking on Quora what’s worth watching, but tread carefully with the speculation. The reliable answer is to keep your strongest pages too useful and well-linked to be quietly discarded.
Quick links:
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