Google Cache is Completely Gone

During our routine weekly website health check, we discovered that Google Cache is no longer available. When we tried accessing the cached version of a webpage using the “cache:darkboysmedia.com” query, it redirected us directly to Google Search.

This confirms that Google Cache functionality has been completely removed, which has significant implications for SEO professionals, developers, and website owners.

What Was Google Cache?

Google Cache used to provide a snapshot of a webpage as seen by Google’s bots. It allowed users to view older versions of a site, especially when the original site was down or slow.

For website owners and SEO professionals, Google Cache offered insights into how Google crawled and indexed their site.

Advantages of Google Cache

Before its removal, Google Cache provided several key benefits:

• See if Google Crawled Your Site: It allowed us to confirm whether Google bots had crawled our webpages or not.
• Check Crawl Date & Time: You could see when Google last crawled your site, helping monitor crawl frequency.
• Understand How Google Sees Your Page: It offered a way to check how Google interpreted your webpage, ensuring that bots saw the same content users did.
• Monitor Website Health: Google Cache helped assess if your site was being properly crawled and indexed, allowing SEO professionals to evaluate the health of the site’s visibility.

Disadvantages of Losing Google Cache

With Google Cache gone, we lose several important capabilities:

• No Insight into Crawl Frequency: We can no longer check how often Google crawls our webpages or how the indexing process works.
• Missed Visibility into JavaScript & Preloaders: You can’t verify if elements like JavaScript and preloaders are causing delays or blocking Google bots from crawling and indexing content.
• Harder to Check New Website Crawls: For new bloggers or businesses, this is particularly challenging. Google Cache helped verify whether Google had crawled a new website or page, providing reassurance that indexing would follow soon.
• Manual Checks with Search Console: Now, we must rely on Google Search Console’s URL Inspection tool to manually check if Google has crawled and indexed our site. This method is more time-consuming and comes with limited requests to inspect URLs, which can be problematic for larger or frequently updated websites.

What Are the Alternatives?

Although Google Cache is gone, there are still tools to help monitor your website:

• Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine: You can use this tool to view archived versions of websites, though it won’t show Google-specific crawl data. It’s useful for checking how a site looked in the past, but not for crawl diagnostics.
• Google Search Console: The URL Inspection tool in Search Console is your primary way to monitor crawl activity, check if pages are indexed, and troubleshoot potential issues. However, it requires manual checks and has request limits.

Using RankMath Instant Indexing for WordPress Users

If you’re using WordPress, there’s an easier way to manage indexing. With RankMath’s Instant Indexing plugin, you can:

• Instantly index your content on Google.
• Check the status of specific URLs.
• Remove URLs from Google search results when necessary.

While setting up the Instant Indexing plugin can be a bit complex, it’s a powerful tool for those who want more control over their content’s presence in Google Search. You can read a detailed guide on how to set it up and start using it effectively.

What Should You Do Now?

To adapt to the changes following the removal of Google Cache, here are some steps you can take:

• Switch to Wayback Machine: Use it to view archived versions of your site, though it won’t replace Google Cache’s specific crawl insights.
• Rely on Google Search Console: Manual URL inspection is now essential for checking crawl and indexing status.
• Use Instant Indexing Plugin: If you’re a WordPress user, “Instant Indexing for Google” plugin can help you instantly index content and check URL status with more ease.
• Monitor JavaScript and Load Issues: Tools like PageSpeed Insights or Screaming Frog can help ensure that elements like JavaScript or preloaders aren’t blocking Google bots from properly crawling and indexing your site.
• Be Strategic with URL Inspections: Search Console limits the number of URL inspections, so plan your checks carefully, especially if you manage multiple or frequently updated pages.

Final Thoughts

While the loss of Google Cache is inconvenient, it doesn’t mean you’re left without options. Tools like Google Search Console, the Wayback Machine, and RankMath’s Instant Indexing plugin can help you maintain control over your site’s visibility and crawl status. Stay proactive, monitor crawl and indexing issues, and adjust your strategy to keep your site performing well in search results.