How to remove old pages from Google Search Console?

Technical SEO Forum
1

Hey everyone,

I’m having an issue with Google Search Console. My old site pages are still showing up, causing errors during indexing because those pages don’t exist anymore. I rebuilt the site, and not all the old links are in the new sitemap.

How can I clean this up so only the new pages get indexed? Do I need to delete the entire property and start fresh?

2

Those errors aren’t really a problem. When Google tries to crawl the old pages, they return a 404 or similar error, which is normal. GSC just reports what’s happening.

Your sitemap should:

  1. List all the pages that currently exist.
  2. Avoid including links to pages that no longer exist.

If that’s already the case, you’re good.

What you probably see as an ‘error’ is likely just a ‘not indexed’ report. That means Google is already focusing on your new pages.

Deleting your GSC property won’t change how Google crawls or ranks your site. GSC is just a reporting tool.

Here’s what I’d recommend:

  1. Crawl your site using a tool like ScreamingFrog to find any links still pointing to those deleted pages. Update or remove those links.
  2. Check backlinks pointing to deleted pages. You can use tools like ahrefs. Either update those links or set up 301 redirects.
  3. In GSC, check where Google found the old URLs. That should give you clues on how to handle them.
3

@Clayton
This is solid advice. Nothing else to add here.

4

Are you asking about status code 410?

5

RankRangerRick4 said:
Are you asking about status code 410?

A 410 works the same as a 404 in GSC. Unless you have thousands of 404s piling up, worrying about the difference isn’t really worth it.

6

Deleting the GSC property won’t stop Google from crawling. Any link found online will stay on Google’s radar until it’s permanently dealt with. Either publish new content on those URLs or set up 301 redirects to point them elsewhere.

7

301 redirects are the easiest way to handle those URLs if they keep popping up.

8

No need to delete the property. Here’s how to clean it up:

  1. Use the Removals tool in GSC to temporarily hide those URLs. This gives you six months to set up a permanent fix.
  2. Long-term fixes include:
  • Return a 410 (Gone) status for old URLs to tell Google they’re permanently deleted.
  • Set up 301 redirects if you have similar or updated pages.
  • Make sure the old URLs aren’t in your sitemap.
  • Check for internal links that still point to those URLs and update them.
  1. Once that’s done, resubmit your sitemap to GSC. Google will pick up the changes and drop the old pages naturally over time.