Google has not fully adopted IndexNow but is currently testing the protocol for crawling and indexing. While Bing, Yandex, and other search engines have embraced IndexNow for faster, push-based indexing, Google maintains its own independent crawling infrastructure and has historically preferred to develop proprietary solutions rather than adopt external protocols like IndexNow.
Key points about Google's stance and future trends regarding IndexNow:
- Testing but no full adoption yet: Google confirmed testing IndexNow, indicating interest but no commitment to full integration.
- Strategic concerns: IndexNow requires participating search engines to share submitted URLs with others, which may conflict with Google's competitive data strategies.
- Existing alternatives: Google already offers a limited Indexing API for specific content types (job postings, live events), reflecting a preference for controlled, API-based indexing rather than broad push notifications.
- Potential for future adoption: Google's testing suggests it is exploring ways to improve indexing speed and efficiency, but any adoption would likely be tailored to fit its existing systems rather than a wholesale embrace of IndexNow.
- Industry impact: Google's participation would likely accelerate broader standardization of push-based indexing, but until then, website owners must maintain separate indexing processes for Google and IndexNow-supporting engines like Bing.
In summary, Google is cautiously exploring IndexNow but has not adopted it fully as of 2025. Its future adoption depends on strategic, technical, and competitive considerations, with Google likely to develop a customized approach if it proceeds.
