IndexNow Explained: Get New Pages Crawled in 24 Hours

Bottom line: IndexNow is a simple, open protocol that lets you tell Bing, Yandex and other participating engines about new or updated URLs, so they can be crawled and indexed in as little as 24 hours.

What is IndexNow and why does it matter for SEO?

IndexNow is a real‑time URL notification API created by Microsoft and adopted by Yandex, Seznam and several other search engines. Instead of waiting for the traditional crawl‑schedule, you push a request to the engine’s endpoint each time you publish, delete, or modify a page. The engine then adds the URL to its priority queue, dramatically shrinking the time between publication and appearance in search results.

How does IndexNow differ from traditional XML sitemaps?

Both tools aim to inform search engines about your content, but they work in opposite ways:

Feature	XML Sitemap	IndexNow
Delivery method	Pull – crawlers read the sitemap on a set schedule.	Push – you send a POST/GET request for each URL change.
Speed of discovery	Hours to weeks, depending on crawl budget.	Usually within 24 hours, often minutes.
Implementation effort	Generate and host a static file.	Integrate an API call into your CMS or CI pipeline.
Supported engines (Sept 2026)	All major engines accept sitemaps.	Bing, Yandex, Seznam, and any engine that adopts the open spec.

Which search engines currently support IndexNow?

As of September 2026, the following engines honor IndexNow notifications:

• Bing (Microsoft)
• Yandex
• Seznam (Czech Republic)
• DuckDuckGo (via Bing’s index)
• Any future adopters using the open protocol

How to set up IndexNow for a WordPress site

WordPress powers over 40 % of the web, so a step‑by‑step guide is essential.

1. Generate an API key – Log into Bing Webmaster Tools, navigate to IndexNow, and click “Create a new key”. Copy the 32‑character key.
2. Install a plugin – Plugins like “IndexNow – Bing & Yandex” let you paste the key and handle the API calls automatically.
3. Configure the plugin – Choose which post types to notify (posts, pages, products) and enable “notify on publish” and “notify on delete”.
4. Test the endpoint – Use a tool such as SXO Authority Free Tools to send a manual request: https://api.bing.com/indexnow?url=https://example.com/new‑page&key=YOUR_KEY. A 200 response means the engine accepted it.

How to implement IndexNow in a headless or static site

For JAMstack or static generators (Next.js, Hugo, etc.) you can add a webhook to your build pipeline:

curl -X POST "https://api.bing.com/indexnow" \
  -d '{"host":"example.com","key":"YOUR_KEY","urlList":["https://example.com/new-page"]}'

Run this script after each successful deployment. The same request works for Yandex by swapping the endpoint to https://yandex.com/indexnow.

What are the best practices for using IndexNow?

• Batch notifications – If you publish many pages at once, send them in groups of up to 10,000 URLs per request (the current limit).
• Respect rate limits – Engines allow up to 10 requests per second; exceed them and you’ll get a 429 response.
• Combine with a sitemap – Keep a sitemap for fallback and for engines that don’t yet support IndexNow.
• Monitor with the free SXO scan – Check that your new URLs appear in the index within 24 hours.

How does IndexNow impact CRO and UX?

Faster indexing means fresh product pages, promotions or blog posts become searchable almost immediately. This reduces the “not found” frustration for users and can improve conversion rates on time‑sensitive offers. In SXO terms, you’re aligning the technical SEO layer (crawl) with the user‑experience layer (content availability).

Can IndexNow replace XML sitemaps?

No. While IndexNow accelerates discovery, sitemaps still provide a comprehensive inventory of your site, help with priority signals, and serve as a safety net for engines that haven’t adopted the protocol. Use both for maximum coverage.

How to verify that a URL was indexed via IndexNow

After you send a notification, you can check the status in two ways:

• Bing Webmaster Tools – The “IndexNow” dashboard shows recent submissions and any errors.
• Site search – Use site:example.com "unique‑page‑title" in Bing or Yandex. If it appears within a day, the process worked.

FAQ

What is the typical time frame for a URL to appear in search after an IndexNow request?

Most engines process the request within minutes, but the public index usually reflects the change within 24 hours.

Do I need a separate API key for each search engine?

No. The same key generated in Bing Webmaster Tools works for Yandex and other participating engines.

Will IndexNow affect my crawl budget?

Yes, positively. By prioritizing new URLs, the engine spends less time guessing which pages to crawl, freeing budget for deeper pages.

Is IndexNow compatible with multilingual sites?

Absolutely. Send the full URL (including language sub‑directory or sub‑domain) for each language version, and each will be indexed independently.

Ready to put IndexNow to work and see your fresh content rank faster? Run a free SXO scan now to identify any crawl issues and get personalized recommendations.

Keep reading

• Is My Website Indexed? Quick Checks & Fast Fixes for 2026
• The llms.txt Guide: A Practical 2026 Handbook
• Generative Engine Optimization: GEO vs SEO in the AI Search Era
• GEO vs SEO: Mastering Generative Engine Optimization in 2026

See whether AI can actually read your site — run the free SXO scan. Running client work? The same AI-visibility engine, white-labeled, is on CRO9 — and you can resell the whole stack through in2sight.