Resolving deleted WordPress pages that still appear in Google search
When a WordPress page or post is deleted, it may still appear in Google search results for a period of time. Clicking the link leads to a "404 Not Found" error, which can confuse users and affect site credibility. This article explains what to expect and how to manage this situation.
Applicable to: Fort Collins, Pueblo, Spur, System
Affiliation: Faculty, Staff, Community
Prerequisites
None. This guide is for site owners and content creators who do not have access to Google Search Console.
Instructions
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Confirm the page or post has been deleted from your WordPress site.
- Visit the URL directly to ensure it returns a 404 error.
- Check your WordPress Trash to verify it’s not recoverable.
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Understand why the page still appears in Google.
- Google caches pages and may take days or weeks to reindex your site.
- Deleted pages can remain in search results temporarily even if they no longer exist.
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Do not panic — this is normal behavior.
- Google will eventually remove the outdated link during its next crawl.
- No action is required unless the content was sensitive or misleading.
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Avoid redirecting unless the content has a clear replacement.
- Redirecting a deleted page to an unrelated page can confuse users and harm SEO.
- Only set up redirects if there is a logical successor page.
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Speed up removal (optional, if you have access to Google Search Console).
- If you do have access, use the URL Removal Tool in Search Console.
- This is not available to most content creators on CSU-managed sites.
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Monitor your site’s search presence.
- Use Google to search for your site:
site:yourdomain.colostate.edu
- Check for outdated or broken links that may still be indexed.
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Be patient — Google typically reindexes within 1–4 weeks.
- The timeline varies depending on site traffic, crawl frequency, and other factors.
Outcome
After following these steps, the deleted page will eventually disappear from Google search results. No further action is needed unless the content was sensitive or misleading.