In a recent discussion, Google’s John Mueller clarified a common misunderstanding regarding the URL parameter tool in Search Console, noting it doesn’t actually remove URLs.
This issue arose during a Google Webmaster Central hangout on YouTube when someone inquired about the current functionality of the URL parameter tool.
Although the tool has not transitioned to the new version of Search Console from the classic one, it remains effective. Users need to switch between the old and new Search Console to utilize it.
A subsequent question revealed that the person had incorrect assumptions about the tool’s purpose.
### URL Parameter Tool Does Not Remove URLs
The site owner asked Mueller about adding a parameter to be dropped, expecting an immediate change in search results.
Mueller explained that this is not the tool’s intended function. It is designed to optimize the crawling of URLs.
Users can employ the tool to add parameters they no longer want crawled. Over time, those URLs may fall out of search results as Google stops crawling them.
Thus, it’s not a situation where adding a parameter instantly removes related URLs from Google’s index.
The URL parameter tool functions effectively when used correctly.
Hear the complete question and answer below, starting at the 46:44 mark.
> “The URL parameter handling tool doesn’t remove URLs from search results. It is solely for refining the crawling process of URLs.
> Adding a parameter to the tool won’t suddenly cause those pages to disappear from search results.
> Instead, over time, those URLs would be crawled less frequently and eventually might drop out from search results, but there wouldn’t be any immediate changes.”
