Common cause after launch
A site built behind a password often goes live with part of that protection still switched on, which shows up as 401 errors in Search Console.
Blocked due to unauthorized request (401)
The page asked Googlebot to log in, and Googlebot never logs in. If the page should be in Google, remove the authorisation requirement for it. If it is private, this status is expected.
Diagnose it
Symptoms, checks and fixes
Common symptoms
- URLs listed under "Blocked due to unauthorized request (401)".
- Opening the page in a private browser window shows a login prompt.
Checks to run
| Check | How to tell | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Should this page be public? | Decide whether the URL is meant for search visitors or only for logged-in users. | Leave private pages as they are, and stop linking to them from public pages and your sitemap.[1] |
| Is a staging or password lock still on? | Open the URL in an incognito window. A password page or browser login box means the lock is active. | Remove the site-wide password or staging protection from the live site.[1] |
| Is the URL in your sitemap? | Search your sitemap file for the URL. | Remove private URLs from the sitemap so Google is not asked to index them.[2] |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I let Googlebot in but keep others out?
Google's report says you can allow Googlebot by verifying its identity, but for most business sites the simpler fix is to make public pages public.[1][3]
How do I test it?
Open the page in an incognito window. If you are asked to sign in, Googlebot is too.[1]
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Sources
- [1] Page indexing report (Search Console Help). Checked 9 October 2026.
- [2] Search Console Help: Sitemaps report. Checked 10 October 2026.
- [3] Google crawling docs: Verifying Google's crawlers. Checked 10 October 2026.
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