The Deprecation of Google’s Crawl Rate Limiter Tool

In the world of search engine optimization (SEO), Google plays a significant role in determining the visibility of websites. Webmasters and site owners have long relied on tools provided by Google to manage the crawling and indexing of their websites. One such tool, the Crawl Rate Limiter, has been a staple in Google Search Console. However, Google has recently announced its deprecation, citing improved crawling logic and other available tools. In this article, we will explore the implications of this change and what website owners need to know.

What is the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool?

The Crawl Rate Limiter Tool, found within the legacy version of Google Search Console, allows website owners to communicate with Google and request a reduced crawl rate. It comes in handy when server load problems arise due to excessive crawling. Historically, Google has advised against limiting the crawl rate unless it is causing significant server load issues. The tool has been accessible through Google Search Console, but its days are now numbered.

Why Google is Removing the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool

Google, in its quest for continuous improvement, has enhanced its crawling logic and developed other tools to assist publishers. As a result, the usefulness of the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool has diminished. Gary Illyes from Google explains, “with the improvements we’ve made to our crawling logic and other tools available to publishers, its usefulness has dissipated.” The deprecation of this tool is a testament to Google’s commitment to streamlining its processes and providing more efficient solutions for website owners.

How Googlebot Reacts to Server Responses

To understand why the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool is being deprecated, it’s important to grasp how Googlebot, Google’s web crawling bot, interacts with websites. Googlebot’s behavior is influenced by how a website’s server handles its HTTP requests. For instance, if a server consistently returns HTTP 500 status codes for a range of URLs, Googlebot will automatically slow down crawling. Similarly, if the response time for requests significantly increases, Googlebot will adjust its crawling speed accordingly.

The Slow Effect of the Rate Limiter Tool

One of the reasons behind the deprecation of the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool is its slow effect on crawling. According to Gary Illyes, changes made using the tool could take over a day to be applied to crawling. This delay significantly impacted the effectiveness of the tool, making it less desirable for site owners who needed immediate adjustments to the crawl rate. As Google’s crawling logic has improved, the need for a slower tool like the Crawl Rate Limiter has diminished.

Low Usage and Minimum Crawling Speed

Another factor contributing to the deprecation of the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool is its low usage among site owners. Gary Illyes states that the tool was “rarely” used, and those who did use it often set the crawling speed to the bare minimum. In response to this low usage, Google has decided to set the minimum crawling speed to a lower rate, comparable to the old crawl rate limits. This change ensures that existing settings, if the search interest is low, will continue to be honored while preventing unnecessary waste of a site’s bandwidth.

Crawl Rate Change: Honoring Past Settings

With the deprecation of the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool, website owners may be concerned about how their crawling settings will be affected. Google has assured that it will effectively continue honoring the settings that some site owners have set in the past. This means that if the search interest is low and the site’s bandwidth is not being wasted, the new crawling speed will align with the previous settings. Website owners can rest assured that their websites will continue to be crawled at an appropriate rate.

Dealing with Crawl Issues

While the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool is being phased out, website owners may still encounter issues with crawling. In such cases, Google recommends referring to their help documentation and using the report form to notify them of any problems. This ensures that Google is aware of any crawling issues and can provide assistance or guidance to alleviate the problem.

The Implications for Website Owners

For website owners who have relied on the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool, its deprecation may require an adjustment in their crawling management strategy. It is essential to stay informed about the changes and monitor how the removal of this tool impacts server performance once the feature is turned off. Website owners should set a notification on their calendars to evaluate any potential effects on their servers.

See first source: Search Engine Land

FAQ

What is the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool?

Why is Google removing the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool?

Google is deprecating the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool due to improved crawling logic and the availability of other tools to assist publishers. According to Gary Illyes from Google, “with the improvements we’ve made to our crawling logic and other tools available to publishers, its usefulness has dissipated.” This change reflects Google’s commitment to streamlining processes and offering more efficient solutions for website owners.

How does Googlebot react to server responses?

Googlebot’s behavior is influenced by how a website’s server handles its HTTP requests. For instance, if a server consistently returns HTTP 500 status codes for a range of URLs, Googlebot will automatically slow down crawling. Similarly, if the response time for requests significantly increases, Googlebot will adjust its crawling speed accordingly.

What’s the slow effect of the Rate Limiter Tool?

The Crawl Rate Limiter Tool had a slow effect on crawling changes, often taking over a day to be applied. This delay significantly impacted its effectiveness for site owners who needed immediate adjustments to the crawl rate. With improvements in Google’s crawling logic, the need for a slower tool like the Crawl Rate Limiter has diminished.

Why is low usage and minimum crawling speed a factor in the deprecation?

The Crawl Rate Limiter Tool was “rarely” used by site owners, and those who did use it often set the crawling speed to the bare minimum. Google has decided to set the minimum crawling speed to a lower rate to ensure that existing settings, if the search interest is low, will continue to be honored while preventing unnecessary waste of a site’s bandwidth.

How will past settings be honored after the deprecation of the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool?

Google has assured that it will continue to honor the settings that some site owners have set in the past. If the search interest is low and the site’s bandwidth is not being wasted, the new crawling speed will align with the previous settings. Website owners can expect their websites to continue to be crawled at an appropriate rate.

How can website owners deal with crawl issues after the tool’s removal?

While the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool is being phased out, website owners may still encounter crawl issues. Google recommends referring to their help documentation and using the report form to notify them of any problems. This ensures that Google is aware of any crawling issues and can provide assistance or guidance to alleviate the problem.

What are the implications for website owners?

Website owners who have relied on the Crawl Rate Limiter Tool may need to adjust their crawling management strategy. It’s essential to stay informed about the changes and monitor how the removal of this tool impacts server performance once the feature is turned off. Setting a notification on their calendars to evaluate potential effects on their servers is a good practice.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Growtika; Unsplash – Thank you!

Olivia King

Olivia is the Editor in Chief of Blog Herald.