IndexNow tool: key generator and URL submission
Generate an IndexNow key, check that your key file is in place, and notify IndexNow about new or changed URLs. You see the response exactly as the endpoint sends it.
Key and key file
Step 18 to 128 characters: letters, digits and dashes.
Leave empty for the root. A key file in a folder only covers URLs under that folder.
Submit URLs
Step 2Up to 10 checks a minute. Pages are fetched from IndexCyborg's servers; private and local addresses are refused.
How to submit URLs to IndexNow
- Enter your site and press Generate, or paste the key you already use.
- Host a UTF-8 text file named
{key}.txtat your site's root, containing only the key. A key file in a folder works too, but then it only covers URLs under that folder. - Press Verify key file. The tool fetches it and compares its content with the key.
- Paste up to 100 URLs on the same host and press Notify IndexNow. The key file is checked again first, and nothing is sent if it fails.
Submissions go to the shared endpoint https://api.indexnow.org/indexnow, which passes them on to the participating engines. As of October 2026, indexnow.org's list of search engines names Bing, Yandex, Seznam.cz, Naver, Yep, Internet Archive and Amazonbot. The full protocol is in the IndexNow documentation.
IndexNow response codes
| Code | IndexNow's description |
|---|---|
| 200 | OK: URL submitted successfully |
| 202 | Accepted: URL received. IndexNow key validation pending. |
| 400 | Bad request: invalid format |
| 403 | Forbidden: key not valid (key not found, or file found but key not in it) |
| 422 | Unprocessable Entity: URLs don't belong to the host, or the key doesn't match the protocol's schema |
| 429 | Too Many Requests (potential spam) |
IndexNow errors covers how to fix each 4xx.
Accepted is not indexed
A 200 or 202 means the participating engines received your notification. It doesn't mean a page was crawled, indexed or ranked: each engine still decides that on its own. And Google doesn't use IndexNow at all. IndexNow accepted is not indexed explains what to watch instead, and what is IndexNow covers the protocol from the start.
How IndexCyborg handles this
IndexCyborg sends IndexNow notifications for you. After you verify domain ownership and host the key file, every new and changed URL it finds in your sitemaps is submitted automatically, up to 1,000 per API or MCP call when you trigger one yourself. Every submission is logged with the engine's response code, and labelled Accepted, never Indexed.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I generate an IndexNow key?
- Press Generate. The key is 32 random hexadecimal characters made in your browser. Any key of 8 to 128 letters, digits and dashes works, as long as your site serves it in a text file.
- Does IndexNow work for Google?
- No. Google doesn't use IndexNow. For Google, use a sitemap and Search Console; IndexNow reaches the engines that take part in it, such as Bing and Yandex.
- What does a 202 response from IndexNow mean?
- "URL received. IndexNow key validation pending." The notification was accepted and the engine will check your key file. Like a 200, it isn't a crawl or an index entry.
- How many URLs can I submit to IndexNow?
- The protocol allows up to 10,000 URLs per request. This free tool sends up to 100 at a time; IndexCyborg sends new and changed URLs automatically.