How to Fix “Video Isn’t on a Watch Page” Error in Google Search Console

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If you’re seeing this error in Google Search Console, it means Google is not indexing your video properly because the page’s primary focus is not the video itself.

Quick Fix: Create a Dedicated Watch Page

Step 1: Ensure Your Video is the Primary Content

  • Move the video to the top of the page.
  • Reduce excessive text or other distractions
  • Ensure the video is prominent on both desktop and mobile views.

Step 2: Use Video Schema Markup

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoObject",
  "name": "Your Video Title",
  "description": "A brief description of the video.",
  "thumbnailUrl": "https://example.com/thumbnail.jpg",
  "uploadDate": "2025-01-30T08:00:00+00:00",
  "contentUrl": "https://example.com/video.mp4",
  "embedUrl": "https://example.com/videoplayer"
}

Step 3: Remove Conflicting Schema (Article Schema)

If the page has Article schema, remove it to improve video indexing.

Step 4: Submit the Updated Page for Indexing

  • Go to Google Search Console.
  • Use the URL Inspection Tool to check the video.
  • Click Request Indexing to recrawl the updated page.

Understanding the “Video Isn’t on a Watch Page” Issue

What Causes This Error?

Blog post titled 'Best Digestive Enzymes and Foods to Improve Gut Health.' Embedded YouTube video with 'Biology Digestive Enzymes' thumbnail.

The above is a sample blog post with an embedded video as a secondary content causing the issue.

On the contrary below are the 3 screenshots of the video on the proper watch page. The video is the primary content on these screenshots causing it to be indexed.

Screenshot no 1:

Rock climber scaling the sheer vertical face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Video thumbnail with a play button overlay.

Screenshot no 2:

Snow-covered mountain ridge with a steep, narrow ski line. Video thumbnail with text 'Cody Townsend’s Line of the Year.

Screenshot no 3:

Thin Climbing and non-existent crimpers on the down wall. Video thumbnail with a play button overlay
  • Video is embedded within a blog or product page instead of a standalone watch page.
  • Too much unrelated content makes the video secondary.
  • Incorrect or missing structured data.
  • Video is hidden behind user actions (clicks, logins, or tabs).

Best Practices to Avoid This Issue

  • Create a dedicated watch page for each video.
  • Optimize video metadata (title, description, and thumbnail).
  • Ensure videos are accessible (no JavaScript dependency).
  • Use stable video URLs (avoid dynamic or temporary links).
  • Submit a video sitemap to help Google index your videos faster.

For more details, visit the official Google Video Indexing Guide.

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