Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Bing Webmaster Tools Sitemap Index Coverage Button Missing Issue
Some users of Bing Webmaster Tools are experiencing the disappearance of the Index Coverage button on certain sitemap reports. This issue appears to affect only specific sitemaps, possibly due to insufficient data available for those sitemaps. No official explanation has been provided by Microsoft yet, leaving the SEO community curious about the cause. Monitoring this situation is recommended for webmasters relying on Bing’s indexing insights.
Optimixed’s Overview: Understanding the Missing Index Coverage Button in Bing Webmaster Tools
What’s Happening with Bing Webmaster Tools’ Sitemap Reports?
Several SEO professionals and website owners have observed that within Bing Webmaster Tools, the Index Coverage button is absent from the sitemap report interface for certain submitted sitemaps. This inconsistency is not universal but appears sporadically across different properties and sitemap files.
Potential Reasons Behind the Issue
- Insufficient Data: The most common theory is that some sitemaps do not contain enough data for Bing to generate a meaningful index coverage report, resulting in the button being hidden.
- Interface or Reporting Glitch: It may be a temporary or ongoing bug affecting how Bing displays sitemap data.
- Awaiting Official Clarification: Microsoft has not yet issued any statements explaining this behavior, leaving the cause speculative.
Implications for SEO and Site Owners
Without access to the index coverage insights for certain sitemaps, webmasters may find it harder to diagnose indexing issues for specific portions of their sites. It is advisable to keep monitoring these reports and consider alternative tools or methods for tracking indexing performance until Microsoft provides a resolution.
