While a site is still taking shape, you probably don't want half-finished pages turning up in Google. WordPress has a single setting for this, and you can flip it back the moment you're ready to launch.

## Before you start

- You're signed in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Your account can manage site settings — administrators can.

## Steps

### Step 1: Ask search engines to stay away

While your site is still taking shape, hover over **Settings** in the left-hand menu and click **Reading**. On that screen, scroll to the **Search engine visibility** section, tick **Discourage search engines from indexing this site**, and click **Save Changes**.

![Ask search engines to stay away](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTA3NjIsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--b1783814f551c8bcfaf65594d98a2c71a68b7e85/block_discourage-search-engines.png)

### Step 2: Welcome search engines back when you launch

When your site is ready for visitors, come back to the same **Reading** screen and untick **Discourage search engines from indexing this site**. Click **Save Changes**, and search engines are free to index your site again.

![Welcome search engines back when you launch](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTA3NjMsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--79c0f243e3b97b09028588e2af39b640a92721c9/block_welcome-search-engines-back.png)

## Summary

One checkbox on the Reading settings screen keeps your unfinished site out of search results, and unticking it opens the door again. A "Search engines discouraged" note in the At a Glance box on your dashboard reminds you when the setting is on.