Why was I
Rejected?
Decoding Google's cryptic rejection emails. We break down the most common 2026 policy flags and provide exact recovery blueprints.
The 2026 "Cool-off" Rule
Current Google policy in 2026 enforces a 30-day cooldown period if your site is rejected for the same reason three times in a row. Don't keep clicking 'Re-submit' without fixing the underlying technical issues detailed below.
Low Value Content / Inventory
Possible Triggers
- Article length under 800 words consistently.
- Lack of organic search traffic signal.
- AI-voice without manual curation.
- Generic topics that offer no new perspective.
The Recovery Blueprint
Publish 10-15 deep-dive 'Pillar' articles (1,500+ words) from a first-person perspective with unique data or images.
Site Behavior: Navigational Issues
Possible Triggers
- Broken links or 404 errors in the main menu.
- Confusing or missing mobile navigation.
- Excessive popups blocking the main content.
- Forced redirects or 'dark patterns' in UI.
The Recovery Blueprint
Ensure your primary menu is sticky, works on mobile, and every link leads to a functioning, content-rich page.
Scraped / Duplicate Content
Possible Triggers
- Paraphrasing other websites without adding value.
- Using automated translation tools without editing.
- Copying product descriptions from Amazon/eBay.
- Lack of original photography or illustrations.
The Recovery Blueprint
Rewrite all core pages. Use tools to check for internal and external duplication scores (aim for <5% similarity).
Missing or Non-Compliant Legal Pages
Possible Triggers
- Missing Privacy Policy, Contact, or About Us pages.
- Policy page doesn't mention Google DoubleClick cookies.
- About page has no real person or company details.
- Contact page form is broken or missing email.
The Recovery Blueprint
Use our 2026 Policy Generator to create cryptographic-verified legal pages and fully populate your About Us page.
Uncommon Rejection Flags 2026
AI Toxicity / Low E-E-A-T Score
This is a new 2026 flag. It means your content sounds so generic that Google's 'AI-Synthesizer' detects high probability of non-human creation. Solution: Add personal bias, personal stories, and 'I believe' statements.
Site Behavior: Crawl Errors
Often overlooked. If Google's bot cannot reach your pages because of slow hosting or misconfigured robots.txt, it marks it as a content violation. Ensure your site speed score is above 90.
Under Construction / Placeholder Text
Even a single 'Coming Soon' page or a 'Lorem Ipsum' placeholder in the footer will trigger an instant rejection. Prune your site completely before applying.