If you encountered a Failed: Hostload exceeded error while inspecting your URL in Google Search Console, it means Google has reduced or cannot increase the rate it crawls your site.
Both situations are likely the result of your server’s inability to execute Google’s crawl requests. Sometimes, Google may have reduced the rate it sends those requests because it has reached your estimated server capacity.
In this knowledgebase article, we will show you how to detect and fix the Failed: Hostload exceeded error and signal to Google that your server can handle more requests.
1 How Google Estimates Your Server Capacity
The process of crawling uses up a site’s resources. When a site lacks enough resources to support a crawl, it will become overloaded and slow down or crash. To prevent this, Google estimates your server capacity and keeps its crawl requests below that capacity.
It is important to note that your estimated server capacity is not based on your actual server capacity. Google cannot determine your actual server capacity. Instead, it estimates it based on several metrics. Depending on these metrics, Google can decide to increase or reduce the rate it crawls your site.
2 Fixing the Page Fetch Error Failed: Hostload Exceeded Error
To fix the Page fetch Failed: Hostload exceeded error, you have to improve the metrics Google uses to estimate your server capacity. When you do this, you have signaled to Google that your server can take on some extra load.
2.1 Allow Google to Set Your Crawl Rate Limit
Before you improve your metrics, you want to be sure you did not instruct Google to reduce the rate it crawls your site.
To do this, navigate to the Search Console Site Settings and confirm the Let Google optimize for my site option is selected. If not, select it and click Save, as shown below.
2.2 Fix Your Server Errors
To identify errors in your server, navigate to the Search Console. In the left sidebar, scroll down and click Settings. Once done, head over to the Crawl stats option and click OPEN REPORT, as shown below.
In the Crawl stats report page, click the expander arrow connected to the Host status option, as shown below.
Then, click the expander arrow connected to the Server connectivity option, as shown below.
You will be presented with an overview of how your server responded to Google’s crawl requests over the last 90 days. The crests represent the server errors Google encountered on your site.
If you have a lot of failed requests, you should contact your host for support.
Note: Server errors can last for a short time. While you may not encounter any server error during a live test, Google may have experienced it when it visited your site. If the Crawl stats report indicates abnormal amounts of server errors, you should contact your host for a solution, even if a live test suggests otherwise.
2.3 Reduce Your Page Load
You can reduce your page load with a performance plugin. If you have one installed, you should check the settings to ensure the minify and caching settings are enabled.
If you don’t have one installed, you can install WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache. You can refer to this guide on installing and setting it up on your WordPress site.
2.4 Improve Your Page Speed
A fast site indicates a healthy server. To confirm your current page speed, navigate to PageSpeed Insights and paste your URL into the textbox. Once done, click Analyze, as shown below.
You will be presented with data about your page speed. You can click on Expand view to receive more insights into your page speed.
You can scroll down to the OPPORTUNITIES section and look for suggestions to improve your page speed.
The Page fetch Failed: Hostload exceeded error should disappear after following the above steps. If the situation persists, your current hosting package needs to be improved. You should upgrade to a higher hosting package or change your host.
And that’s it! We hope you’re able to solve the Failed: Hostload exceeded error in your Google Search Console. If you have questions, you’re always more than welcome to contact our dedicated support team. We’re available 24/7, 365 days a year…