RSS URL show 403 Error in Google Console

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RSS URL shows 403 Error in Google Console

A bug was reported where deleting a topic results in a 404 error for the normal topic URL, but a 403 error for the associated .rss URL. This is causing confusion for Google’s web crawler. PoojaPatel initially reported the issue and provided examples. codinghorror questioned the report, but Jonathan5 clarified the issue.

@codinghorror](/t/-/177759/6) suggested prioritizing the fix due to recent Google issues and believed it would be an easy fix. sam assigned the task to vinothkannans, who reported that the issue was already fixed in a recent commit: https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/73546365028a21bab90d7fd3bf5975a577bb5e7d.

1

Google still crawling rss feed after delete topic and Showing 403 instead of 404.

Find Report at Coverage section > Excluded > “Blocked due to access forbidden (403)”

When Topic is deleted show this message “Oops! That page doesn’t exist or is private.” (Picture 1)

picture 1
picture 11009×135 6.87 KB

When check rss feed for same delete URL then It shows “Sorry, we couldn’t load that topic, possibly due to a connection problem. Please try again. If the problem persists, let us know.” (Picture 2)

picture 2
picture 2989×265 17.3 KB

Example URL:
`https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-add-new-users-to-specific-groups/110875

Example URL for RSS:
`https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-add-new-users-to-specific-groups/110875.rss

If above example URL is delete then it will show “picture 2” message on RSS url.

Please correct me if I am misunderstood anything.

2

That topic is not deleted. What exactly is it that you are reporting here?

1 Like
3

I think she means that when she deletes a topic it gives a 404 error, as expected, for the normal topic URL, but a 403 error for the associated .rss URL, and that this is confusing Google’s web crawler.

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4

Yes, at below path found .rss URL showing 403 error instead 404 error.

Google Search Console > Coverage > Excluded > “Blocked due to access forbidden (403)”

5

Adding a pr-welcome tag here.

2 Likes
6

Actually given our recent Google shenanigans maybe we should prioritize this one @sam I think it might be easy? Topic returns 404, the rss feed should as well.

2 Likes
7

I see, @vinothkannans can you fix is so deleted topic .rss returns a 404 when deleted?

9

This is already fixed in

https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/73546365028a21bab90d7fd3bf5975a577bb5e7d

2 Likes