1.1 Robots & directives (HTTP + HTML)LowVerified
noarchive directive
noarchive simply stops a cached copy being shown. It is rarely harmful on its own, but I check it because it is sometimes set alongside directives that are.
What it is
Prevents a cached copy being shown.
Why it matters
Minor; limits cached access but does not block indexing or AI use directly.
How to fix it
Remove if cache access is wanted; otherwise harmless.
How to find it on your site
- Search the robots directives for noarchive.
- Decide whether suppressing the cached copy matters for this page.
- Confirm it is not bundled with nosnippet or noindex by mistake.
- Remove it if there is no reason for it.
Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors
Minimal direct effect on ranking or AI eligibility. I treat it as hygiene rather than a priority fix.
Impact
Low. Direct but minor.
Evidence
noarchive only controls the cached link. Google Search Central, Robots Meta Tags Specifications