It can be frustrating when a paper that was previously visible on Google Scholar suddenly disappears. There are several possible reasons why your paper might no longer appear. Here are the most common explanations:

1. Indexing Delay or Glitch

Google Scholar periodically re-crawls websites and updates its index. Sometimes, papers temporarily disappear due to:

• A delay in re-indexing after website updates.
• A temporary glitch in Google Scholar’s crawler.
• Changes in the URL or metadata that confuse the algorithm.

What to do: Wait a few days or weeks and check again. You can also try re-submitting the paper via Google Scholar's "Add article" feature.

2. URL or Website Changes

If your paper is hosted on a personal website, institutional repository, or journal site:

• The URL may have changed (e.g., due to site restructuring).
• The paper may have been moved or deleted from the server.
• The page may now require login or authentication, making it inaccessible to crawlers.

What to do: Ensure the paper is publicly accessible at a stable URL. Avoid paywalls or login requirements for the version Google Scholar can access.

3. Duplicate or Merged Entries

Google Scholar often merges similar entries. If another version of your paper (e.g., on a preprint server like arXiv or a journal site) is deemed more authoritative, your original entry might be absorbed or hidden.

What to do: Check if your paper appears under a different URL or in a merged format. You can manually add your preferred version to your Google Scholar profile.

4. Metadata Issues

Poor or inconsistent metadata (title, author names, journal info) can cause Google Scholar to:

• Fail to recognize the paper.
• Treat it as a duplicate.
• Deprioritize or de-index it.

➡️ What to do: Ensure consistent author names, accurate titles, and clear affiliations across all versions. Use structured metadata (e.g., via HTML meta tags or PDF bookmarks).

5. Copyright or Takedown Requests

If a publisher or institution issued a takedown request, Google may have removed the link—especially if the hosted version violates copyright (e.g., a final published PDF shared without permission).

➡️ What to do: Check if your hosting location is compliant with publisher policies. Consider using the accepted manuscript (post-print) version if allowed.

6. Your Google Scholar Profile Settings

If the paper was listed on your Google Scholar profile, it might have been:

• Automatically removed due to low confidence in matching.
• Hidden due to duplicate detection.
• Affected by profile synchronization issues.

What to do: Log into your Google Scholar profile, check the "My articles" section, and manually re-add the paper if needed. Use the "Add article manually" option if automatic search fails.

7. Low Visibility or Thin Content

If the paper is on a new or low-traffic site, Google Scholar may deprioritize it or stop indexing it if it appears inactive or low-quality.

What to do: Host your paper on reputable platforms (e.g., institutional repository, arXiv, ResearchGate) to improve visibility and indexing reliability.

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