Guide
How to set up Google Search Console
To set up Google Search Console, sign in with a Google account, add your site as a Domain property, verify ownership with a DNS TXT record, then submit your sitemap. It is free and shows which searches bring visitors, which pages are indexed and what errors Google found. The whole setup takes about fifteen minutes, plus time for DNS to update.
What it is
What Search Console does and why you want it
Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that reports how your website appears in Google Search. It tells you which search terms showed your pages, how often people clicked, which pages Google has indexed and which it could not, and whether there are problems with mobile use, speed or security. It also lets you tell Google about a new sitemap or ask it to look at a page again.
It is different from Google Analytics. Analytics describes what visitors do once they arrive. Search Console describes what happens before they arrive, in the search results themselves. Most small business owners find both useful, but Search Console is the one that explains why a page is or is not appearing.
It costs nothing and does not slow your site. If you do only one SEO job this month, setting this up is a good choice, because everything else you do can then be measured.
Property types
Domain property or URL prefix?
Domain property (recommended)
- Covers http, https, www and every subdomain together
- Verified with a DNS TXT record
- One complete view of the whole domain
- Needs access to your DNS settings
URL prefix property
- Covers only the exact address you enter
- Several verification methods, including an HTML file or tag
- Useful if you cannot edit DNS
- You may need separate properties for www and non-www
Verify
Adding and verifying your site
Sign in to Search Console
Use a Google account that your business will keep. A shared role address is better than a personal one that may leave.
Choose Domain
Enter your domain without https:// or www, for example yourbusiness.co.uk.
Copy the TXT record
Google shows a line of text beginning with google-site-verification. Copy it exactly.
Add it to your DNS
In your DNS zone editor add a TXT record on the root of the domain, with the copied text as its value.
Verify
Return to Search Console and press Verify. If DNS has not updated, wait and try again.
Manage DNS where your domain lives
Register .co.uk or .uk domains for £9.99 a year, renewing at the same price.
DNS
Adding the TXT record without trouble
A TXT record is simply a small piece of text attached to your domain name. Adding one does not affect your website or email. It only lets Google check that you control the domain. If you are unsure how DNS works, read what is DNS first.
The record goes wherever your DNS is managed. That is usually with the company where the domain is registered, or with your hosting if the domain points to our nameservers. Use the root, which may be shown as @ or left blank, not a subdomain. Paste the value exactly, including the google-site-verification part, and avoid adding extra quotation marks unless your DNS editor asks for them.
DNS changes can take from a few minutes to a few hours to be seen. If verification fails straight away, that is normal. Wait, then try again. Keep the record in place afterwards, because Google rechecks periodically and may un-verify you if it disappears.
Other methods
If you cannot edit DNS
The URL prefix option offers other ways to verify. You can upload a small HTML file to your site's root folder, add a meta tag to your home page head section, or use a connected Google Analytics or Tag Manager account. WordPress SEO plugins often have a box where you can paste the meta tag, which is the easiest route for a non-technical owner.
If you use the file method, upload it with the control panel's file manager or an FTP client, to the public web folder, and leave it there permanently. Removing the file removes your verification. Whichever method you choose, only grant access to people who need it, and remove former agencies or employees from the user list under Settings.
Next
Submitting your sitemap and checking your first pages
Find your sitemap address
A WordPress SEO plugin usually creates /sitemap.xml or /sitemap_index.xml. Open it in a browser to confirm it loads.
Open Sitemaps
In Search Console choose Sitemaps in the left menu.
Enter the address
Type only the part after your domain, such as sitemap.xml, and press Submit.
Check the status
It should read Success. If not, read the error shown and fix the sitemap.
Inspect the home page
Paste your home page address into the search bar at the top to see whether it is indexed.
Reports
The reports worth reading
| Report | What it tells you | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Queries, clicks, impressions and average position | Find searches you almost rank for and improve those pages |
| Pages (indexing) | Which pages are indexed and why others are not | Check that important pages are in, and unwanted ones are out |
| Sitemaps | Which sitemaps Google has read | Confirm new pages are discovered |
| Core Web Vitals | Speed and stability scores from real visitors | Spot templates that load slowly |
| Mobile usability or page experience | Problems on phones | Fix tap targets and text size |
| Security and manual actions | Hacking or spam warnings | Act immediately if anything appears |
Reading data
How to read the Performance report
Clicks are visits from Google results. Impressions count how often a page was shown, and click-through rate is clicks divided by impressions. Average position is the typical ranking spot, where lower numbers are better. A new site shows little at first, and data appears after a few days. Do not worry about small numbers, since Google hides very rare queries for privacy.
The most useful habit is to look for queries with many impressions and low clicks, or an average position between about 8 and 20. Those pages are close to a better result. Improve the title, add a clearer answer near the top and link to the page from related ones. Check again a month later to see whether it helped.
Troubleshooting
If something does not work
Verification fails
Check the record is on the root, copied in full, and give DNS time to update.
Sitemap cannot be read
Open the sitemap address yourself. A redirect, a 404 or a block in robots.txt is often the cause.
Page not indexed
Use URL Inspection, read the reason, fix it and request indexing.
No data yet
New properties take a few days to fill. Be patient.
Lost access
Check which Google account owns the property and add a second owner for safety.
Wrong version indexed
Make sure the site redirects to one HTTPS address, as the technical basics guide describes.
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Habits
A monthly Search Console routine
- Open the Pages report and look for new errors
- Check the Performance report for the top ten queries
- Look for pages with falling clicks
- Confirm the sitemap status still reads Success
- Read any security or manual action messages
- Review the user list and remove old access
- Note changes to compare next month
- Request indexing for new key pages
Next steps
Connecting it to the rest of your SEO
Once Search Console is running, it becomes your reference for most SEO decisions. It shows whether a technical fix worked, which of your pages already draw searches and which topics your customers use. Combine it with the checks in our technical SEO basics guide, and if you serve a local area, with a Google Business Profile.
If you move your website to a new host or change the structure of its pages, keep Search Console verified through the change, check the Pages report afterwards and watch for sudden drops. It is the quickest way to notice a mistake in a migration.
FAQ
Common questions
Is Google Search Console free?
Yes, it is free for any site owner with a Google account.
Do I need Search Console if I use Google Analytics?
They do different jobs. Search Console covers what happens in search before the visit, and Analytics covers what happens after.
How long does verification take?
Often minutes, but DNS changes can take a few hours. If it fails, wait and try again.
Can I verify my site without editing DNS?
Yes. Add a URL prefix property and use the HTML file or meta tag method.
Why does Search Console show no data?
New properties take a few days to show results, and a new site may have few searches at first.
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