Guide · Google Search Console
Google Search Console setup: Step by step to real search data.
Google Search Console shows you how Google sees your website: which searches it appears for, how often it gets clicked and which pages are missing from the index. This guide walks you through the setup and shows which first analyses are worth your time.
- Free from Google
- Verification explained
- First analyses
- Last updated: October 2026
What Search Console is – and what it shows.
Google Search Console is a free service from Google for website owners. All you need is a Google account and access to your website or to your domain settings. Unlike an analytics tool, it does not show what visitors do on your website, but what happens before that: in Google Search.
- Which searches your pages appear for and how often they are clicked
- Which pages Google has indexed – and why others are missing
- How Google last crawled and recorded a single URL
- Email alerts when Google finds problems on your website
You do not need to log in daily: Google recommends checking about once a month and after major changes to the website, and problems are reported by email anyway.
Step 1: Domain property or URL prefix?
The first time you open Search Console, it asks which property type you want to create. This determines which data you will see later.
Domain property (for example your-company.com): it covers the entire domain – all subdomains such as www or shop, and both http and https. The advantage: you see everything in one place, including variants you had not thought of. The drawback: verification only works through a DNS record at your domain provider.
URL-prefix property (for example https://www.your-company.com/): it only covers addresses that start exactly like this – so only this protocol and this subdomain. The advantage: more verification methods, and you can analyse a single section such as a subfolder. The drawback: http or another subdomain are left out and would each need their own property.
Our recommendation: if you can access your domain’s DNS settings, create a domain property. Google explains the differences in detail in its help article on property types.
Step 2: Verify ownership.
Before Google shows you any data, you need to prove that the website belongs to you. Which method fits depends on the property type and your access:
- DNS record (TXT): you add a value provided by Google as a TXT record at your domain provider. This is the only method for a domain property and also works for URL-prefix properties.
- HTML file: you upload a small file from Google to the root directory of your website.
- HTML tag: you add a meta tag to the head section of your homepage.
- Google Analytics: works if the Analytics code is in the head section and your Google account has edit rights in Analytics.
- Google Tag Manager: works if the container snippet is installed correctly and you have publish or admin rights.
DNS takes patience: according to Google, a new record can take minutes or several days to become visible. If verification fails, try again after a day or two.
Important: keep the verification in place. Google checks regularly whether the DNS record, file or tag still exists; if it is gone, you lose access after a grace period. This matters most during a relaunch or when you switch domain providers. Google explains all methods in its help article on verifying ownership.
Step 3: Submit your sitemap.
An XML sitemap is a list of the pages you want Google to know about. Many website systems generate it automatically, often at /sitemap.xml. Google finds pages without one too, but a sitemap can speed this up. Here is how to submit it:
- Open your sitemap’s address in the browser and check that it loads.
- In Search Console, open the “Sitemaps” report in the menu on the left.
- Enter the address under “Add a new sitemap” and click “Submit”.
- Check the status later: “Success” means Google was able to read the file.
This is not a guarantee: Google does not necessarily crawl and index every page in the sitemap. You can also reference the sitemap in your robots.txt.
The three reports beginners should know.
Performance: the heart of Search Console. You see four metrics: clicks (how often someone clicked through to your site from Google Search), impressions (how often your site appeared in the search results), CTR (clicks divided by impressions) and average position. Below, you can break the data down by queries, pages, countries and devices. By default, the report shows the last three months; the data goes back up to 16 months.
Page indexing (menu “Indexing” → “Pages”): this shows how many pages are indexed and why others are not – for example “Crawled - currently not indexed”, “Page with redirect” or “Not found (404)”. Long lists are no reason to panic: according to Google, not every URL needs to be indexed – what matters are your important pages.
URL inspection: the search field at the top checks a single address: is it on Google, which canonical URL did Google choose, when was it last crawled? A live test shows the current state of the page. “Request indexing” asks Google to crawl a new or updated page – useful after important changes, but requests are limited per day and indexing is not guaranteed. According to Google, it usually takes about a day, sometimes up to a couple of weeks.
The numbers are not real-time: according to Google, collected data is usually available after two to three days, and the latest values may still be preliminary.
First analyses worth doing.
Once a few weeks of data are available, two looks at the Performance report are worth it – no additional tools needed.
Many impressions, few clicks: activate all four metrics at the top, switch to the “Queries” tab and sort by impressions. Queries where your page is seen often but rarely clicked are candidates for a clearer page title and a better meta description. Also check whether the page matches the intent behind the query.
Pages in positions 5 to 20: sort the “Pages” or “Queries” tab by position and look at this range. Google already considers them relevant, but they sit low on page one or on page two. Here, revising the content and internal links often achieves more than a new page. Which tools complement this analysis is covered in our guide to the best SEO tools for beginners.
Add users: under “Settings” → “Users and permissions” you give other people access – as an owner, with full or with restricted permissions. Our advice: the property should always belong to you. Agencies and web designers get user access, so your data stays with you if you change providers.
Want to turn the data into action? How Southframe makes websites visible in Google and AI search: see SEO & GEO.
Frequently asked questions.
Does Google Search Console cost anything?
No. Search Console is a free service from Google. You only need a Google account and have to prove that the website belongs to you.
How long does it take for data to appear in Search Console?
According to Google, collected data is usually available after two to three days. The most recent values may still be preliminary and can change.
Can I delete the DNS record or the HTML file after verification?
No. Google checks regularly whether the verification is still in place. If it is missing, you lose access to the property after a grace period.
Does “Request indexing” move my page up in the search results?
No. The feature only asks Google to crawl a page again. It guarantees neither inclusion in the index nor a better position, and it is limited per day. For many new pages, an up-to-date sitemap is the better route.
Search Console is set up – what now?
Tell me briefly where your website stands – you get an honest assessment of which numbers matter and what makes sense as a next step.
