- Article
- 2 minutes read
- Reviewed August 4, 2026
Google Search Console provides information about how Google discovers, indexes and presents an owned website.
It can report search performance, indexing patterns, sitemaps, enhancements, security issues and manual actions.
Property Types
Search Console supports domain properties and URL-prefix properties.
A domain property covers protocols and subdomains and normally requires DNS verification. A URL-prefix property covers the exact prefix.
Verification
Verification methods can include DNS, HTML file, meta tag, Analytics or Tag Manager.
DNS verification is durable when the team controls the domain. Document the method so it is not removed during a theme change or migration.
Submit the Sitemap
Submit the sitemap index URL, review processing and compare discovered URLs with expectations.
Submission does not guarantee indexing.
Performance Report
Review clicks, impressions, click-through rate, average position, queries, pages, countries, devices and search appearance.
Average position is contextual and should not be treated as a single site score.
URL Inspection
Use it to check a specific indexed URL, test the live page, view canonical information, inspect rendered output and request indexing.
Access Management
Grant access according to role, retain more than one trusted owner and remove former staff or agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Search Console improve rankings?
No. It provides data and diagnostics.
Should every page be submitted manually?
No. Use internal links and sitemaps for normal discovery.
Continue Learning
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