Short answer: Google Search Console is Google’s free tool that shows how your website appears in search. To start, verify your site (preferably as a domain property), submit your XML sitemap, check the Page indexing report for errors, and use the Performance report to see which queries bring impressions and clicks. Use URL Inspection to request indexing for new or updated pages.
Need to fix crawling? Build and test a robots.txt file with our free robots.txt generator, or browse all free digital marketing tools.
Think of this as a Google Search Console guide for people who have never opened it. If Google Analytics tells you what visitors do on your site, Search Console tells you how they got there from Google, and whether Google can even see your pages. It is the most important free SEO tool available, and every website owner should have it set up.
Setting Up Search Console
- Go to Google Search Console and add a property.
- Choose Domain property (covers http, https, www and non-www) and verify through a DNS record at your domain provider. If that is difficult, use a URL prefix property and verify through an HTML tag, file or Google Analytics.
- Submit your sitemap. On WordPress with Rank Math or Yoast, it is usually at /sitemap_index.xml.
- Add other team members as users rather than sharing your login.
The Performance Report
This report shows your search traffic:
| Metric | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Total clicks | Clicks from Google search to your site |
| Total impressions | Times your pages appeared in results |
| Average CTR | Clicks divided by impressions |
| Average position | Average ranking position of your pages |
Use the Queries tab to see search terms and the Pages tab to see which pages earn them. Filter by country, device and date range.
Quick SEO Wins From the Performance Report
- High impressions, low CTR: improve the title and meta description to make results more clickable.
- Positions 8 to 20: pages close to page one; improve content and internal links.
- Unexpected queries: people finding you for topics you have not covered properly; create or expand content.
- Declining pages: compare date ranges to spot pages losing traffic and refresh them.
The Page Indexing Report
This shows which pages Google has indexed and why others are not indexed. Common reasons:
- Crawled, currently not indexed: Google saw the page but chose not to index it yet, often because it seems low value or very new.
- Discovered, currently not indexed: Google knows the URL but has not crawled it yet.
- Excluded by noindex tag: intentional for pages like privacy policy, but check it is not on important pages.
- Page with redirect: normal for old URLs that redirect.
- Duplicate without user-selected canonical: similar pages competing; set canonicals or merge.
- Not found (404): broken pages; redirect if they had value.
Not every excluded page is a problem. Focus on important pages that should be indexed but are not.
URL Inspection Tool
Paste any URL from your site to see whether it is indexed, when it was last crawled, and how Google renders it. After publishing or significantly updating a page, use Request indexing. There is a daily limit, so prioritise your most important pages, and rely on the sitemap for the rest.
Other Useful Reports
- Core Web Vitals: page experience and speed issues on mobile and desktop
- HTTPS: pages not served securely
- Links: your top linked pages and linking sites
- Manual actions: penalties from Google, which should show “No issues detected”
- Security issues: hacked content or malware warnings
- Enhancements: structured data such as breadcrumbs and FAQs
A Monthly Search Console Routine
- Compare last 28 days with the previous period for clicks and impressions.
- Find two pages with high impressions and low CTR; rewrite titles.
- Find two pages ranking 8 to 20; improve content and add internal links.
- Check Page indexing for new errors.
- Check Manual actions and Security issues.
Learn It Hands-On
Search Console is used every week in the SEO track at AdifySkills in Sector 81, Faridabad, on real websites, so students learn to diagnose and fix real problems.
Key takeaways on Google Search Console Guide
- Go to Google Search Console and add a property.
- This report shows your search traffic:
MetricMeaning
Total clicksClicks from Google search to your site
Total impressionsTimes your pages appeared in results - High impressions, low CTR: improve the title and meta description to make results more clickable.
- This shows which pages Google has indexed and why others are not indexed.
- Paste any URL from your site to see whether it is indexed, when it was last crawled, and how Google renders it.
- Core Web Vitals: page experience and speed issues on mobile and desktop
HTTPS: pages not served securely
Links: your top linked pages and linking sites
Manual a
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google Search Console free?
Yes, completely free.
How long does it take for data to appear?
Usually a few days after verification. Performance data is typically delayed by a couple of days.
Why are my pages not indexed?
Common reasons are that the site is new, pages are thin or duplicated, they are blocked by noindex or robots.txt, or Google has not crawled them yet.
Does requesting indexing guarantee indexing?
No. It asks Google to crawl the page sooner, but Google decides whether to index it.
Should I use Search Console or Google Analytics?
Both. They answer different questions and work best together.
Related Reading
- Types of Backlinks in SEO: The Complete Guide for 2026
- How to Check Backlinks of Any Website for Free
- Toxic Backlinks: How to Find Them and When to Use the Disavow Tool
- Google Analytics 4 for Beginners
- Technical SEO Basics for Small Websites
- On-Page SEO Checklist for 2026
Want to learn this with live campaigns and a trainer beside you? See the full digital marketing course in Faridabad, or check admission and batch dates.