Getting started with Google Search Console

A beginner's guide to setting up and using Google Search Console. Originally published by Google — for the most current version, see Google's official documentation.

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Note: This article is originally published by Google and has been included here for your convenience. For the most up-to-date version, refer to Google's official documentation linked above.

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Getting started

1. Get a Google account — this is the only requirement to use Search Console.
2. Add and verify your site — open Search Console and verify ownership of your website. This proves you own the site, since Search Console shows data and settings that should only be accessible to site owners.
3. Learn how to use the help system — the embedded help window is draggable and available throughout the interface.
4. Read the basic usage guide — most users only need a monthly site check-up unless Google alerts you to a problem.
5. Learn the basics of Google Search — understanding how search works helps you interpret the reports and data in Search Console.

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Key reports to check

Critical reports

Property dashboard The dashboard shows any security issues or manual actions, along with high-level charts of search performance, index coverage, and more. Check here first for anything that needs immediate attention.

Performance report Shows how your site is performing in Google Search results, including web search, news search, and Discover.

Security Issues report Shows whether Google has found any evidence of hacking on your site. If your dashboard shows no security issues, you don't need to check this report separately — Google will notify you by email if a new issue is found.

Manual Actions report Shows whether your site violates any Google spam policies that could cause content to be omitted from search results. If your dashboard shows no manual actions, no action is needed — Google will notify you by email if a manual action is applied.

Optional reports

Index coverage Shows which pages Google has found and indexed on your site.

Usability reports Describes your visitors' experience — loading time, behavior, and other metrics that can affect rankings.

URL Inspection report Use this to troubleshoot a specific page and see how Google renders it.

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Next steps

Once you're comfortable with the basics, you can continue with advanced SEO and Search Console topics to go deeper on optimization strategies.