Do you desire to add your site to Google Search Console? Earlier Google lets you add your site, view its analytics, or submit its sitemap, it asks you to verify your site ownership.

Essentially, Google site verification is about proving that you own the site. Hence, you need to complete the Google Search Console verification process before managing your sites through Google tools.

Thankfully, this process is pretty simple, and at that place's a variety of means to verify your website with Google Search Panel. This post will encompass nine different Google site verification methods, including manual ones and WordPress plugins.

Allow's get started!

v Manual Methods for Google Site Verification

These manual Google site verification methods piece of work for all websites, including WordPress sites.

To go started, access your Google Search Console dashboard. From here, you tin can open up your belongings list to the left and click Add property to verify a new website:

Adding a property to Google Search Console with an arrow pointing to the "Add property" button.
Adding a belongings to Google Search Console.

Search Console will ask y'all to select a property blazon. You can enter a domain or a URL prefix. If you enter a domain name, you'll be able to verify your website via DNS. The URL prefix method will let you choose betwixt four verification methods:

Selecting a property type in Search Console with the "Domain" option in focus.
Selecting a property blazon in Search Console.

Either approach works just fine when it comes to site verification. Nevertheless, we recommend the URL prefix method because it gives you more options.

The following section volition explore the 4 verification methods you lot can use to select the URL prefix property type. Then we'll show you how to verify your website via DNS at the terminate (the Domain selection). Go ahead and enter your site's URL under the URL prefix and click on Proceed.

Earlier Google lets you add your site, view its analytics, or submit its sitemap, information technology asks y'all to verify your site ownership ✅ Learn how to practise that with this guide 👇 Click to Tweet

one. HTML Verification File

With this method, y'all need to upload an HTML file to the root directory of your website. It's simple, but the downside is that yous will need admission to your server to upload the file, either via FTP/SFTP clients or something like cPanel File Manager.

Stride one: Download the Verification File

After you add your site to Google Search Console, yous should come across an pick to download an HTML verification file in the Recommended verification method tab:

A window showing the option to download a verification file from Google Search Console.
Download a verification file from Google Search Console.

Click on the button next to Download the file. Salve this file somewhere y'all'll remember — you'll need it in a infinitesimal.

Step two: Upload the File via SFTP

Adjacent, you'll need to connect to your website via FTP/SFTP. Here are instructions for how to use SFTP at Kinsta.

Once you've successfully connected, upload the file that you downloaded from Google to the root folder of your site (this is the folder that contains the wp-content folder, wp-config.php, etc.) At Kinsta, this folder is named public.

Later on uploading the file, it should look something like this:

An SFTP application open to show a file transfer with an arrow pointing to an example .html file.
Upload verification file via FTP/SFTP.

Once the file is in your site's root folder, render to Google Search Console. It's time to verify your property.

Stride 3: Click the Verify Button in Google Search Console

Once you've uploaded the file to your site, go back to Google Search Panel and click on the VERIFY button to consummate the process. Google Search Panel volition locate the file on your server and verify that y'all own the website.

You tin can use that aforementioned method to verify the Kinsta Content Commitment Network (CDN) with Google Search Console. Verifying your CDN on Google Search Console will enable the search engine to clamber and index your images.

2. HTML Tag

With the HTML tag method, you lot demand to add a uncomplicated meta tag to your site'southward <head> section. If yous're using WordPress, y'all tin can do this by:

  • Adding the tag directly to your kid theme'southward header.php file
  • Using a plugin to inject it into the header

Nosotros'll evidence yous how to practise this using the plugin method, but it's also OK to add together it directly to your theme as long every bit you're using a child theme (if y'all don't utilize a child theme, you lot'll lose your Google site verification every time yous update your theme).

Step i: Re-create the Meta Tag

To find the meta tag, you can go to the Other verification methods section in the Google Search Console interface:

The HTML meta tag window showing highlighted boxes around "HTML tag" and the resultant tag code.
The HTML meta tag.

Utilize the Copy push to copy the meta tag in the box. At present, let'due south go ahead and add it to your WordPress website.

Step ii: Add the Meta Tag Using Insert Headers And Footers

Adjacent, you can install the free Insert Headers and Footers plugin on your site. Navigate to Settings > Insert Headers and Footers and paste the meta tag in the Scripts in Header box:

The WordPress option to add an HTML meta tag to Insert Headers and Footers plugin, with an arrow pointing at the menu option.
Add HTML meta tag to Insert Headers and Footers plugin.

Click on Save to save the changes to your website'due south header, and that'south it. Y'all can also add together the meta tag manually, but we recommend the plugin approach if you're not comfortable editing WordPress core files.

To cease the process, go back to the Google Search Console interface and click on the VERIFY button. If you lot added the code to your website, Google Search Console would be able to place it.

3. Google Analytics

If you already have the Google Analytics asynchronous tracking code installed on your site, you can easily verify your site using Google Analytics. This process boils down to 2 simple steps:

  1. Select Google Analytics under Other verification methods.
  2. Click on VERIFY.
The Google Analytics verify account screen with a highlight box around the "Verify" button.
Google Analytics account verification screen.

If you added Google Analytics to WordPress using a plugin, the tracking lawmaking should be on your homepage. That means that you lot tin can get alee and apply this method.

4. Google Tag Managing director

Just like Google Analytics, if you're already using Google Tag Director, yous can verify your site with simply a single click. You'll demand to have the Google Tag Director container snippet active on your site.

Again, there'south no deep or involved process necessary. Here'due south all you need to do:

  1. Select Google Tag Director under Other verification methods.
  2. Click on VERIFY.
The screen to verify your Google Tag Manager account with the "Verify" button highlighted by a box.
The screen to verify your Google Tag Manager business relationship.

If you lot're using Google Tag Director, this method will enable yous to verify your website on Search Console almost immediately.

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five. DNS Verification

If you want to verify your website using the Domain method, you'll need to add a TXT record to your domain's DNS configuration. Here'southward what that verification window looks like:

TXT record highlighted for verifying ownership via DNS
Google DNS Verification Modal

If you're using Kinsta DNS, you can add together this TXT record direct from your MyKinsta dashboard.

First, click on the Kinsta DNS selection. Then, select Manage for the site that you want to verify with Google Search Panel:

The Kinsta DNS option from the MyKinsta dashboard with an arrow pointing at the "Manage" button.
The Kinsta DNS option from the MyKinsta dashboard.

Next, you can click on Add DNS Tape and select the TXT option under Type. Add your Google Search Console TXT record nether Content:

The window for adding a TXT record through MyKinsta with an arrow pointing at the "Add DNS Record" button.
Add together TXT record at Kinsta.

Keep in heed that this process will vary depending on which domain provider you're using. If you lot want to transfer your domain proper noun to Kinsta to manage it using our DNS, you can follow these instructions.

4 WordPress Plugins to Help With Google Site Verification

If yous're using a WordPress SEO plugin, there's a expert adventure that your plugin of option offers an like shooting fish in a barrel tool to help with Google site verification. Nosotros'll evidence you how to practise it with the three pop WordPress SEO tools and one plugin directly from Google.

6. Yoast SEO

To consummate the Google Search Console verification process with Yoast SEO, you lot tin showtime past going to SEO > Full general in your WordPress dashboard and selecting the Webmaster Tools tab.

Next, detect the Google verification code field and add the code that you can get from Google Search Console:

Google site verification in Yoast SEO in WordPress with a highlight box around the "Google verification code" form label.
Google site verification in Yoast SEO.

To discover your Google Search Console verification code, you tin follow these three steps:

  1. Navigate to the Other verification methods section in the Google Search Console interface.
  2. Select the HTML tag option.
  3. Copy the unabridged tag. Yoast SEO will automatically strip out the extra details, leaving just the lawmaking.
The window for finding your HTML tag for your Google verification code.
Where to find Google verification lawmaking.

Now you can add the code to your Yoast SEO settings folio and salve the changes to it. Render to the HTML tag tab in Google Search Console and click on the VERIFY push button.

7. SEOPress

To verify your site in Google Search Panel with the SEOPpress plugin, become to the SEOPress > Advanced section in your WordPress dashboard. Here, gyre downwardly to notice the Google search verification entry.

SEOPress Advanced settings simplify the Google site verification process.
SEOPress simplifies the Google site verification process.

You need to enter your Google site verification HTML meta tag here. It'll await something like this: <meta name="google-site-verification" content="......." />. Add your site verification meta tag and save the changes.

We've discussed how to become this meta tag for your site (or "belongings" equally Google calls it) in the HTML Tag section to a higher place.

Now, the plugin will automatically add this HTML tag to all your site's pages.

Finally, click on the VERIFY button nether the HTML tag section in Google Search Console.

8. Rank Math SEO

If you're using the Rank Math SEO plugin, yous can verify your website in Google Search Console past going to Rank Math > General Settings > Webmaster Tools in your dashboard. Here, you'll come across a field that reads Google Search Console, which is where your Search Console verification lawmaking goes:

Adding the Search Console verification code to Rank Math with a highlight box around where the input should go.
Calculation the Search Console verification code to Rank Math.

To find that verification lawmaking, y'all can follow the verbal instructions as with other WordPress SEO plugins. Navigate to the Other verification methods department in the Google Search Console interface, and so select the HTML tag option. After y'all copy the entire tag, Rank Math will automatically place the verification lawmaking.

Next, return to Google Search Console and click the VERIFY button under the HTML tag. Search Console should recognize your website now.

ix. Site Kit by Google

The Site Kit by Google plugin enables you to connect your WordPress website with Google services with merely a few clicks. It's an official plugin, and you can employ it for free.

Once yous install and activate the plugin, navigate to Site Kit > Dashboard in your dashboard and select the SIGN IN WITH GOOGLE option:

Signing in with Google through the Site Kit plugin.
Signing in with Google through the Site Kit plugin.

Google will prompt you to verify website ownership and to connect it with Search Panel. To continue, click on Sign in with Google once more:

The Site Kit setup wizard welcome screen that says
The Site Kit setup wizard.

If you have multiple Google accounts, you'll exist able to cull which i you desire to employ for the Search Console account connected with your website. Google will ask you lot to confirm that you're comfortable with Site Kit having admission to the following types of data:

A list of Site Kit permission requirements with options to "Allow" or "Cancel".
An overview of Site Kit'due south permissions.

After you click on Allow, Site Kit volition enquire you to confirm site buying for Google Search Console. Site Kit does this by adding a bit of HTML code to your website. All that yous have to do is select Proceed:

The option to enable Site Kit to verify that you own your website with an arrow pointing to the "Proceed" button.
Enable Site Kit to verify that yous own your website.

Moving on, Site Kit will ask y'all for permission to and your Google account data and display it on your dashboard. Click the Allow push button once more. Then you'll see a success message telling you that your website is verified on Google Search Console:

A Site Kit setup success message saying
A Site Kit setup success message.

When you return to your Site Kit dashboard in WordPress, yous'll see that it's connected to Google Search Console. A new Site Kit > Search Console tab will appear in your dashboard, giving you admission to data from inside your website.

Which Method Should You lot Use?

Adding a website to Google Search Console takes only seconds. However, it would help if yous verified that you ain the site, which can vary in complexity depending on your chosen verification method.

If you're using Google Analytics or Tag Manager, you lot already take some Google lawmaking on your site. Google Search Panel should place that lawmaking and verify your website without yous needing to add anything else to information technology. Alternatively, y'all can add an HTML file, include a tag, or apply DNS verification (the all-time approach if you lot don't want to add more code to your site).

Finally, if you lot're using a WordPress SEO plugin, the most popular options include Google Search Console verification features. Those will assist you verify your website. All you have to do is enter a verification lawmaking.

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Summary

Congratulations! Y'all now know all you need to get started with your Google site verification.

Just remember that Google volition periodically check on your site's verification. No matter which method yous cull, information technology'due south essential to leave that method in place — you cannot remove it after confirmation.

Information technology's now time to start scaling your website traffic.

Do yous have any other questions near the Google Search Console verification process? Go out a comment, and nosotros'll attempt to help!


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