If you want to add your website to Google Search Console, you are probably asking a bigger question: how do I get my website listed on Google? Google finds most sites on its own, by following links. A new site with few links pointing to it can sit unnoticed for weeks, and when pages go missing you have no way to see why. Search Console fixes both problems.
This guide covers six steps: choosing the right property type, verifying it with a DNS record, submitting your sitemap, using URL Inspection to request indexing, reading the Pages report, and what to check each week. You need a Google Account and access to your domain settings. No coding.
Success looks like this: your site is verified, your sitemap reads Success, your homepage shows "URL is on Google", and the Pages report explains every page that isn't indexed. If your site is already set up but missing from results, start with our guide to why your website isn't showing up on Google.
Step 1: Add your website to Google Search Console as a Domain property
Go to search.google.com/search-console and sign in with a Google Account the business owns, not a staff member's personal account. Google describes Search Console as a free service. You don't need it to appear in Google, but it shows you how Google sees your site. Choose Add property, and Google asks you to pick one of two types.
- Domain property (yourdomain.com.au): covers every version of your site, http and https, with or without www, and any subdomain. It can only be verified through your domain's DNS settings.
- URL-prefix property (https://www.yourdomain.com.au/): covers only addresses that start with exactly that text. It offers more ways to verify, such as an HTML file, a meta tag, Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager.
For most small businesses, a Domain property is the better choice. All your data sits in one place, and you never lose sight of pages because the www or https version doesn't match what you typed.
Step 2: Verify ownership with a DNS TXT record
Search Console gives you a TXT record: a line of text that proves you control the domain. Adding it takes a few minutes.
- Copy the record: in the verification window, copy the TXT value Search Console shows you.
- Open your DNS settings: log in to your domain provider and add a new record of type TXT.
- Fill it in: leave the host or name field blank, or enter @, and paste the value into the value field. Save.
- Verify: go back to Search Console and click Verify.
Google says it can take up to two or three days for a provider to start serving a new record. If verification fails at first, wait a day and try again. Once you're verified, leave the record in place. Search Console checks for it from time to time, and if it disappears your access expires after a grace period.
Step 3: Submit your sitemap
A sitemap is a file that lists the pages you want Google to find. Most website platforms create one for you, usually at yourdomain.com.au/sitemap.xml. If that address shows an error, open yourdomain.com.au/robots.txt, which often names the sitemap's location.
- Open Sitemaps: it sits under Indexing in the Search Console menu.
- Add the address: type your sitemap's address into Add a new sitemap and click Submit.
- Check the status: it should read Success. If it says Couldn't fetch, open the sitemap in your browser. If it doesn't load for you, it won't load for Google.
Google calls a sitemap a hint, not a guarantee. It still helps a new site that has few links from other websites. A single sitemap can hold up to 50,000 addresses or 50MB, far more than a small business needs. You don't need to resubmit it each time you add a page: Google revisits a sitemap it has read successfully on its own schedule.
Step 4: Inspect your homepage and request indexing
Paste your homepage address into the search bar at the top of any Search Console screen. The URL Inspection tool shows what Google has on record for that page.
- URL is on Google: the page is indexed and can appear in results. Google notes this isn't a promise that it will show for any particular search.
- URL is not on Google: the page can't appear in results yet. The details explain why, for example that it hasn't been crawled, or that a noindex tag is blocking it.
If the page isn't on Google, click Test live URL to check Google can load it now, then click Request indexing. Google says indexing typically takes a day or so, can take a week or two, and isn't guaranteed. There is a daily limit on requests, and asking again for the same page doesn't make it any faster.
For a new website, Google's advice is to request indexing of the homepage first. If your menu links to every important page, Google can find the rest from there.
Step 5: Read the Pages report
Under Indexing, open Pages. The chart splits your pages into Indexed and Not indexed. The table below it, Why pages aren't indexed, gives a reason for each group.
Not indexed isn't always a problem. Google says it's fine for a page to be left out for the right reason, such as a noindex tag you added on purpose, a duplicate address or a page you removed. What matters is that your important pages are indexed. Common reasons you'll see:
- Page with redirect: an old address that now points to a new one. Normal after a redesign. Google indexes the page it redirects to.
- Duplicate without user-selected canonical: Google found two versions of the same page and chose one itself. Check it chose the version you want.
- Not found (404): a page that no longer exists. Only worth fixing if your own site or sitemap still links to it.
- Discovered – currently not indexed: Google knows the page exists but hasn't crawled it yet. Our guide to Discovered – currently not indexed explains the causes and fixes.
- Crawled – currently not indexed: Google read the page and decided not to index it for now.
After you fix a problem, open that reason and click Validate fix. Google says validation typically takes up to about two weeks. Google also says a new page or site can take a week or so before crawling and indexing start, so a near-empty report in your first days is normal. For more on timing, see how long it takes for a new website to show on Google.
Step 6: What to check each week
Google says there's no need to sign in every day. Search Console emails you when it finds a new issue, and checking around once a month is enough for most sites. While a site is new, or straight after a redesign, a quick look each week catches problems before they cost you enquiries.
- Pages: is the indexed count steady or rising? Has a new reason appeared under Why pages aren't indexed?
- Performance: clicks, impressions and the searches people used to find you. The report shows the past three months by default.
- Sitemaps: the status still reads Success.
- Manual actions and Security issues: both should show no issues. Anything here needs attention the same week.
- Core Web Vitals: how your pages perform for real visitors on phones and computers.
Once the site settles and the numbers are steady, drop back to monthly. Check again whenever you change pages, move hosts or launch a new site. If you are moving to a new website, our guide to migrating without losing SEO covers what to watch. Search Console covers your website. For the map results, set up a Google Business Profile as well.
Key takeaways
- (01)
Choose a Domain property and verify it with a DNS TXT record. Leave the record in place afterwards.
- (02)
Submit your sitemap once and check its status reads Success. It should list only pages you want found.
- (03)
Inspect your homepage and key pages and request indexing once each. Repeat requests don't speed it up.
- (04)
Check Pages and Performance weekly while the site is new, then monthly once the numbers settle.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my website listed on Google?
Google finds most pages by following links, so many sites get listed without doing anything. To help a new site along, verify it in Google Search Console, submit your sitemap and request indexing of your homepage. Google says crawling can take from a few days to a few weeks, and it doesn't guarantee every page will be indexed.
Is Google Search Console free?
Yes. Google describes Search Console as a free service. You don't need it to appear in Google's results, but it is where Google tells you which of your pages are indexed, which aren't and why.
Should I choose a Domain property or a URL-prefix property?
Choose a Domain property if you can edit your domain's DNS settings. It covers http and https, www and every subdomain in one place. Use a URL-prefix property if you can't get DNS access, or if you only want data for one section of a site.
Do I need to resubmit my sitemap every time I add a page?
No. Once Google has read your sitemap successfully, it revisits it on its own schedule. Google suggests resubmitting only after big changes, or after fixing an error that stopped the sitemap being read.
More answers on price, hosting and timing in our FAQ.