Google Search Console (GSC) helps you monitor your website’s performance in Google Search, check indexing status, and optimize your site for better visibility.
Step 1: Sign in to Google Search Console
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Sign in with your Google account (create one if you don’t have it).
Step 2: Add a Property (Your Website or Domain)
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Click the “Add property” button (top-left corner).
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You will see two options:
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Domain — Covers all subdomains and multiple protocols (recommended for full coverage).
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URL Prefix — Covers only URLs with the exact prefix you enter (e.g., https://www.example.com).
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Step 3: Verify Ownership of Your Domain or Website
If you chose Domain property (DNS TXT Record Verification):
Google will ask you to add a TXT record to your domain’s DNS settings.
How to Add the TXT Record via cPanel Zone Editor
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Log in to your hosting cPanel account.
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Scroll down to the Domains section and click on Zone Editor or DNS Manager.
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Find your domain in the list and click Manage or Manage Zone.
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Click + Add Record or Add TXT Record.
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Fill in the details:
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Name: Enter your domain name or leave it blank (some cPanels require
@for the root domain). -
Type: Select TXT.
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TTL: You can leave the default value (usually 14400 or 3600).
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TXT Data: Paste the verification TXT value provided by Google Search Console.
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Save or Add the record.
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Wait a few minutes for DNS propagation, then return to Google Search Console and click Verify.
How to Add the TXT Record via Cloudflare
If your domain uses Cloudflare for DNS management, follow these steps:
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Log in to your Cloudflare account at https://dash.cloudflare.com.
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Select your domain from the dashboard.
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Click on the DNS tab.
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Click Add record.
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Choose TXT for the record type.
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In the Name field, enter your domain name or
@for the root domain. -
In the Content field, paste the TXT verification code from Google.
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Leave TTL as Auto.
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Click Save.
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Return to Google Search Console and click Verify.
Important Notes
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DNS changes can take from a few minutes to up to 24 hours to propagate fully.
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Make sure you don’t delete or alter existing DNS records.
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If verification fails, wait a bit longer and try again.
Step 4: Start Using Google Search Console
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Once verified, you can:
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Submit your sitemap.
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Monitor search traffic and performance.
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Check for indexing issues.
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Get alerts on security or manual actions.
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Tips
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To submit your sitemap, go to the Sitemaps section and enter your sitemap URL, typically
https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. -
Verification only needs to be done once unless DNS records or website files change.
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Use Google Search Console regularly to improve your website’s SEO and fix issues.
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