Practice you want to add your site to Google Search Console? Before Google lets you add your site, view its analytics, or submit its sitemap, information technology asks yous to verify your site ownership.

Essentially, Google site verification is about proving that you lot 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 unproblematic, and there's a variety of means to verify your website with Google Search Console. This mail service will cover nine different Google site verification methods, including transmission ones and WordPress plugins.

Let'southward get started!

five Manual Methods for Google Site Verification

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

To become started, access your Google Search Console dashboard. From here, y'all tin can open your property 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 property to Google Search Panel.

Search Console volition inquire you to select a property type. Y'all tin 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 cull betwixt four verification methods:

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

Either arroyo works simply fine when information technology comes to site verification. However, nosotros recommend the URL prefix method because it gives you more options.

The following section will explore the iv verification methods you tin use to select the URL prefix property type. Then we'll show you how to verify your website via DNS at the end (the Domain selection). Get ahead and enter your site's URL under the URL prefix and click on Go along.

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one. HTML Verification File

With this method, y'all need to upload an HTML file to the root directory of your website. It'due south unproblematic, but the downside is that you lot volition demand access to your server to upload the file, either via FTP/SFTP clients or something like cPanel File Director.

Step one: Download the Verification File

Afterwards you lot add your site to Google Search Console, you lot should come across an option 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. Save this file somewhere you'll remember — you'll need it in a minute.

Step 2: Upload the File via SFTP

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

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

Later 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'south root folder, return to Google Search Console. It's time to verify your property.

Step 3: Click the Verify Button in Google Search Panel

Once you've uploaded the file to your site, go dorsum to Google Search Console and click on the VERIFY button to complete the process. Google Search Console volition locate the file on your server and verify that you own the website.

Y'all tin can use that same method to verify the Kinsta Content Delivery Network (CDN) with Google Search Console. Verifying your CDN on Google Search Console volition enable the search engine to crawl and index your images.

2. HTML Tag

With the HTML tag method, you need to add together a simple meta tag to your site'southward <caput> section. If you lot're using WordPress, you tin do this past:

  • Adding the tag directly to your child theme's header.php file
  • Using a plugin to inject information technology into the header

We'll show you how to do this using the plugin method, but information technology'due south besides OK to add information technology directly to your theme as long as you're using a child theme (if you don't employ a child theme, you lot'll lose your Google site verification every time you update your theme).

Step 1: Copy the Meta Tag

To find the meta tag, you tin 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.

Use the COPY button to copy the meta tag in the box. Now, let's go ahead and add it to your WordPress website.

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

Side by side, 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 salvage the changes to your website's header, and that's it. You lot tin can also add together the meta tag manually, just we recommend the plugin approach if you're non comfortable editing WordPress core files.

To stop 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 Panel would exist able to place it.

3. Google Analytics

If you already take the Google Analytics asynchronous tracking code installed on your site, you lot tin hands verify your site using Google Analytics. This process boils down to two 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 business relationship verification screen.

If you lot added Google Analytics to WordPress using a plugin, the tracking lawmaking should exist on your homepage. That means that y'all can go ahead and use this method.

4. Google Tag Manager

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

Again, at that place'south no deep or involved process necessary. Here's all yous need to do:

  1. Select Google Tag Manager nether 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 Director account.

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

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5. DNS Verification

If you desire to verify your website using the Domain method, you lot'll demand to add a TXT record to your domain'due south DNS configuration. Hither's what that verification window looks like:

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

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

Starting time, click on the Kinsta DNS pick. So, select Manage for the site that you lot 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, yous 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 TXT record at Kinsta.

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

four WordPress Plugins to Aid With Google Site Verification

If you're using a WordPress SEO plugin, there'due south a good take a chance that your plugin of choice offers an easy tool to assist with Google site verification. Nosotros'll show you how to do it with the three popular WordPress SEO tools and one plugin direct from Google.

half-dozen. Yoast SEO

To consummate the Google Search Panel verification process with Yoast SEO, you can commencement by going to SEO > General in your WordPress dashboard and selecting the Webmaster Tools tab.

Next, find the Google verification lawmaking field and add the code that you tin can go 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 find your Google Search Console verification code, yous tin follow these three steps:

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

Now you lot tin add the code to your Yoast SEO settings page and save the changes to information technology. Return to the HTML tag tab in Google Search Console and click on the VERIFY button.

7. SEOPress

To verify your site in Google Search Console with the SEOPpress plugin, go to the SEOPress > Avant-garde section in your WordPress dashboard. Here, gyre downwardly to find 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. Information technology'll wait something similar this: <meta name="google-site-verification" content="......." />. Add your site verification meta tag and salvage the changes.

We've discussed how to get this meta tag for your site (or "property" as Google calls information technology) in the HTML Tag section above.

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.

viii. Rank Math SEO

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

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

To detect that verification lawmaking, you can follow the exact instructions equally with other WordPress SEO plugins. Navigate to the Other verification methods section in the Google Search Console interface, then select the HTML tag option. After yous copy the entire tag, Rank Math will automatically place the verification code.

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

9. Site Kit by Google

The Site Kit by Google plugin enables you to connect your WordPress website with Google services with only a few clicks. It'south an official plugin, and you tin use it for gratuitous.

Once you install and actuate the plugin, navigate to Site Kit > Dashboard in your dashboard and select the SIGN IN WITH GOOGLE pick:

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 buying and to connect information technology with Search Console. To continue, click on Sign in with Google once more:

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

If you have multiple Google accounts, you'll be able to choose which i you lot want to use for the Search Console account connected with your website. Google volition inquire you to ostend that you're comfy 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's permissions.

Later you click on Allow, Site Kit volition enquire y'all to ostend site ownership for Google Search Console. Site Kit does this by calculation 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 you ain your website.

Moving on, Site Kit will inquire you for permission to and your Google account information and brandish it on your dashboard. Click the Allow button once more. Then you lot'll see a success message telling you that your website is verified on Google Search Panel:

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

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

Which Method Should You Employ?

Calculation a website to Google Search Panel takes merely seconds. Nevertheless, information technology would help if you verified that you own the site, which tin vary in complexity depending on your chosen verification method.

If yous're using Google Analytics or Tag Manager, you already have some Google code on your site. Google Search Console should place that lawmaking and verify your website without you lot needing to add anything else to it. Alternatively, you lot can add together an HTML file, include a tag, or use DNS verification (the best approach if you lot don't want to add more code to your site).

Finally, if yous're using a WordPress SEO plugin, the most pop options include Google Search Console verification features. Those will help you verify your website. All you accept to do is enter a verification code.

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Summary

Congratulations! You now know all yous need to get started with your Google site verification.

Just think that Google volition periodically check on your site's verification. No thing which method you lot choose, information technology's essential to exit that method in identify — you cannot remove it after confirmation.

It's now time to start scaling your website traffic.

Do y'all accept any other questions nigh the Google Search Console verification process? Leave a comment, and we'll try to help!

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