Step 1: Create and verify a Google Search Console property
Abhay Khant
Jan 1, 1970 • 2 min read
Before gsc-indexer can inspect anything, Google has to know you own the
site. This guide gets you a verified property.
What is a "property"?
In Google Search Console, a property is a website (or part of one) you've
proven you control. You can only inspect URLs that belong to a property you
have access to. If the URL's host doesn't match the property, you'll get a
403 You do not own this site error later. so get this right now.
Sign in to Search Console
- Go to search.google.com/search-console.
- Sign in with the Google account that manages your site.
Add your property
-
Click Add property.
-
Choose the URL-prefix property type (the other type, Domain, needs DNS access and is overkill here).
-
Enter the exact prefix, including
https://andwwwif you use it:https://www.toolsura.com/
Exact match matters.
https://toolsura.com/andhttps://www.toolsura.com/are different properties. Inspect the URL exactly as it appears in the property prefix, or you'll hit a 403.
Verify ownership
The easiest method for most sites is the HTML file upload:
- On the verification screen, pick HTML file.
- Download the file Google gives you (it looks like
google1234567890abcdef.html). - Upload it to the root of your site so it's reachable at
https://www.toolsura.com/google1234567890abcdef.html. - Click Verify.
Other options (HTML tag in <head>, Google Analytics, DNS record) work too. pick whichever you can complete.
Confirm it worked
You should land on the property dashboard. That's it. the property exists and you own it.
What's next
You still can't run the tool yet. GSC property access uses your Google login, but the CLI runs unattended and needs a service account instead. Continue to create a service account and grant it access.
