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

Substantially, Google site verification is almost proving that you own the site. Hence, you need to complete the Google Search Console verification process earlier managing your sites through Google tools.

Thankfully, this procedure is pretty elementary, and in that location's a variety of ways to verify your website with Google Search Panel. This mail will embrace ix different Google site verification methods, including manual ones and WordPress plugins.

Let's go started!

five Manual Methods for Google Site Verification

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

To get started, access your Google Search Console dashboard. From hither, you lot tin can open up 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 will ask you to select a property type. You lot 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 allow you choose betwixt four verification methods:

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

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

The following section will explore the four verification methods you lot can apply to select the URL prefix property type. Then nosotros'll testify you how to verify your website via DNS at the end (the Domain option). Go ahead and enter your site'due south URL under the URL prefix and click on Go along.

Earlier Google lets you add your site, view its analytics, or submit its sitemap, it asks you to verify your site ownership ✅ Larn how to practise that with this guide 👇 Click to Tweet

i. HTML Verification File

With this method, you need to upload an HTML file to the root directory of your website. It'south simple, but the downside is that yous will need admission to your server to upload the file, either via FTP/SFTP clients or something similar cPanel File Managing director.

Stride 1: Download the Verification File

After you add your site to Google Search Console, you lot should see 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 Panel.

Click on the button next to Download the file. Save this file somewhere you'll remember — yous'll need it in a minute.

Step two: Upload the File via SFTP

Side by side, 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 binder is named public.

Later uploading the file, information technology 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, return to Google Search Console. Information technology's time to verify your property.

Stride 3: Click the Verify Button in Google Search Console

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

Yous can use that same method to verify the Kinsta Content Delivery Network (CDN) with Google Search Panel. Verifying your CDN on Google Search Console will enable the search engine to crawl and alphabetize your images.

2. HTML Tag

With the HTML tag method, you need to add a simple meta tag to your site'due south <head> section. If you're using WordPress, you lot can do this by:

  • Adding the tag straight to your kid theme'due south header.php file
  • Using a plugin to inject it into the header

Nosotros'll show you how to do this using the plugin method, just information technology's likewise OK to add together it directly to your theme as long as you're using a child theme (if you don't use a child theme, you'll lose your Google site verification every time you update your theme).

Step i: Copy the Meta Tag

To find the meta tag, you tin can go to the Other verification methods department 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 Re-create button to copy the meta tag in the box. Now, let'south get ahead and add together it to your WordPress website.

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

Side by side, you lot tin 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's header, and that'south it. Y'all can besides add the meta tag manually, but we recommend the plugin approach if you're non comfortable editing WordPress core files.

To stop the procedure, go back to the Google Search Panel interface and click on the VERIFY button. If you added the code to your website, Google Search Panel would be able to identify it.

3. Google Analytics

If y'all already have the Google Analytics asynchronous tracking code installed on your site, you lot tin can easily 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 account verification screen.

If yous added Google Analytics to WordPress using a plugin, the tracking code should be on your homepage. That ways that you lot can go ahead and use this method.

4. Google Tag Managing director

Just similar Google Analytics, if yous're already using Google Tag Manager, you tin verify your site with just a single click. Y'all'll need to take the Google Tag Director container snippet active on your site.

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

  1. Select Google Tag Manager 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 account.

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

Subscribe Now

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. Hither's 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 tin add this TXT record direct from your MyKinsta dashboard.

First, click on the Kinsta DNS option. Then, select Manage for the site that you desire to verify with Google Search Console:

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

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

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

four WordPress Plugins to Help With Google Site Verification

If you're using a WordPress SEO plugin, there'south a good chance that your plugin of choice offers an easy tool to help with Google site verification. We'll bear witness y'all how to do it with the 3 pop WordPress SEO tools and one plugin directly from Google.

six. Yoast SEO

To complete the Google Search Console verification procedure with Yoast SEO, you tin first by going to SEO > General in your WordPress dashboard and selecting the Webmaster Tools tab.

Side by side, find the Google verification code field and add the lawmaking 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 find your Google Search Console verification code, you can 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 code.
The window for finding your HTML tag for your Google verification code.
Where to find Google verification lawmaking.

Now you can add the lawmaking to your Yoast SEO settings folio and save the changes to information technology. Return to the HTML tag tab in Google Search Panel and click on the VERIFY button.

7. SEOPress

To verify your site in Google Search Console with the SEOPpress plugin, become to the SEOPress > Avant-garde section in your WordPress dashboard. Here, scroll downwardly to find the Google search verification entry.

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

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

We've discussed how to get this meta tag for your site (or "holding" every bit Google calls it) 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 under the HTML tag department in Google Search Console.

8. Rank Math SEO

If you're using the Rank Math SEO plugin, y'all tin can verify your website in Google Search Panel by going to Rank Math > Full general Settings > Webmaster Tools in your dashboard. Hither, you'll see 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.
Adding the Search Console verification code to Rank Math.

To observe 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, and and so select the HTML tag choice. Later on you re-create the unabridged 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 past Google

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

Once you install and actuate 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 Console. To proceed, 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 be able to choose which one yous want to use for the Search Panel account connected with your website. Google volition enquire you lot to ostend that you're comfortable with Site Kit having access 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 you to confirm site ownership for Google Search Console. Site Kit does this by calculation a scrap of HTML code to your website. All that y'all 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 lot own your website.

Moving on, Site Kit will ask you for permission to and your Google account data and brandish information technology on your dashboard. Click the Allow push button one time more than. Then you'll see a success message telling y'all 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, you'll see that information technology's connected to Google Search Panel. A new Site Kit > Search Console tab volition appear in your dashboard, giving you access to data from inside your website.

Which Method Should You Use?

Calculation a website to Google Search Panel takes only seconds. Notwithstanding, information technology would aid if you verified that you own the site, which can vary in complication depending on your chosen verification method.

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

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

Ready to have on the Google Search Console verification process? 👀 Start hither ⬇️ Click to Tweet

Summary

Congratulations! You now know all you need to become started with your Google site verification.

Merely remember that Google will periodically bank check on your site's verification. No matter which method you cull, it's essential to leave that method in place — you cannot remove it afterwards confirmation.

It's now fourth dimension to start scaling your website traffic.

Practice yous have any other questions well-nigh the Google Search Console verification procedure? Leave a comment, and we'll try to help!


Save time, costs and maximize site performance with:

  • Instant help from WordPress hosting experts, 24/7.
  • Cloudflare Enterprise integration.
  • Global audition reach with 29 data centers worldwide.
  • Optimization with our built-in Application Performance Monitoring.

All of that and much more than, in one plan with no long-term contracts, assisted migrations, and a 30-twenty-four hours-money-back-guarantee. Bank check out our plans or talk to sales to observe the plan that's right for you.