Practice you lot want to add your site to Google Search Console? Earlier Google lets y'all add together your site, view its analytics, or submit its sitemap, it asks y'all to verify your site buying.

Essentially, Google site verification is near proving that you ain the site. Hence, you need to complete the Google Search Console verification process earlier managing your sites through Google tools.

Thankfully, this process is pretty simple, and there's a variety of ways to verify your website with Google Search Panel. This post will comprehend nine different Google site verification methods, including manual ones and WordPress plugins.

Let'southward become started!

5 Manual Methods for Google Site Verification

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

To get started, access your Google Search Panel dashboard. From hither, you 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.
Calculation a property to Google Search Console.

Search Console volition enquire yous to select a holding blazon. You lot can enter a domain or a URL prefix. If you enter a domain name, you'll exist able to verify your website via DNS. The URL prefix method will let you lot choose between four verification methods:

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

Either approach works merely fine when it comes to site verification. Withal, we recommend the URL prefix method because it gives you more options.

The following department will explore the four verification methods yous tin apply to select the URL prefix belongings type. And then we'll show yous how to verify your website via DNS at the cease (the Domain pick). Get alee and enter your site'south URL under the URL prefix and click on CONTINUE.

Before Google lets you lot add together your site, view its analytics, or submit its sitemap, it asks you lot to verify your site ownership ✅ Acquire how to do that with this guide 👇 Click to Tweet

1. HTML Verification File

With this method, you need to upload an HTML file to the root directory of your website. It's simple, but the downside is that you will need access to your server to upload the file, either via FTP/SFTP clients or something like cPanel File Manager.

Step 1: Download the Verification File

After yous add your site to Google Search Console, you lot should see an selection 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. Salve this file somewhere you'll call up — y'all'll need it in a minute.

Step ii: Upload the File via SFTP

Next, you lot'll demand to connect to your website via FTP/SFTP. Here are instructions for how to employ 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 binder, wp-config.php, etc.) At Kinsta, this folder is named public.

Later on 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.

In one case the file is in your site's root folder, return to Google Search Console. It's time to verify your property.

Step three: Click the Verify Button in Google Search Panel

Once you've uploaded the file to your site, get back to Google Search Panel and click on the VERIFY button to complete the process. Google Search Console will locate the file on your server and verify that you lot own the website.

Y'all can employ 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 clamber and alphabetize your images.

2. HTML Tag

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

  • Adding the tag directly to your kid theme's header.php file
  • Using a plugin to inject it into the header

We'll show you how to do this using the plugin method, simply it's likewise OK to add it directly to your theme as long as yous're using a child theme (if y'all don't utilise a child theme, y'all'll lose your Google site verification every time you update your theme).

Step 1: Copy the Meta Tag

To notice the meta tag, you tin can become 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 push to copy the meta tag in the box. At present, let's become ahead and add it to your WordPress website.

Footstep 2: Add together the Meta Tag Using Insert Headers And Footers

Next, you lot 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 together HTML meta tag to Insert Headers and Footers plugin.

Click on Save to save the changes to your website's header, and that's it. Y'all can as well add the meta tag manually, only we recommend the plugin approach if you're not comfortable editing WordPress cadre files.

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

3. Google Analytics

If you already have the Google Analytics asynchronous tracking code installed on your site, you lot tin easily verify your site using Google Analytics. This procedure boils downward 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 means that you can go ahead and utilise this method.

4. Google Tag Manager

Just like Google Analytics, if y'all're already using Google Tag Manager, y'all tin verify your site with just a single click. Y'all'll need to have the Google Tag Manager container snippet agile on your site.

Once more, there's no deep or involved process necessary. Here'southward 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 will enable you to verify your website on Search Console well-nigh immediately.

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v. DNS Verification

If yous want to verify your website using the Domain method, you'll need to add a TXT tape to your domain's DNS configuration. Here's what that verification window looks similar:

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

If you're using Kinsta DNS, you lot can add this TXT tape direct from your MyKinsta dashboard.

First, click on the Kinsta DNS pick. Then, select Manage for the site that you want 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 option from the MyKinsta dashboard.

Side by side, you can click on Add DNS Record and select the TXT option under Type. Add your Google Search Console TXT tape under Content:

The window for adding a TXT record through MyKinsta with an arrow pointing at the "Add DNS Record" button.
Add TXT tape at Kinsta.

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

4 WordPress Plugins to Help With Google Site Verification

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

6. Yoast SEO

To complete the Google Search Console verification procedure with Yoast SEO, you lot tin can offset past going to SEO > Full general in your WordPress dashboard and selecting the Webmaster Tools tab.

Next, find the Google verification code field and add the code 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 pick.
  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 y'all can add the code to your Yoast SEO settings page and save the changes to it. Return to the HTML tag tab in Google Search Console and click on the VERIFY push.

7. SEOPress

To verify your site in Google Search Console with the SEOPpress plugin, go to the SEOPress > Advanced department in your WordPress dashboard. Hither, scroll down to observe the Google search verification entry.

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

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

We've discussed how to become this meta tag for your site (or "belongings" as Google calls it) in the HTML Tag section in a higher place.

Now, the plugin will automatically add this HTML tag to all your site'south pages.

Finally, click on the VERIFY push button nether the HTML tag department in Google Search Console.

eight. Rank Math SEO

If you're using the Rank Math SEO plugin, you tin verify your website in Google Search Panel by going to Rank Math > General Settings > Webmaster Tools in your dashboard. Here, you'll run into a field that reads Google Search Panel, 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.
Calculation the Search Console verification code to Rank Math.

To observe that verification code, 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 then select the HTML tag choice. After you copy the entire tag, Rank Math will automatically identify the verification code.

Side by side, return to Google Search Panel and click the VERIFY push 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 just a few clicks. Information technology's an official plugin, and y'all can use information technology for free.

Once yous install and activate 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 volition 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 magician.

If you have multiple Google accounts, you lot'll be able to choose which 1 yous want to use for the Search Console account connected with your website. Google will ask you to confirm that y'all'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.

After you click on Let, Site Kit will enquire y'all to confirm site ownership for Google Search Console. Site Kit does this past adding a bit of HTML lawmaking to your website. All that you have to do is select Continue:

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 own your website.

Moving on, Site Kit will ask you for permission to and your Google account data and display it on your dashboard. Click the Allow button over again. Then you lot'll see a success message telling yous that your website is verified on Google Search Panel:

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

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

Which Method Should You Use?

Adding a website to Google Search Console takes only seconds. However, it would assist if y'all verified that you own the site, which can vary in complexity depending on your chosen verification method.

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

Finally, if you're using a WordPress SEO plugin, the well-nigh popular options include Google Search Console verification features. Those will assist you lot verify your website. All y'all have to practice is enter a verification code.

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Summary

Congratulations! Yous now know all you need to get started with your Google site verification.

Only retrieve that Google will periodically bank check on your site'due south verification. No affair which method yous cull, it's essential to leave that method in identify — you cannot remove it after confirmation.

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

Practise you have any other questions near the Google Search Panel verification process? Go out a comment, and we'll try to aid!

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