Connect your website to Search Console
Search Console requires verification that you control the website property you are adding. A Domain property covers the domain more broadly and uses DNS verification. A URL-prefix property covers the entered address prefix and offers supported verification alternatives. Choose the scope deliberately rather than adding several unexplained copies.
Before you start
- Use a Google account your business can retain and recover.
- Identify your actual website hostname and who controls its DNS or platform settings.
What to do
Check whether a property already exists
Ask the business owner or current administrator before creating another setup. You may only need access to an existing verified property. A previous supplier controlling a dashboard does not mean you should obtain their password or assume your business has lost the website itself.
Select the useful scope
Consider whether you need the whole domain or one specific public prefix. For example, https and a different subdomain can matter for a prefix property. Read Google’s current property explanation if you are unsure, and record exactly which address the chosen setup covers.
Follow the issued verification method
Use the unique instructions Google supplies for your own property. If DNS verification is selected, have the authorised administrator add the required record without replacing unrelated records. A generic record from another guide cannot verify your website and could create confusion.
Confirm access and keep the proof
Complete verification and retain the required verification mechanism according to Google’s guidance. Invite collaborators with the appropriate role instead of handing over the owner account. Record the property name and responsible business account in your private handover document.
What to check
- The property covers the intended live website addresses.
- The business retains recoverable owner access.
- Verification has not changed unrelated DNS, email or billing settings.
Sources and further reading
Platform features can change. Check the provider’s current guidance before changing a live service.