Connect your site to Google Search Console

RavanH

Both for Google Search Console reports on your sitemap status and for manual or automatic Sitemap Notification, a connection between your site and the Google Search Console API needs to be created. This is a one-time setup that should remain active as long as you regularly post news on your site. Only if the connection is left unused for a long time, or if you or a security plugin has changed WordPress Salts, you might need to refresh or reconfigure.

What’s needed?

Assuming you have your WordPress site and the XML Sitemaps & Google News free plugin installed and activated, there are a few more prerequisites to address:

  1. Your site property needs to be set up in Google Search Console. If you have not already done that, follow the instructions on https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/34592. It does not matter if you choose an URL-prefix or a Domain property.
  2. You’ll need a Google Cloud account. If you’re new to Google Cloud, go to https://docs.cloud.google.com/docs/get-started and create an account from there.

Note: Although not strictly necessary, it is will be easiest when both Google Cloud account and your site in Google Search Console are fully accessible with the same Google account.

The connection between your site and Google Search Console will be created in 3 stages.

Stage I. Create a Google Cloud Project

  1. Go Google Cloud Console and Create a new Cloud project.
  2. Go to API & Services > OAuth consent screen and Get started with basic setup of your project:
    • Give it a nice Name and select a Suport email address.
    • At Audience choose Internal if you have that option available (Workspace users) and if a member account of the same organization can/will be used for connecting to Google Search Console. Otherwise choose External.
    • Then finish until you hit Create.
  3. If you chose External during step 2 above, then go to API & Services > OAuth consent screen > Audience to Publish app. Note: Without that published status, you’ll run into an “Access Blocked” error later.
  4. Go to API & Services > Library, search for Google Search Console API and Activate.

Switching between Internal and External + Published status may always be done afterwards, but it needs careful consideration. Internal is easiest but only available to Workspace users and only useful if both Cloud user and Search Console user are from the same organization. Otherwise use External, but do not forget to Publish the app or you won’t be able to finish the connection.

Stage II. Create OAuth Credentials

  1. Go to APIs & Services > OAuth Consent Screen > Clients and click + Create client
  2. Choose Application type Web application, give it a recognizable name (or leave the default name) and click + Add URI under Authorized redirect URIs.
  3. In another browser tab, open your WordPress site, log in and go to Settings > Google News. Hit the Connect button on the right to open the Google Search Console Connection admin page.
  4. Copy the URL that is shown in the instructions there for Authorized redirect URIs and paste it in your Cloud Console. Finish with Create.
  5. From the confirmation popup window in Cloud Console, copy both the Client ID and Client Secret carefully to their corresponding fields in your WordPress Google Search Console Connection admin page.
  6. Hit Save Changes in WordPress to finish the configuration. On the next page load, there will be appear a button Connect to Google Search Console.

Stage III. Connect your site to Google Search Console

This final step can be completed with the same Google account as was used for Google Cloud, or by another Google account. As long as it has at least Full rights for (or Owner of) the site property in Google Search Console. Go to Google Search Console, select the property and look under Settings > Users and rights to verify and change rights if needed.

  1. In WordPress, go to Settings > Google News, hit the Connect button on the right to open the Google Search Console Connection admin page. If correctly configured per instructions above, there should be a Connect to Google Search Console button.
  2. Hit the Connect to Google Search Console. You’ll be directed to a Google login screen. Login as or Select the user with full rights to the property in Google Search Console.
  3. After possible extra verification (like code via text message) you should arrive at the consent screen with title “… wants access to your Google Account”
  4. Grant the required access to View and manage Search Console data for your verified sites and hit Continue.
  5. You’ll now be redirected back to your WordPress admin and your site should be connected.

Done!

Possible errors

If you encounter errors, some details in the setup process where likely skipped or gone wrong. Here are some possible errors and solutions.