Google Search Console Setup

Overview

In the previous guide, we created a GCP project, enabled the Indexing API, and created a service account (indexing-bot). Now, as the final step, by registering this service account as an "Owner" in Google Search Console, you can actually start sending indexing requests.

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Prerequisites

Please check the following items before starting.

• Site registered in Google Search Console: The domain you want to send indexing requests for must already be registered in Search Console.
• Service account email: You need the email address of the service account created in the previous GCP guide.
  • Example: indexing-bot@project-ID.iam.gserviceaccount.com

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Step 1. Access Google Search Console and Select Domain

1-1. Access Search Console

Click the link below to access Google Search Console.

👉 Go to Google Search Console

After logging in, the "Overview" page of the default domain appears.

1-2. Select Target Domain

1. Click the domain selection dropdown (showing the currently selected domain name) located in the top left of the screen, just below the Google Search Console logo.
2. Select the domain to apply the Indexing API to from the dropdown list.

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Step 2. Go to Settings → Users and permissions

2-1. Move to Settings Menu

1. Click the "Settings" menu with the gear icon located near the bottom of the left sidebar.

On the settings page, you can see various management items such as Ownership verification, Users and permissions, Associations, and Change of address.

2-2. Click Users and permissions

1. Click the "Users and permissions" row in the "General settings" section.

On this page, you can see the list of users who currently have access permissions to this site.

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Step 3. Registering the Service Account as an Owner

3-1. Click "ADD USER" Button

1. Click the blue "ADD USER" button at the top of the page.

3-2. Change Permission to "Owner"

1. Click the "Permission" dropdown. The default might be set to "Full".
2. Select "Owner" from the dropdown list.

Permission options are usually divided as follows:

• Owner: Has all permissions for the site. Required for using the Indexing API.
• Full: Can see and perform most data operations, but not at the owner level.
• Restricted: Can only view some data.

3-3. Enter Service Account Email

1. Enter the service account email you noted from the previous GCP guide in the "Email address" input field.
   • Example: indexing-bot@project-ID.iam.gserviceaccount.com

3-4. Click "ADD" Button

1. After confirming the email address and permission (Owner), click the "ADD" button at the bottom right.

3-5. Confirm Registration

The process is complete once the service account you just added appears in the user list table.

The example looks similar to the following:

It's a success if the number of users increases, such as Users (2), and the service account you just added is displayed.

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Final Checklist

Check one last time if all settings for using the Google Indexing API are complete.

Congratulations! You are now all set to quickly request indexing for your site's URLs.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. I added the service account, but the "ADD" button is disabled!

A. Please check if the email address is correct. The service account email must end with @...iam.gserviceaccount.com. We recommend copying it from the GCP Console.

Q. I can't see the "Owner" option in the dropdown!

A. You must be verified as an owner of the site yourself to grant Owner permissions to other users. Check the "Settings" → "Ownership verification" status.

Q. I want to delete the service account later.

A. You can delete it by clicking the three dots (⋮) menu at the right end of the service account row on the same "Users and permissions" page.