Of course. Here is an article written in the requested format.
Why and How to Add a User to Google Search Console
If you’re serious about your website’s health and performance in search results, you’ve likely already set up Google Search Console (GSC) for your property. It’s an indispensable tool for any website owner, marketer, or SEO professional. But what happens when you need to grant access to another team member, a consultant, a developer, or a client? Keeping your login credentials secure is paramount, which is why Google Search Console offers a robust user management system that allows you to add users with specific permission levels without sharing your password.
In this guide, we’ll walk through why you should add users, the exact steps to do it, and how to manage permissions effectively.
Why Adding a User is Better Than Sharing an Account
Before we dive into the "how," it’s crucial to understand the "why." Sharing a single login (e.g., a Gmail account) for access to GSC is a bad practice for several reasons:
- Security Risk: If you share your main account password, you’re exposing yourself to a potential security breach, especially if that person leaves your organization or the relationship sours. You’d have to change your password everywhere to revoke their access.
- Lack of Accountability: With a shared login, you can’t tell who made a specific change or who viewed the data. Everything is tied to a single account.
- No Permission Granularity: When you share a login, it’s all or nothing. The other person has the same level of access as you do.
Adding a user as a delegate, on the other hand, solves these problems. The user uses their own Google account to access your property’s data, and you can revoke access at any time without affecting your password.
How to Add a User to Google Search Console
Adding a user is a straightforward process. Here’s how to do it, step-by-step.
Sign in to Google Search Console: Navigate to https://search.google.com/search-console/ and ensure you are the verified owner of the property (website, domain, or app) you want to share.
Navigate to Settings: In the left-hand navigation panel, click on the gear icon labeled Settings.
Click on Users & Permissions: This is where you’ll manage everyone who has access.
Click the Add User button: You’ll see a blue button, typically at the top of the screen.
Enter the User’s Email Address: In the pop-up window, enter the email address of the person you want to add. Crucially, this must be the email associated with their Google account. They will not use this email to log in; it’s just the identifier for the permission you’re about to grant.
Assign the Appropriate Permission Level: You’ll see two options:
- Restricted: The user can view data but cannot take any action.
- Full: The user has full control except they cannot delete the property or manage users. They can view data, use all the tools, and submit requests like a manual action reconsideration request.
- Click Add User: That’s it! An email invitation will be sent to the user, and they will need to accept it to gain access.
Managing Permissions and Removing Users
Managing users is just as important as adding them. To review or change a user’s permissions, head back to Settings > Users & permissions. You’ll see a list of all users who have access.
To change a permission, click on the user and select the new permission level. To remove a user, find their name in the list and click the "Remove" button next to their name.
It’s a best practice to periodically review this list, especially after an employee leaves your company or a contractor’s work is complete.
Conclusion
Effectively managing your website’s presence in Google Search Console is a team effort. By properly adding users through the designated user management system, you maintain the highest level of security and accountability. You avoid the risks associated with sharing passwords and ensure that each team member has the precise level of access they need to perform their job effectively—nothing more and nothing less.
Taking these few moments to set up access correctly is a hallmark of professional website management. It protects you, your team, and your valuable website data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: I added a user, but they can’t see my property (website) in their account. Why?
A: This is a common point of confusion. The user you added must log in to their own Google account and then navigate to Google Search Console. Once there, they will see a dropdown menu at the top of the screen where they can select the property (your website) that you’ve shared with them. It will not appear automatically on their homepage; they need to use the dropdown to select it.
Q: Can I add someone who doesn’t have a Google account?
A: No, you cannot. A Google account is a strict requirement. The person you are adding must have a Google account (which is free and easy to create) to which you will send the invitation. They will use that account to log in and access your data.
Q: What’s the difference between an Owner, an Owner (delegated), and a User?
A: An Owner is the person who verified the property in the first place—they have full control. An Owner (delegated) is someone you’ve given full control to, like another team member. A User is someone you’ve given specific, limited permissions to (e.g., Restricted or Full). You can see these designations in the Users & Permissions tab.
Q: Is there a limit to how many users I can add?
A: While Google doesn’t publish an official limit, it’s safe to say it is very high and not something a typical user would hit. You can add dozens, if not hundreds, of users without issue.
Q: I’m the one being added. How do I access the property?
A: First, ensure the owner has added you using the correct email address (your Google account email). Then, log in to your own Google account and navigate to Google Search Console. In the top-left corner, click on the property switcher (it usually says "Search Console" with the domain underneath). A dropdown will appear, listing all the properties you have access to. Select the one you want to view. If you don’t see it, ask the person who added you to resend the invitation.