When trying to connect a WordPress website with the search console, many people get stuck at verification. Failure to complete search console verification means your website is unknown to Google Performance. Google can still index your website if it is found worthy.
Search console verification failure is a common problem on WordPress. The good news is that you can usually fix the issue in a few simple steps. Continue reading to learn why verification fails and how to solve it.
Why Google Search Console Verification Matters?
Google Search Console is a free tool that helps you see how your website performs in search results.
After verification, you can:
- Submit your sitemap
- Check keyword rankings
- Find indexing problems
- Monitor website traffic from Google
- Fix SEO issues
Google Search Console requires verification to ensure you own the website.
Methods Used for Search Console Verification
You can perform Search Console verification for your WordPress website in various ways. Generally, these methods include:
-
- HTML File Upload: Google gives you a file. You upload it to the header of your website.
- HTML Meta Tag Verification: Google gives you a meta tag. You add it to your website’s homepage.
- DNS TXT Record Verification: You add a TXT record to your domain’s DNS settings.
- Google Tag Manager & Analytics Verification: Google uses your Tag Manager and Analytics account to confirm ownership.
Why Search Console Verification Fails on WordPress?
Multiple factors can cause search console verification failures on WordPress. Below, we will walk you through the most common reasons.
Meta Tag Missing
When verifying ownership via Meta Tag, a common mistake is adding the tag to the wrong page. Meta Tag code must be added to the homepage of your WordPress website. If the tag is missing on the homepage, verification will fail.
Caching Plugins
Sometimes corrupted cache plugins cause the verification failure. When your website cache is corrupted, the crawler may encounter an older version of your page and not find a verification tag. As a result, your search console verification fails.
Incorrect DNS TXT Record
Even a small mistake, a typo error, or a missing letter in the TXT record can cause verification to fail. After adding TXT records, it is always a good idea to cross-check the configured values.
Using a DNS Lookup utility can help. It will show you the complete records currently configured in the DNS setup for your WordPress website.
Corrupted Theme
Many WordPress websites use a corrupted theme version to save costs.
However, these themes create various problems over time, including search console verification errors. Especially when you are verifying via HTML Meta Tag Verification.
Often, people add a tag to the website header, but it is automatically removed upon save. All because of a corrupted theme file.
Security Plugins & Redirect Issues
Some security tools block requests from bots. This can prevent Google from checking your website and failing the verification process. Also, if your website redirects incorrectly, Google may not reach the verification page.
How to Fix Search Console Verification Failed Error?
Try these methods to fix the Search Console verification error on WordPress websites.
Choose the correct property type
Google Search Console offers two property types:
- Domain Property
- URL Prefix Property
Make sure you are verifying the correct one. Generally, the Domain property is recommended to submit your website as a whole to Google. However, if you want to submit particular sections, for example, yourwebsite.com/blog, then choose the URL prefix property.
Verify Meta Tag
Open the homepage of your WordPress website. Switch to the code editor mode and search for:
- google-site-verification
If you found nothing, it means your meta tag is missing, causing the verification failure. Go to the search console, copy the meta tag again, and paste it inside the head of your homepage. Once done, verify again.
Check TXT Record Propagation
When verifying by adding TXT records in the DNS setup, propagation delays can cause failures. Delay in propagation can be due to various reasons, such as conflicts with corrupted cache plugins or issues on the hosting end.
So, after adding TXT records in the DNS setup, check the propagation status. Propagation can take time from a few minutes to 48 hrs. Check the status via a DNS propagation checker.
Upon checking, if you see no propagated TXT records, clear your website’s cache and flush the hosting cache. Then check the propagation status again.
If the records get propagated, go to the console and click verify. Your search console verification will probably get completed successfully.
Disable Conflicting Plugins Temporarily
Temporarily disable
- SEO plugins such as Yoast or RankMath
- Header and footer plugins
- Security plugins like WPRocker or Perfmatters
After that, test verification again.
Fix Redirect and Canonical URL Issues
Make sure your website uses one main version.
For example:
- https://example.com
or
- https://www.example.com
Do not mix both versions.
Conclusion
A failed search console verification of a WordPress website means you cannot track how your website is performing on Google. And unless you have the performance data, you cannot work in the right direction and improve SEO performance.
Above, we have shared some fixes that can help you with successful search console validation. Try them if your website is having trouble with a successful search console verification.
