Perform Google Search Console Verification with Discourse

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:bookmark: This guide describes how to perform Google Search Console (f.k.a Google Webmaster Tools) verification with Discourse. You can verify domain ownership using two methods - by creating a TXT DNS record or by adding an HTML tag.

:person_raising_hand: Required user level: Administrator

Performing Google Search Console verification with Discourse

Verifying your Discourse site with Google Search Console (GSC) ensures that Google can access your site’s data for accurate search indexing and analysis. This guide details two methods to verify domain ownership: creating a TXT DNS record (recommended) and adding an HTML tag

Summary

This document covers:

  • Steps to set up a new property in Google Search Console
  • Verifying domain ownership via TXT DNS record
  • Verifying domain ownership via HTML tag

Setting up a new property in Google Search Console

  1. Navigate to Google Search Console and set up a new property by entering the URL of your forum:
    google search console
    google search console960Ă—779 32.1 KB
  2. Google Search Console will attempt to verify your ownership of the domain. Once this fails, you will be presented with a list of verification methods:
    646Ă—606 35.2 KB

Verifying Domain Ownership

Method 1: Using the site setting (Recommended)

  1. In the verification options, select “HTML Tag” to generate a unique verification tag.
  2. From the HTML tag that Google provides, copy only the verification token:
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="THIS_IS_THE_TOKEN_YOU_NEED">
  1. On your site , go to your Admin → Site Settings by clicking on the gear icon and selecting “Admin”.
  2. Navigate to “Basic Settings” > “Analytics”.
  3. Find the setting google site verification token setting and paste the verification token you copied (only the content value, not the entire HTML tag).
  4. Click “Save”.
  5. Return to GSC and click “Verify”.
  6. Your domain should now be verified.

Method 2: Creating a TXT DNS record

  1. In the verification options, select “Domain name provider”.
  2. Copy the string Google provides: google-site-verification={string_here}.
    1. Log into your DNS provider.
    2. Go to where you manage DNS entries for your domain.
    3. Create a new TXT entry:
      • Ensure the hostname (or name) is either the sub-domain of your forum or @ if it is on your root domain.
      • Paste the value exactly as provided by GSC.
    4. Save the entry.
  3. Return to GSC and click “Verify” under Domain Name Provider.
  4. Your domain should now be verified.
    834Ă—218 17.9 KB

Method 3: Manually Adding an HTML tag

  1. In the verification options, select “HTML Tag” to generate a unique verification tag:
    HTML verification
    HTML verification1200Ă—1339 127 KB
  2. On your forum, go to /admin/customize/themes and select “Components”:
    components
    components1387Ă—641 41.9 KB
  3. Create a new theme component by clicking “Install” → “Create new”. Name it meaningfully, e.g., “GSC Verification”, then click “Create”:
    GSC Verification
    GSC Verification1200Ă—698 87.2 KB
  4. Attach this new component to all of your themes.
    add to all themes
    add to all themes784Ă—144 2.37 KB
  5. Select “Edit CSS/HTML” under the “Custom CSS/HTML” section:

This image shows a user interface for the GSC (Google Search Console) Verification process, with a focus on the CCS (Custom CSS) feature. (Captioned by AI)
This image shows a user interface for the GSC (Google Search Console) Verification process, with a focus on the CCS (Custom CSS) feature. (Captioned by AI)1200Ă—779 104 KB

  1. Paste the HTML tag provided by GSC into the <head> section, then save the changes.

    "Edit CSS/HTML GSC verification". (Captioned by AI)
    "Edit CSS/HTML GSC verification". (Captioned by AI)1200Ă—649 74.8 KB

  2. Return to GSC and click “Verify”.

    verify
    verify808Ă—486 13 KB

  3. Your domain should now be verified.

    ownership verified
    ownership verified891Ă—427 19.2 KB

Last edited by @SaraDev 2025-10-09T19:22:54Z

Last checked by @SaraDev 2025-10-09T19:18:36Z

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