How to Use Google Search Console to Find and Fix SEO Issues

If you're running a website, Google Search Console (GSC) is one of the most powerful free tools at your disposal. It shows you how Google sees your site and highlights problems that could be hurting your rankings. Here's how to use it to find and fix those issues.

Start with the Overview

After verifying your site in GSC, head to the Overview dashboard. It shows clicks, impressions, average CTR, and average position. A sudden drop in clicks or impressions often signals an issue—like a penalty, crawling problem, or algorithm update.

Check for Crawl Errors

Go to Settings > Crawl stats and Indexing > Pages. Look for:

• 404 errors: Pages that return a 'not found' status. Fix by redirecting them to relevant pages using 301 redirects.
• Soft 404s: Pages that show 'no results' or similar but return a 200 status. Make sure they return a proper 404 or redirect.
• Server errors (5xx): Contact your hosting provider if you see these.
• Blocked by robots.txt: Check if important pages are accidentally blocked.

Use the URL Inspection tool to test individual URLs and see why they aren't indexed.

Identify Indexing Issues

Under Indexing > Pages, you'll see why pages aren't indexed. Common reasons:

• Crawled – currently not indexed: Google found the page but chose not to index it. This often happens with thin or low-quality content. Improve the page's content and ensure it adds unique value.
• Discovered – currently not indexed: Google knows the page exists but hasn't crawled it yet. This can happen with large sites. Ensure your internal linking points to these pages and submit them via the URL Inspection tool.
• Excluded due to 'noindex' tag: Remove the tag if you want the page indexed.

Analyze Search Performance

The Performance report shows which queries bring traffic and how your pages rank. Sort by impressions or clicks to find opportunities:

• High impressions, low CTR: Your page ranks well but doesn't get clicks. Improve the title tag and meta description to make them more compelling.
• High clicks, declining position: Your rankings are slipping. Check for new competition or content freshness issues.

Compare date ranges to spot trends. For example, if impressions dropped after a site update, you may have broken something.

Monitor Manual Actions and Security Issues

Check Security & Manual Actions for any penalties. If you see a manual action, Google has flagged your site for violating guidelines (e.g., unnatural links, thin content). Follow the remediation steps in the report and submit a reconsideration request.

Use the URL Inspection Tool

This tool lets you test any URL on your site. Paste a URL to see its index status, last crawl date, and any issues. You can also request indexing for new or updated pages.

Set Up Email Notifications

In GSC settings, enable email notifications for critical issues like manual actions or new security problems. This way you catch problems early.

Turn Insights into Action

GSC data is only useful if you act on it. Create a regular routine—weekly or monthly—to review reports and fix issues. For a deeper audit, use a tool like MyWebsiteScore to combine GSC data with other signals. Run a free audit to see how your site performs across SEO, speed, and more.

Final Thoughts

Google Search Console gives you direct feedback from Google. By regularly checking crawl errors, indexing status, and search performance, you can fix issues before they hurt your traffic. Start with the reports mentioned above and make it a habit to review them consistently.

For more detailed guides, visit our guides library.

More guides · Compare audit tools · Run a free website audit