Overview
When connecting Search Atlas to Google Search Console (GSC), a service account must be granted access to your GSC property. If that permission is missing or misconfigured, the connection will fail. This article explains what to check and what information to have ready so our team can resolve your connection issue as quickly as possible.
Before You Begin
Have the following ready before troubleshooting:
- Access to your Google Search Console account
- The service account email address provided by Search Atlas (found in Avatar → Settings → Integrations)
- Owner-level access to the GSC property you want to connect
Step 1: Verify the Correct Service Account Email
One common cause of connection failure is adding the wrong email address to GSC. Even a small typo will prevent access.
- In Search Atlas, locate the service account email address provided in Avatar → Settings → Integrations and copy it exactly.
- In Google Search Console, open the property you want to connect and confirm that the service account email has been added with the appropriate permission level. If it has not been added, add it now following Google's instructions for managing GSC users and permissions.
Step 2: Check Your GSC Property Type
GSC has two property types: Domain properties and URL-prefix properties. A mismatch between the property type in GSC and the one selected in Search Atlas can cause a persistent connection error even after permissions are correctly set.
- Domain property example:
example.com— covers all subdomains and protocols. - URL-prefix property example:
https://www.example.com— covers only that exact URL pattern.
Make sure the property type and URL you enter in Search Atlas exactly match the property as it appears in GSC. If you have multiple properties listed in GSC, confirm you are connecting to the correct one.
Step 3: Confirm the GSC API Is Enabled
Search Atlas connects to GSC through the Google Search Console API. If this API is not enabled in the Google Cloud project associated with your service account, the connection may not be possible regardless of permissions. Verify with your Google Cloud project administrator that the Google Search Console API is enabled for the project linked to your service account.
Step 4: Re-test the Connection and Escalate if Needed
After completing the checks above, retry the GSC connection in Search Atlas. If the connection still fails, gather the following information before contacting support:
- The exact error message you are seeing
- Your GSC property name and type (Domain or URL-prefix)
- The service account email address you added to GSC
- A screenshot of the permission settings showing the service account listed in GSC
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.