## **🔍 Overview**

Two issues commonly appear together when setting up a new project in Search Atlas: the WordPress plugin showing **Not installed** on the dashboard despite being active on your site, and Google Search Console (GSC) not yet linked to the project. This article walks you through resolving both quickly.

## **🛠️ Fix the 'Not Installed' WordPress Plugin Status**

Even if the Search Atlas plugin is installed, activated, and authenticated on your WordPress site, the dashboard may still show **Not installed**. This is almost always a sync or connection issue, not a plugin problem. Follow these steps in order:

1. **Confirm the plugin is active in WordPress.** Log in to your WordPress admin panel, go to **Plugins → Installed Plugins**, and verify the Search Atlas plugin is listed and activated.
2. **Check your API key inside the plugin.** In WordPress, navigate to the Search Atlas plugin settings and confirm the API key matches the one found in your Search Atlas account under **Account Menu → Settings → API Keys**. Copy and re-paste it if unsure, then save.
3. **Force a re-sync from the Search Atlas dashboard.** Open your project in Search Atlas, go to **Settings → Integrations → WordPress**, and click **Reconnect** or **Re-authenticate** if that option is available. This triggers a fresh handshake between your site and the platform.
4. **Clear any caching on your WordPress site.** If you use a caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache), clear the cache after saving your API key. Cached responses can block the verification ping Search Atlas sends to confirm installation.
5. **Check for plugin conflicts.** Temporarily disable other plugins one at a time to rule out conflicts, particularly security plugins that may block outgoing or incoming API requests.
6. **Verify your site URL matches the project URL.** In Search Atlas, confirm the domain entered for your project exactly matches your WordPress site's URL (including or excluding **www**). A mismatch will prevent the status from updating.

After completing these steps, wait up to **5 minutes** and then refresh your Search Atlas dashboard. The status should update to **Installed**.

## **📊 Connect Google Search Console to Your Project**

Linking GSC gives Search Atlas access to your site's real search performance data, which powers keyword tracking, ranking insights, and OTTO SEO recommendations. Here is how to connect it:

1. **Make sure GSC is already set up for your domain.** Before connecting, confirm your site is verified in Google Search Console at search.google.com/search-console. If your site is not verified there yet, complete that step first.
2. **Open the GSC connection flow in Search Atlas.** From the main dashboard, navigate to **Site Metrics → Site Explorer → Manage Sites** to reach the Manage Sites page.
3. **Click 'Connect GSC Account'.** On the Manage Sites page, click the **Connect GSC Account** button. You will be redirected to a Google authentication screen.
4. **Sign in with the correct Google account.** Use the Google account that has **Owner** or **Full User** access to the GSC property for your domain. Accounts with Restricted access cannot share data with third-party tools.
5. **Grant the required permissions.** Review and accept the permissions Search Atlas requests. These are read-only and allow the platform to pull impressions, clicks, and ranking data.
6. **Select the correct GSC property.** After authenticating, you may be asked to choose which GSC property to link. Select the property that matches your project domain exactly — note that **https://beesmartbeeremoval.com** and **https://www.beesmartbeeremoval.com** are separate properties in GSC, so pick the one where your data lives.
7. **Save and confirm the connection.** Once selected, click **Save** or **Confirm**. The integration status should update to **Connected** within a few minutes.

## **⚠️ Common Reasons GSC Connection Fails**

- You are signed into the wrong Google account during the OAuth flow.
- The Google account used does not have sufficient permissions on the GSC property.
- The domain in Search Atlas does not exactly match a verified property in GSC.
- A browser extension (e.g., an ad blocker) is interrupting the Google authentication popup — try in an incognito window or a different browser.

## **✅ Confirm Everything Is Working**

After completing both steps, return to your Search Atlas project dashboard. You should see the WordPress plugin status show **Installed** and the GSC integration show **Connected**. Data from GSC may take up to **24 hours** to begin populating in your reports, as Search Atlas syncs historical data in batches.

## **💬 Still Need Help?**

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.