Google Search Console
Connect Google Search Console to verify which of your backlinks are indexed by Google.
GSC integration lets TraceLinker list your verified Search Console properties and run URL Inspection on backlinks you have already imported.
Important: Google does not expose backlink data through any public API. Connecting GSC will not import backlinks automatically. Backlinks still need to be uploaded as a CSV or pulled from another data source (for example, a third-party backlink index, Ahrefs, or a manual GSC export).
What GSC integration does
- Lists the Search Console properties your connected Google account can access.
- Powers the Check index button on each audit detail page.
- Runs Google's URL Inspection API against source URLs that belong to domains you verified in GSC.
What it does NOT do
- Import backlinks from GSC automatically.
- Provide anchor text, referring domains, or backlink counts.
- Read search performance data (impressions, clicks, average position).
Connecting GSC
Open the integration settings
Click your account avatar → Settings → Integrations.
Click Connect Google Search Console
A Google OAuth popup opens.
Pick the Google account
Use the Google account that owns or has user access to the Search Console properties you want to use. This does not have to match your TraceLinker login email.
Approve the requested scope
We request a single scope: https://www.googleapis.com/auth/webmasters.readonly. This is read-only access to Search Console data. We cannot:
- Modify any Search Console settings.
- Submit URLs for indexing.
- Read other Google services (Gmail, Drive, Calendar, etc.).
Land back in Settings
You return to the Integrations page with a green "Connected" badge and a list of verified properties.
Using the index check
After you run an audit from a CSV:
- Go to Audits and open the audit.
- Click Check index in the top action bar.
- TraceLinker calls the GSC URL Inspection API for each source URL whose domain appears in your verified GSC properties.
- Results are stored per row: indexed, not indexed, or unknown.
Index checks only work for source URLs on domains you verified. Backlinks from third-party domains will return unknown because Google does not allow URL Inspection on properties you do not own or manage.
What if I have multiple Search Console accounts?
You can only connect one Google account at a time. To switch:
- Settings → Integrations → Disconnect.
- Reconnect with the other Google account.
Self-hosting GSC integration
If you self-host TraceLinker, register your own Google OAuth client:
- Google Cloud Console → APIs & Services → Credentials.
- Create OAuth client ID, type Web application.
- Authorized redirect URI:
https://yourdomain.com/api/gsc/callback. - Authorized JavaScript origins:
https://yourdomain.com. - Enable the Search Console API: APIs & Services → Library → "Search Console API" → Enable.
Set in your .env.production:
GOOGLE_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID=your-client-id.apps.googleusercontent.com
GOOGLE_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET=your-client-secret
NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL=https://yourdomain.com
GSC_STATE_SECRET=<openssl rand -hex 32>
Disconnecting GSC
Settings → Integrations → Disconnect. We:
- Delete the stored access token from our database.
- Mark the integration as disconnected in your account.
Existing audits and monitored links are unaffected.
Troubleshooting
"This Google account does not have access to any Search Console properties." You're connected to a Google account that isn't a verified owner or user on any Search Console property. Add your account in Search Console → Settings → Users and permissions, then reconnect.
"Authentication expired." Refresh tokens occasionally expire. Reconnect via Settings → Integrations.
Check index returns unknown for all URLs. Either the source domains are not in your verified GSC properties, or the connected account does not have permission on those properties.
Next
- Run a Backlink Audit — upload a CSV of backlinks, then run the index check.