Every Google Search Console report that matters, and what to do with each, in one reference. The highest-ROI move is the Performance report: filter to positions 4-15 with high impressions and low clicks, then fix the title and meta to convert rankings you already hold. URL Inspection checks indexing; the gen-AI report tracks AI Overview appearance.
The reports and what to do with them
Search Console is your direct line to how Google sees your site. These are the reports that change decisions.
New in July 2026: platform properties let you connect YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and X accounts to Search Console. Here is how to build a YouTube topical map from that data.
| Report / metric | What it shows | Use it to |
|---|---|---|
| Performance: Impressions | How often you appeared | Find striking-distance queries (high impressions, low clicks) |
| Performance: CTR | Clicks divided by impressions | Spot title and meta fixes |
| Performance: Average position | Mean ranking for a query | Prioritise queries sitting at positions 4-15 |
| AI / generative report | Impressions from AI surfaces | Track AI Overviews and AI Mode appearance |
| URL Inspection | Index status of one URL | Check indexing and request a recrawl |
| Pages (Indexing) | Indexed vs not, with reasons | Fix excluded and 'crawled, not indexed' pages |
| Sitemaps | Submitted sitemap status | Confirm discovery of all URLs |
| Rich results / Enhancements | Structured data status | Fix schema errors and warnings |
| Core Web Vitals | LCP, INP, CLS field data | Prioritise real-world UX fixes |
| Links | Internal and external links | Audit the link profile |
| Removals | Temporary URL removal | Emergency deindex |
Highest-ROI workflow: open Performance, filter to positions 4-15 with high impressions and few clicks, then fix the title and snippet. That converts rankings you already have. See how to rank on Google and search engine indexing.
Watch: how this works in practice
Two short walkthroughs on getting the most out of Search Console.
Pair Search Console with advanced search operators to spot indexation and cannibalisation issues in seconds.
Bookmark this Search Console summary sheet: keep it handy for your next audit.
See every SEO cheatsheet grouped by topic.
Pair it with the GA4 for SEO cheatsheet for the full reporting picture.
This sheet is part of the Technical SEO cheatsheet, the category hub.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find quick SEO wins in Search Console?
Open the Performance report, filter to average position 4-15 with high impressions and low clicks. Those are striking-distance queries where a better title and snippet can convert rankings you already have into traffic.
What is the generative AI report in Search Console?
It shows impressions your pages earned on Google's AI surfaces, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode, so you can see where you are appearing in AI answers within Google.
How do I check if a page is indexed by Google?
Use URL Inspection: paste the URL to see whether it is indexed, when it was last crawled, and any issues. You can request indexing from the same screen.
Why does Search Console say 'crawled, currently not indexed'?
Google crawled the page but chose not to index it, usually because of thin, duplicate or low-value content. Improve depth and uniqueness, or consolidate it into a stronger page.
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