Question

Verifying domain ownership for Google Search Console

As I was following the directions on how to verify ownership through Google Search Console (https://search.google.com/search-console/welcome?utm_source=about-page), I got an error that said: “Sorry! Something went wrong.” I tried to create a new TXT record by posting the string from Google into the value field, selected “@” for the hostname, and selected 3600 as the TTL. Is there anything else I should be doing?

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Andy Hattemer • July 13, 2020

@blakeblaze15 I just tried it with a domain I own and had not previously verified, and it took a few seconds but it worked.

Process

  1. Ensure the domain registrar is configured to point domain to DigitalOcean nameservers How To Point to DigitalOcean Nameservers From Common Domain Registrars
  2. Ensure you’ve added the top-level domain in DigitalOcean DNS (domain.com no WWW or https)
  3. Type the top-level domain into the “Add” step in Search console domain.com
  4. Copy the TXT record from Google and paste it into TXT record section of your domain.com page on Control Panel, use @ for the Hostname
  5. Go back to Google, wait a few seconds, click Verify.

Demonstration

Here’s a screen recording of my process

Adding a TXT record to confirm google search console ownership on DigitalOcean

You can see it fails the first time I try to verify, but then I wait a few seconds and try again and it works

partypony • February 12, 2021

I had the exact same issue, followed the steps and ended up with the opaque “Something went wrong” error. For what it’s worth logging out and logging back in fixed it. Might be some authentication issue on your side.

blakeblaze15 • July 21, 2020

Just wanted to follow up here. To the best of my knowledge I didn’t do anything differently, but when I tried today instead of the red pop-up “Sorry! Something went wrong” I got a successful green pop-up instead.

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