What Is Search Console MCP? Setup, Permissions and What It Can and Can't Do
You ask your assistant questions like "which queries dropped" or "is this page indexed"; Search Console MCP (mcp-gsc) brings back query and page performance, URL indexing status and sitemaps from Google Search Console. It is an MIT-licensed open-source project by an individual named Amin Foroutan, not an official Google product. The server requests the full-access "webmasters" scope from Google; by default sitemap submission is on, while adding/deleting properties and deleting sitemaps are off. There is no tool that sends an indexing request (Request Indexing). Because it runs locally, it is used in the Claude Desktop app, not on the claude.ai website.
- What it does
- Lets your assistant answer questions about your Search Console data
- Type
- MCP server (local, open source)
- Maker
- Amin Foroutan (community, not Google)
- Deleting
- Off by default
- Scope
- Full-access webmasters; a read-only token doesn't work
- Where
- Claude Desktop, Cursor, Codex CLI
- Price
- Free, MIT
What does Search Console MCP do?
MCP is the standard that lets AI programs connect to outside tools. With this server, the assistant lists the properties in your Google Search Console account; pulls clicks, impressions, CTR and position broken down by query, page, country and device; compares two date ranges; checks the status of URLs in Google's index; and lists and submits sitemaps.
Requests the full-access webmasters scope; delete tools are off by default.
The tool count differs between sources: the code defines 21 tools, the README says "20". So no single number is given.
!There is no tool that sends an indexing request (Request Indexing). URL inspection shows only the version in Google's index; a live URL test is not possible.
Who it's for: SEO professionals and site owners who want to ask their assistant instead of clicking through Search Console reports by hand.
How do you install Search Console MCP?
Requirements: a Google Cloud project (with the Search Console API enabled), an OAuth client file (Desktop app type) or a service account key, a Search Console property, and uv/uvx. Python 3.11 or later is required; uvx manages it on its own. The steps follow the README.
- In Google Cloud Console, create or select a project and enable the Search Console API.
- Create Credentials › OAuth client ID (application type Desktop app) and download the JSON file to a permanent location.
- Install uv (the README gives the macOS and Linux command:
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh). - Add the server to your client's configuration file (example below), then fully quit and reopen the app.
- On first use a browser opens; sign in with your Google account and the token is saved.
› {"mcpServers":{"gscServer":{"command":"/FULL/PATH/TO/uvx","args":["mcp-search-console"],"env":{"GSC_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRETS_FILE":"/full/path/to/client_secrets.json"}}}}With a service account, you download the key and add the account's email to the property with "Full access" under Search Console › Settings then Users and permissions; the environment variables are GSC_CREDENTIALS_PATH and GSC_SKIP_OAUTH=true. For Cursor, the same entry goes in ~/.cursor/mcp.json; for Codex CLI, under [mcp_servers.gscServer] in ~/.codex/config.toml.
File paths must be absolute; uvx doesn't work with relative paths. The README gives only the macOS configuration path; the Windows path and uv install command are not in the README. The Claude Code install line shown on the atlas card is not in the README; Gemini CLI and Antigravity are mentioned only in the opening sentence.
How do you use Search Console MCP?
Once connected, write your request as usual. If something goes wrong, tell the assistant "call get_capabilities"; it lists the tools and the authentication status.
Google quotas: for Search Analytics, 1,200 queries per minute per property; for URL inspection, 2,000 queries per day and 600 per minute per property (Google documentation). Domain properties are written as sc-domain:example.com.
Where does Search Console MCP work?
| Claude DesktopYes | The README has an example; after configuring, fully quit and reopen the app. |
|---|---|
| Cursor, Codex CLIYes | The README has an example. |
| Gemini CLI, AntigravityUnclear | Mentioned only in the opening sentence, no example. |
| Claude CodeUnclear | No setup example in the README. |
| claude.ai websiteNo | README: the server runs locally and can't be used on claude.ai in the browser. |
What does Search Console MCP access, and does it write to your site?
The Search Console properties available to the account, search analytics, URL inspection results, the sitemap list and errors.
Sitemap submission is ON by default. Adding properties only with GSC_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE=true. The OAuth token is written to the configuration folder on your computer.
Deleting properties and deleting sitemaps only with GSC_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE=true; off by default. There is no URL removal or indexing request tool.
The server runs on your computer and talks to Google APIs; the code has no calls that send data to any other outside server. But the text of every result you ask for goes to the AI service you use.
!The server requests not a read-only scope but the full-access "webmasters" scope from Google, and it is hard-coded; it doesn't work with a read-only token, and the token file is deleted after the error (issue #56). With a service account, you add the account to the property with "Full access"; anyone who finds the key file can act with that access, so protect the file. You must be the property owner to add users to a property.
It can be served over the network with MCP_TRANSPORT=sse; the code has no authentication, so don't run this mode on an open network. Whether any security advisories are registered is not established. That does not mean "safe".
Is Search Console MCP free?
The project is free and MIT-licensed. Google's Search Console API quota page mentions no fee. At the top of the README there is an ad link to the same author's hosted paid version; for its price, see that version's own page.
Common problems and fixes
| What happens | What to do |
|---|---|
| spawn uvx ENOENT or command not found: uvx | GUI apps don't read your shell settings; put the full path to uvx as the command in the configuration. |
| Authentication failed or file not found | The file path must be absolute. Have the assistant call get_capabilities; to switch accounts there is a reauthenticate tool. |
| No tools show up at all | Python 3.11+ is required; with an older version it silently fails to start in a GUI client. |
| Reported by users Error messages come back as if they were successful results | Open issue (#53); if the result text starts with Error, it is an error. |
How do you remove Search Console MCP?
- In the client: delete the gscServer entry from the configuration file and fully quit and reopen the app.
- Token: the reauthenticate tool deletes the local token file; you can also delete it by hand.
- Google access: remove it from the third-party access list under Google Account › Security (Google's standard account screen; the project's documentation doesn't mention it). For a service account, remove the account under Search Console › Users and permissions.
- Files: delete the client_secrets.json and service_account.json files you downloaded; revoke the client or key in Cloud Console.
Frequently asked questions
Is Search Console MCP an official Google tool?
No. mcp-gsc is an open-source community project by Amin Foroutan. Google's official sources show no product offered as an MCP server.
Does it write to my Search Console data, and can it delete anything?
By default it only reads, with one exception: sitemap submission is on. Adding and deleting properties and deleting sitemaps don't work without GSC_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE=true. The server still requests the full-access scope from Google.
Can it send indexing requests?
No; there is no tool that does Request Indexing. URL inspection only shows the status in Google's index.
Does it work on the claude.ai website?
No. The README says the server runs locally and can be used in the Claude Desktop app, not on claude.ai in the browser.
What does giving a service account Full access mean?
The account acts like a full user on the property. Anyone who finds the key file can act with that access; protect the file. You must be the property owner to add users to a property.
What is the Google API quota?
According to Google's documentation, 1,200 queries per minute per property for Search Analytics; 2,000 queries per day and 600 per minute per property for URL inspection. If you exceed the quota you get quota exceeded.
Related guides
Sources
Not clear in the official sources: Search Console API fees · what the OAuth consent screen's "Testing" status means in practice · which property role allows which call · Windows configuration path and token location · price and privacy of the hosted paid version · security advisory status · Turkish-language information. Each is noted in its section.