Google Search Console reports worth checking each month include Performance, the Generative AI performance report and Page indexing. They also include Core Web Vitals, Manual actions, Security issues and Links. Google Search Central offers guidance on how often to check. It says "you might want to check your account around once every month, or when you make changes to the site's content."
Performance report: clicks, impressions and position
The Performance report shows clicks, impressions, CTR and average position. CTR is clicks divided by impressions. Average position is the average of your topmost result. The report opens on the past three months. You can break it down by queries, pages, countries and devices, according to Search Console Help. Performance data goes back 16 months, according to the Google Search Central Blog. Each month you can compare your clicks and impressions with the same month from the previous year. You can do this by page and by query. AI Overviews and AI Mode appearances already count in the Performance report under the "Web" search type, Google Search Central notes.
Generative AI performance report: AI Overviews impressions
Since 31 Aug 2026 every website has a Search Generative AI performance report. It shows impressions in AI features, broken down by pages, countries, devices and dates. There are no clicks listed in this report, according to the Google Search Central Blog. This report shows how often your pages appeared in AI features. It does not show how many people clicked through. Checking it each month lets you see which of your pages are showing up most often in AI Overviews and AI Mode. It also shows whether that changes by country or device.
Page indexing report: what "not indexed" means
The Page indexing report lists which pages Google has indexed and which it hasn't. Search Console Help states, "Not indexed is not necessarily bad." It also says "all of your important pages should be indexed." A page can be left out on purpose. Noindex tags you set yourself, duplicate pages, redirects and 404s for removed pages are expected reasons a page shows as not indexed. If you fix an issue and click Validate fix, that check "typically takes up to about two weeks." Each month, check that your home, services, locations and contact pages are indexed. Our guide on why a new website isn't on Google yet covers more reasons pages take time to appear.
Core Web Vitals report: mobile and desktop scores
The Core Web Vitals report grades LCP, INP and CLS separately for mobile and desktop. It uses data collected from visitors. Pages without enough visitor data are left out of the report, according to Search Console Help. Our guide to the Core Web Vitals scores every business website should hit covers what each score measures.
Manual actions and security issues: the urgent reports
A manual action means a human reviewer at Google found pages that break Google's spam policies, according to Search Console Help. Pages under a manual action can rank lower or drop out of search results entirely. If you get one, fix every affected page, then click Request Review. Security issues cover hacked content, malware and deceptive pages, per Search Console Help. Affected pages can show warnings in search results and browsers. A security review can take days to weeks. Check both reports as soon as they show anything. Don't wait for your monthly review.
Links report: a sample of your links
The Links report shows your top linked pages, your top linking websites and the text used in those links. Search Console Help states it "isn't a comprehensive list of every link." Use it to get a general sense of who links to your website. It won't capture every link pointing to your pages.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I check Google Search Console?
Google Search Central says you might want to check your account around once a month, or whenever you change your website's content. Search Console also emails you when it finds new issues, so turning on alerts helps you catch problems between checks.
Is it a problem if some pages are not indexed?
Not necessarily. Search Console Help says "Not indexed is not necessarily bad," though your important pages, such as your home, services and contact pages, should be indexed.
How far back does Search Console data go?
Performance data goes back 16 months. That lets you compare a month's clicks and impressions with the same month from the year before.
Can I see if my website shows up in AI Overviews?
Yes. Since 31 Aug 2026, every website has a Search Generative AI performance report. It shows impressions in AI features by page, country, device and date, though it doesn't list clicks.
What does a manual action mean?
A manual action means a human reviewer at Google decided that pages on your website don't follow Google's spam policies. Those pages can rank lower or disappear from search results. Fix every affected page, then request a review.
A quick monthly look covers Performance, the Generative AI performance report, Page indexing, Core Web Vitals, Manual actions, Security issues and Links.
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