Securing Indexing With HTTPS in Google Search Console

This guide explores how to use Google Search Console to monitor HTTPS, focusing on its impact on security, crawling and indexing. It complements our main Google Search Console 404 errors article by examining the specific challenges of managing secure URLs and migrating to HTTPS.

Google Search Console and HTTPS: Understanding the Impact on Security, Crawling and Indexing

Why This Article Complements the Main Guide to the Google Ecosystem

HTTPS is not solely about security: it transforms your URL structure and influences how Googlebot discovers, indexes and consolidates signals. Search Console becomes the essential tool for verifying consistency across variants (HTTP/HTTPS, www/non-www) and ensuring Google prioritises the secure version of your pages.

HTTP, HTTPS, SSL and TLS: Useful Definitions for Interpreting Reports

HTTP is the standard protocol for data exchange, whilst HTTPS adds an encryption layer (TLS). This secures confidentiality and data integrity, and enables Googlebot to identify URL versions. Within Search Console, HTTP and HTTPS are treated as two distinct sets, which can affect visibility if a migration is not fully consolidated.

Configuring Search Console for an HTTPS Site: Properties and Verification

Access, Domain Property and URL Variants

For effective monitoring, prioritise adding a Domain property, which aggregates all variants (HTTP/HTTPS, www/non-www, subdomains). This simplifies detection of residual HTTP URLs and prevents fragmented readings during a migration. Access to Search Console requires a Google account and site verification, typically via DNS for this property type.

Following a migration, also monitor URL prefix properties for granular diagnostics, but manage overall performance through the Domain property.

Verifying Variants and Managing the Real Cost

HTTP and HTTPS properties often display different data. After the switch, continue monitoring both to detect incomplete migrations and identify URLs that persist in HTTP. Whilst Search Console is free, managing an HTTPS transition requires precise monitoring to limit errors and technical debt, which can slow indexing consistency and distort your metrics.

The HTTPS Report in Search Console: Reading and Limitations

Reading the Report and Signals to Monitor

The HTTPS report serves as a dashboard for verifying protocol consistency across all pages. It flags certificate, redirect or mixed content issues, but does not replace page-by-page analysis. Use it to detect site-wide anomalies, then refine your analysis with the URL Inspection tool.

Interpreting Anomalies and Prioritising Fixes

Not all HTTPS alerts carry the same impact: some do not immediately affect rankings, but risk fragmenting SEO signals, degrading user experience or introducing security vulnerabilities. Classify each issue according to its effect on indexing, UX and security, prioritising those that block access or prevent signal consolidation.

Using URL Inspection: Validating HTTPS Page by Page

When and How to Use Inspect URL

The URL Inspection tool enables you to verify precisely what Googlebot sees, indexing status and the selected canonical. After a correction (redirect, canonical, sitemap update), test the page live to ensure Googlebot accesses the HTTPS version correctly and indexing proceeds as expected.

Verifying Canonicals and Redirects

During a migration, it is crucial that the declared canonical (rel=canonical) and Google's selected canonical both point to your intended HTTPS version. If Google still favours an HTTP URL or incorrect variant, there are likely internal links, sitemaps or canonicals that have not been updated.

Common Cases: Persistent HTTP Detection or Redirect Chains

If Search Console detects an HTTP canonical or crawling despite HTTPS being present, verify that:

• 301 redirects are properly in place from HTTP to HTTPS, without loops or unnecessary intermediate steps;
• all internal links and sitemaps reference HTTPS;
• canonicals are aligned with the target version.

Minimise redirect chains as much as possible, as they slow consolidation and unnecessarily consume crawl budget.

Recurring HTTPS Issues: Diagnosis and Fixes

SSL/TLS Certificates and Mixed Content

An expired or misconfigured certificate blocks Googlebot access and triggers alerts in Search Console. Verify certificate validity on strategic pages and fix issues quickly to prevent deindexing. Mixed content (HTTP resources on an HTTPS page) degrades rendering and can block indexing of certain elements: review your templates to ensure complete uniformity.

Redirects and Activating HSTS

301 redirects from HTTP to HTTPS must be strict and universal. Temporary 302 redirects and redirect chains should be avoided. Activating HSTS (forces HTTPS usage at browser level) is only recommended after complete stabilisation of the migration and validation across all variants.

Server Errors and TLS Negotiation

5xx errors or poor TLS configuration can prevent Googlebot from accessing certain pages. Isolate issues on high-traffic or high-conversion templates, then revalidate after fixes to guarantee uninterrupted crawling.

Migrating From HTTP to HTTPS: Managing the Transition in Search Console

Updating Sitemaps, Canonicals and Internal Linking

All submitted sitemaps must reference HTTPS URLs only. Update canonical tags and internal linking to point exclusively to the secure version. This consistency accelerates indexing and prevents HTTP/HTTPS versions coexisting in Google's index.

Post-Migration Monitoring and Pitfalls to Avoid

After migration, monitor the appearance of HTTP URLs, segment performance by page type and compare periods before and after. The main pitfalls are HTTP/HTTPS duplication, orphan pages and tracking inconsistencies between Search Console and Analytics. Cross-referencing both tools helps avoid misdiagnosing traffic variations.

Measuring HTTPS Impact and Adjusting Your Strategy

KPIs to Monitor and Segmentation

After fixes or migration, monitor the redistribution of clicks, impressions, CTR and positions for HTTPS URLs. Temporary variations are normal, but KPI stabilisation indicates successful transition. Pay particular attention to sensitive pages (forms, payment, login), where perceived security influences engagement and conversion.

To contextualise your analyses, explore our SEO statistics, SEA statistics and GEO statistics on our blog.

Recurring Quality Control: Checklist and Action Plan

Monthly Checklist

Each month, review the HTTPS report, inspect a sample of high-stakes pages and monitor for HTTP URLs or inconsistent canonicals. This routine limits regression risks following a migration or technical overhaul.

Prioritising Action: Impact, Fix, Revalidation

Address pages that generate traffic or conversions first. Fix access blocks, then redirect or canonical inconsistencies, and finally UX factors such as mixed content. Systematically revalidate in Search Console to measure the effect of fixes on indexing and performance.

How Incremys Integrates With Your HTTPS Monitoring

Incremys centralises data from Google Search Console and Google Analytics via API, simplifying KPI monitoring and detecting technical signals during HTTPS migration or recurring checks. Its platform enables you to automate fix prioritisation and measure their impact on SEO ROI, whilst maintaining the granularity of native reports.

FAQ

How Do I Access Search Console?

Sign in with a Google account, add your site as a property (preferably as a Domain property) and verify ownership (via DNS or other methods). Once verification is complete, you can assign appropriate access rights to your team members.

How Much Does Search Console Cost?

The tool is free. The main investment concerns analysis time, fixes and technical coordination during an HTTPS migration.

What Is Search Console Used for With HTTPS and Indexing?

It enables you to verify that Google indexes the secure version correctly, identify inconsistencies (sitemap, canonical, redirect) and monitor performance stabilisation following migration.

How Do I Use Inspect URL to Verify an HTTPS URL?

Paste the HTTPS URL into the inspection tool, analyse Google's selected canonical and indexing status, and run a live test to confirm accessibility. If necessary, fix redirects, sitemaps, canonicals and internal linking, then revalidate until you achieve complete consistency.

To explore other SEO, GEO and digital marketing topics, browse the Incremys blog.