SEO Utils uses Google Service Accounts for multiple tasks like submitting index, checking/submitting index for URLs, or pulling data from Google Search Console (GSC) to do some advanced tasks that the GSC dashboard doesn't provide to you.
In your Google Cloud Console dashboard, search for "Service Accounts" and click on it.
Click on "Service Accounts" from the search results
Hit the "Create Service Account" button, and enter a service account name. Then, hit the "Done" button.
Enter service account name
Copy the email of the service account. You will need that email to invite the service account to your Google Search Console so it can access data from Google Search Console.
Copy the email
Step 3: Create a Google Service Account key file
Click on the Service Account's email, select the "KEYS" tab, then click the "Create new key" button.
Create a key for your service account
A model will pop up. Select "JSON" and click the "Create" button.
Select JSON in Key type field.
After creating the key, Google will download it to your machine. Keep that file. You will need it when adding the Google Service Account to SEO Utils.
Add the Google Service Account to SEO Utils
Open the SEO Utils app on your machine, and locate the App dropdown menu in the top-right corner. You will see the Google Service Accounts menu.
Click on Google Service Accounts menu to create one
Hit the "Add Account" button and select the key file you downloaded in the previous step.
Select the downloaded key file after cliking the "Add Account" button
Congratulations! You have successfully added a Google Service Account to SEO Utils!
Connect to Google Search Console
After adding the service account to SEO Utils, you need to grant it access to your Google Search Console properties to pull performance data and submit indexes.
Grant Access in Google Search Console
Copy the Service Account Email: After adding the JSON file, you'll see the service account email displayed (e.g., [email protected])
Owner: Required for submitting indexes via Google Indexing API
Full: Sufficient for pulling performance data only
Important: To submit indexes, the service account must have Owner permission in Google Search Console. Full permission is only adequate for reading performance data.
Configure Properties for Index Submission
You can configure which properties each service account can submit indexes for. This setting only affects index submission, not performance data access.
Property Configuration Options
All Properties (Default)
When enabled, the service account can submit indexes for all properties in your SEO Utils account
This is the default setting for new service accounts
Specific Properties
When disabled, you can select specific properties that this service account can access
Toggle off "All Properties" to reveal a list of available properties
Check the properties you want this service account to submit indexes for
Select specific properties for this service account to access
Note: This property configuration is for index submission only. The service account can still pull performance data from all properties where it has been granted access in Google Search Console.
