Track Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X in Google Search Console

Google Search Console supports platform properties for social and video accounts, including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and X. Add and verify each account separately to see how your profile and posts perform on Google Search, Discover and News: search terms, clicks, top content and countries. If you claimed your Search profile, verified accounts are added automatically.

  • By Praveen Jha · Updated 2026-10-22 · 7 min read · SEO, AEO & search
Best for
Creators, social media managers and brand marketers
Time
5-10 minutes per account, then a few days for data
Cost
Free
Platforms named by Google
YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X
Level
Beginner

What changed

In July 2026 Google rolled out platform properties in Search Console globally. Until then, Search Console only covered websites you could verify. Now you can add a social or video account as its own property and see how Google Search users find your profile and posts.

Add your accounts

  1. Open Google Search Console and choose to add a property.
  2. Select the platform property option and pick the platform.
  3. Follow the verification flow for that account. Each account is added and verified on its own; there is no single connection for all of them.
  4. Repeat for every account you manage.
  5. Wait a few days. New properties need time before the reports fill in.

Shortcut: If you have already claimed your Search profile on Google, your verified accounts are added to Search Console as properties automatically. Open Search Console and select the account.

What the reports show

  • Insights: clicks over the last 28 days across parts of Google Search, your top-performing content, the search terms that lead people to your channel or profile, your audience's countries, and query groups trending up or down.
  • Performance: the detailed report, filterable by search term, page, country and date, with a comparison mode.
  • 24-hour view: a filter on the Performance chart for recent trends, useful the day after you publish.
  • Export and annotations: export the data you select, and mark dates such as a launch or a viral post.

The data covers Google Search, Discover and Google News. It does not replace each platform's own analytics; it adds the one view those apps cannot give you: what people searched on Google before they found you.

Useful filters

  • YouTube long-form vs Shorts: filter pages containing /watch against /shorts/.
  • Instagram posts vs Reels: filter pages containing /p/ against /reels/.
  • Playlists: a playlist URL filter shows the playlist page itself, not the videos inside it.

Turn search terms into content

  1. Each week, open How people find you and note new or rising search terms.
  2. Use the exact phrasing in your next caption, title or on-screen text.
  3. For YouTube, put key phrases in the title, description and spoken words that appear in captions.
  4. When one platform's post gains search traction, repurpose it for the others the same week.
  5. Mark each experiment with an annotation, so you can see later what moved.

Analyse it with Claude

Export the Performance data for a platform property and give the file to Claude. It is quick to compare formats, spot rising terms and draft captions that match how people search.

Copy-paste prompts

Find content ideas from search terms

Here is my Search Console export for my YouTube channel (last 3 months): [attach CSV]. Group the search terms by topic, show clicks and impressions per group, and suggest 5 video ideas for topics with high impressions but few of my videos.

Compare formats

In this export, compare pages containing /reels/ with pages containing /p/. Which format gets more search clicks and impressions, and which topics perform best in each?

Caption rewrite

Rewrite this caption so it naturally includes the search terms [term 1] and [term 2], stays under 150 words and keeps my voice: [paste caption].

Troubleshooting

  • Reports are empty after adding an account Give it a few days after verification. New properties need time to collect data.
  • Looking for one connection for every account There is none. Add and verify each account as its own property.
  • Expecting in-app numbers Search Console only shows Google Search, Discover and News traffic. Use each platform's analytics for in-app views.

FAQ

Can I add my Instagram account to Google Search Console?

Yes. Google's documentation names TikTok, Instagram, X and YouTube as supported platforms. Add the account as a platform property and complete verification.

Is it free?

Yes. Search Console and platform properties are free.

What data will I see?

Clicks, impressions and search terms from Google Search, Discover and News that lead to your profile or posts, plus top content and audience countries.

How is this different from YouTube Studio or Instagram Insights?

Platform analytics show what happens inside the app. Search Console shows how people find you through Google, including the exact search terms they used.

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