Google Warns: Search Console Data Persists After Domain Expiration with No Reset Option. Temporary Removal Can Conceal Expired Sites.
In the August edition of Google’s SEO office-hours Q&A video, John Mueller, Senior Search Analyst at Google, addressed an uncommon query regarding domain expiration and its impact on Search Console data.
The question underscored the risks associated with Search Console data when domains are transferred to new owners.
A site owner, concerned about their domain expiring and losing hosting, inquired about the potential for future domain owners to misuse their Search Console data. They asked for guidance on removing all URLs tied to the domain to prevent such misuse after expiration.
Mueller’s Response
John Mueller clarified several critical points regarding Search Console data:
- Data Stays with the Site: Search Console information is tied to the website, not the user. If new owners verify site ownership, they gain access to all historical data.
- No “Delete All” Option: There isn’t a feature to erase all Search Console data. Control over the data requires ongoing ownership of the domain.
- Regaining Access: If you maintain domain ownership, you can reverify it in the Search Console and retain all past data.
- Temporary Site Removal: If the website is already down, you can use domain verification in the Search Console to request temporary removal from search results. This will not delete the data from Google’s records but temporarily hide it.
- Notifying the New Owner: If you’re selling the domain, Mueller suggests informing the buyer about any active removal requests so they can reverse them if desired.
Mueller’s Full Response:
“This is an interesting question I don’t think we’ve encountered yet. The data in the Search Console is not tied to users, so anyone who verifies a site later on will see that data. There’s no way to reset the data shown there, so you’d have to prevent the domain name from expiring. The advantage of this process is that you can reverify in Search Console without any data loss.
To remove all content from the search for a site already removed from the server, you can use the domain verification for Search Console and submit a temporary site removal request. This doesn’t remove the site from the index but will prevent it from being shown for some time.
If you’re selling the domain name, it would be nice to tell the new owner of this removal request so that they can cancel it.”
Why This Matters
This issue is crucial for all website owners, particularly those considering selling or losing their domain. It highlights how Search Console data is preserved even as ownership changes.
It also serves as a reminder to care about handling domain names and search data when transferring ownership.
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