Connect to Google Search Index from Google Sheets

In this guide, we'll connect the Google Web Search Indexing API to Google Sheets, using the API Connector add-on for Sheets. This allows us to submit, update, and remove URLs from Google's search index directly from Google Sheets. API Connector doesn't have a native integration for this API so we'll set up a custom OAuth connection.

Contents

• Before You Begin
• Part 1: Set up Project
• Part 2: Get Credentials
• Part 3: Connect Google Search Index API to API Connector
• Part 4: Submit Google Search Index API Data through Sheets
• Part 5: API Documentation

Before You Begin

Click here to install the API Connector add-on from the Google Marketplace.

Part 1: Set up Project

1. Navigate to https://console.cloud.google.com/. To make things easier, set this up using the same Google account for which you log into Google Search Console. We're making a private app that can be accessed only by yourself.

1. Click the project dropdown menu
   
2. Click New Project
   
3. Give it a name and click Create
   
   
4. In your new project, navigate to APIs & Services > Library
   
5. Search for "Web Search Indexing API" and click to open the details page
   
6. Click Enable
   

Part 2: Get Credentials

1. You'll now be back in your project. Click Create credentials (if you aren't on this page, click Enabled APIs & Services > Web Search Indexing API from the sidebar on the left)
   
   
2. Fill out the Create Credentials form. It will take you through several sections, which you can fill out as follows:
   
   • Credential Type
     • Select an API: Web Search Indexing API
     • What data will you be accessing: User data
   • OAuth Consent Screen
     • App name: enter any name
     • User support email: select email address from the drop down menu
     • App logo: skip or upload a logo (optional)
     • Developer contact information: enter an email address
   • Scopes
     • Add or remove scopes:
       .../auth/indexing
       
   • OAuth Client ID
     • Application type: web application
     • Name: enter any name
     • Authorized redirect URL > + ADD URI: https://script.google.com/macros/d/12COOkin8nodCH7fZGIBu0D2jWY8-AEA0uvElt4Ph4wRbLUD4wslqQUfG/usercallback
       
       
3. Click Create
4. Once you've completed those steps, click Download to download your credentials and then click Done.
   

Part 3: Connect Google Search Index to API Connector

1. Open up Google Sheets and click Extensions > API Connector > Manage Connections
2. Scroll to the bottom of the sidebar and click Add Custom OAuth
3. Fill in the Custom OAuth modal as follows:
   • OAuth Grant Type: Authorization Code
   • Name: Custom Index
   • Authorization Base URL: https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/auth?scope=https://www.googleapis.com/auth/indexing
   • Token URL: https://oauth2.googleapis.com/token
   • Client ID: provided by Google in the credentials file
   • Client Secret: provided by Google in the credentials file
     
4. Click Save, then click back on Manage Connections
5. You should now see your new Google Index connection listed. Click Connect.
   
6. You'll be prompted to log in and approve the connection. Click Allow.
   
   
7. You can verify that your connection is now active on the Manage Connections screen.

Part 4: Submit URLs to Search Index API through Sheets

We're ready! You can see all the available endpoints in the Google Search Indexing API documentation, but for this example we'll start with submitting a URL to be indexed. The syntax is the same whether this URL is new or simply being updated.

1. Open up Google Sheets and click Extensions > API Connector > Open > Create request.
2. In the request form enter the following, substituting in your own URL where it says your_url:
   • Application: Custom
   • Method: POST
   • Request URL: https://indexing.googleapis.com/v3/urlNotifications:publish
   • OAuth: Custom Index
   • Request Body (set to json): {"url":"your_url","type":"URL_UPDATED"}
3. Create a new tab and click Set current to use that tab as your data destination.
4. Name your request and click Run. A moment later you’ll see a message populate your Google Sheet
   
   
   

Part 5: API Documentation

Official API documentation: https://developers.google.com/search/apis/indexing-api/v3/using-api