Skip to main content

How to Use Google Search Console’s “Change of Address” Tool

How to Let Google Know That Your Website Has Moved to a New Domain

Hugo McManus avatar
Written by Hugo McManus
Updated this week

The Change of Address tool tells Google that your website has moved from one domain to another. This helps preserve search rankings, prevents loss of visibility, and ensures the new domain inherits the authority of the old one.

This tool is only required when migrating from one domain to another (for example: www.oldsite.com → www.newsite.com).

When this step is required

Use the Change of Address tool only when:

  • The organisation is moving from one domain to a different domain

  • All redirects from the old domain to the new domain are already in place

  • Both domains have been verified in the same Google Search Console account

  • The new domain is fully live and functioning

Why it matters

Completing this step:

  • Helps Google understand the domain change faster

  • Reduces the risk of traffic or ranking drops

  • Ensures SEO value transfers from old URLs to new URLs

  • Prevents Google from treating the new domain as unrelated

  • Speeds up indexing of the new domain

It is a critical SEO step when a domain change is occurring.


Requirements before you begin

You must ensure:

  • All redirects are active from every old URL to its new equivalent

  • Both domains (old and new) are verified in Search Console

  • Digivizer has Owner or Full access (required for Step 2)

  • The new domain is fully operational

How to complete the Change of Address

  1. Go to https://search.google.com/search-console

  2. In the top-left property selector, choose the old domain (the domain you are moving from).

  3. In the left-hand menu, click Settings.

  4. Select Change of address.

  5. Review Step 1 and confirm that all redirects are correctly set up.

  6. Under Step 2, open the drop-down and select the new domain (the domain you are moving to).

  7. Click Validate & Update.

Once completed:

  • The migration is confirmed

  • Google will begin transferring signals to the new domain

  • Keep both properties active for at least 180 days

Important notes

  • You must have Owner access to complete Step 2.

  • If redirects are not ready, do not run this tool yet.

  • Google will monitor the migration and notify you of any issues.

Summary: Use this tool only when changing domains. If a domain change is happening, this is one of the most important SEO steps in the migration process.

Did this answer your question?