example-petstore.com

Example domain · Not a live service · Browser visits show this page · API requests get 410 Gone

Guide · Search Console

Moving a site in Search Console

From 2015 to 2019, Search Console’s help used a move from http://fish.example-petstore.com as its example. The tool only works between domains you own, so every example address has to become your own. This guide covers a complete move.

Before you start

  • The Change of Address tool is for moving to a new domain or subdomain, for example from shop.example.com to example.net. It is not needed for moves within one domain, such as HTTP to HTTPS.
  • You need the old and the new domain as Domain properties in the same Search Console account, both verified.
  • Plan one address on the new site for every address on the old site.

Move the site

  1. Publish the new site and make sure every page works on its new address.
  2. Redirect each old address to its new equivalent with a 301 redirect. Do not send everything to the home page, and do not chain redirects.
  3. In the old property, open Settings › Change of address, select the new property and submit.
  4. Keep the redirects in place for at least 180 days, and preferably for good.

Clear example addresses

Search the new site for example-petstore and example.com in:

  • <link rel="canonical"> tags and HTTP Link headers;
  • XML sitemaps and the Sitemap: line in robots.txt;
  • hreflang annotations;
  • redirect rules on the old server.

Then submit the new sitemap in the new property.

Verify

  • Old addresses answer with a single 301 to the matching new address.
  • The old property shows the Change of address request as in progress.
  • The new property starts receiving impressions and indexed pages.

Sources