If you want to understand who is linking to your website, Google Search Console (GSC) is the first place you should look. It’s free, reliable, and shows backlink data straight from Google. While it doesn’t show every backlink, it shows the ones Google actually cares about.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to check backlinks in Google Search Console, explain what each report means, show you how to export and analyze the data, and clarify what GSC can and cannot do when it comes to backlinks.
I’ll also cover how to spot spammy links and answer common questions people have around backlink reports.
Check Backlinks in Google Search Console and Google Analytics 4
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Google Search Console provide powerful tools for this purpose. This guide will walk you through how to check backlinks in Google search console and Google Analytics, make sense of the data in Google Search Console, and leverage these insights to boost your site’s SEO.
Why Google Search Console backlinks matter
Backlinks are one of Google’s strongest ranking signals. They help Google understand:
- how trusted your site is
- which pages are important
- how your content is discovered
The backlinks shown in GSC are especially valuable because they are confirmed by Google, not estimated by third-party tools.
Think of GSC backlinks as quality signals, not raw volume.
Diving into Google Search Console for Backlink Data
Getting Started
First things first, access your Google Search Console account and ensure you’ve selected the correct domain from the dropdown menu in the top left corner. This step is very important for accurate data analysis.
Step 1: Navigating to the “Links” Section
Once you’re in, scroll down to the “Links” section. Here, you’ll find a treasure trove of data related to your site’s backlinks, including:
- Top Linked Pages: Discover which pages on your site are attracting the most backlinks.
- Top Linking Sites: Identify which external domains are linking to your site and how often.
- Anchor Text Analysis: Analyze the text used in these backlinks, which can provide insight into how others view your content.
By diving deeper into these sections, particularly the “Top Linking Sites”, you can uncover the specifics of these backlinks, such as the number of linking pages from a domain and the target pages on your site they link to. This level of detail is invaluable for understanding the breadth and depth of your backlink profile.
Step 2: Check your top linked pages
Click More under Top linked pages.
Here you can see:
- which URLs get the most backlinks
- how link equity is distributed across your site
Why this matters
If only your homepage has links, your internal pages may struggle to rank. Ideally, key content pages should attract links too.
Use this report to:
- identify strong pages
- see which content earns links naturally
- spot pages that deserve more internal links
Step 3: Analyze top linking sites
Click More under Top linking sites.
This shows:
- domains linking to your site
- how many links each domain sends
What to look for
- Are links coming from relevant sites?
- Do you see real brands, blogs, or publications?
- Are there strange domains with lots of links?
A few strong sites matter more than hundreds of low-quality ones.
Step 4: Review anchor text (top linking text)
Click More under Top linking text.
This shows the words used in links pointing to your site.
Healthy anchor text usually looks like:
- brand name
- website name
- natural phrases
- naked URLs
Red flags to watch for:
- exact-match keyword anchors repeated many times
- anchors that look spammy or irrelevant
- foreign-language anchors unrelated to your site
This report is important for spotting over-optimization or spam patterns.
Export backlinks from Google Search Console
Google Search Console allows exports, but with limits.
How to export:
- Go to Links
- Open Top linking sites or Top linked pages
- Click Export (top-right)
- Choose Google Sheets, Excel, or CSV
Important limitation
Exports are sampled, not complete. Google shows representative data, not every link.
That’s normal.
How to analyze exported backlink data
Once exported, focus on:
- linking domain relevance
- link distribution (not concentration on one domain)
- anchor text patterns
- sudden spikes in low-quality links
Simple spreadsheet filters go a long way.
You don’t need advanced tools to get insights.
Honest limitations of Google Search Console backlinks
Google Search Console does not:
- show all backlinks on the web
- show link strength or authority metrics
- update backlink data daily
- show lost vs new links clearly
That’s why many SEOs pair it with third-party tools.
Still, GSC remains the most trustworthy source for how Google views your links.
Exploring Third-Party Tools for Advanced Insights
Although Google Search Console offers a wealth of data, sometimes you might need more advanced analytical capabilities, especially for competitor analysis. Tools like Ahrefs or Semrush come into play here, offering detailed insights into not just your own backlinks but also those of your competitors. However, these are premium tools, so consider your budget and specific needs before diving in.
Read also: Use ChatGPT to fix technical seo issues on your website
Utilizing Google Analytics 4 to Track Backlink Performance
Moving over to Google Analytics 4, the focus shifts from analyzing backlink sources to understanding the impact of these backlinks on your site’s traffic.
Pairing Google Search Console with GA4
By pairing the data from Google Search Console with GA4, you can get a comprehensive view of your backlink profile, including which backlinks are driving traffic and contributing to your site’s goals.
How to check backlinks in google analytics | Traffic Acquisition in GA4
In GA4, navigate to the “Acquisition” section and then to “Traffic Acquisition” to start analyzing your backlink traffic. Change the dropdown menu to “Source/Medium” to get granular data, and use the search bar to filter for “referral” traffic. This will highlight which backlinks are actively driving users to your site.
Crafting a Custom Referral Traffic Report
One of GA4’s strengths is its customization capabilities. Rather than going through multiple steps each time, you can create a custom referral traffic report:
- Customize Your Report: Start from the traffic acquisition report and customize it to focus on referral traffic.
- Set Up Filters: Add filters to show only referral traffic, providing a cleaner view of which sites are linking to you.
- Adjust Metrics: Configure the report to prioritize metrics that matter to you, like conversions and engagement rates.
This custom report can then be saved and easily accessed in the future, streamlining your analysis process.
Enriching Your Reporting Library
To further enhance your workflow, add your new referral traffic report to your GA4 reporting library. This makes it readily accessible and simplifies routine checks on your backlink traffic.
Integrating Google Search Console and GA4 for Comprehensive Insights
For a well-rounded backlink analysis, combine insights from both Google Search Console and GA4. This approach gives you a full picture of not only who’s linking to you but also the quality and impact of those links on your site’s traffic and conversions.
Final takeaway
Google Search Console is the best starting point for checking backlinks because the data comes straight from Google. While it has limits, it tells you what actually matters for search performance.
If you understand how to read the reports, export the data, and avoid overreacting to spam, you’ll make better SEO decisions with less stress.
Backlinks aren’t about chasing numbers. They’re about earning trust.
Helpful Questions for Beginners
Does Google Search Console show all backlinks?
No. It shows a sample of links Google considers relevant. This is normal and expected. you can use third party tools like ahrefs and semrush for advanced data.
Are backlinks updated in real time?
No. Updates happen periodically. Delays are common.
Should I worry about spam links I didn’t build?
Usually no. Google ignores most of them automatically.
Is GSC enough for backlink analysis?
For beginners and site owners, yes. but if you are SEO so you need deep site audits for which you have to include tools like Semrush, ahrefs and Screaming frog.
Mohit Sharma
SEO SpecialistWith over 5 years of experience in SEO and digital marketing, I began my career as a SEO Executive, where I honed my expertise in search engine optimization, keyword ranking, and online growth strategies. Over the years, I have built and managed multiple successful websites and tools.
