Can the Fetch as Googlebot tool really retrieve your HTTPS pages?

Why is there a distinction between HTTP and HTTPS in the tool?

Google treats HTTP and HTTPS as two separate properties in Search Console (formerly Webmaster Tools). This means that verifying a domain in HTTP does not grant any rights over its HTTPS version.

Specifically, if you have verified example.com in HTTP, you will not be able to use Fetch as Googlebot on https://example.com/page without first adding and verifying the HTTPS property separately. This separation might seem outdated, but it corresponds to a security logic: controlling an SSL certificate constitutes proof of ownership different from traditional DNS or FTP control.

What happens if we forget to specify the protocol?

The common mistake is to simply type the URL without the protocol, for example, example.com/page instead of https://example.com/page. In that case, the tool attempts a retrieval in HTTP by default.

If you have not verified HTTP ownership, the request fails. If you have verified it but the page redirects to HTTPS, you will receive a 301/302 redirect in the results, but not the final content of the HTTPS page. You are then testing the wrong protocol, which completely skews the crawl diagnosis.

What are the implications for a site migrating to HTTPS?

During an HTTP to HTTPS migration, this statement becomes critical. Many SEO professionals test their new HTTPS URLs thinking that their old HTTP verification will suffice. It does not.

You must add the HTTPS version as a new property in Search Console, validate the property through SSL certificate or alternative method, and then use Fetch as Googlebot with the full protocol. Otherwise, you are diagnosing a ghost: the old version of your site, not the new one. Crawl, indexing and coverage data will remain compartmentalized until full verification is completed.

• HTTP and HTTPS are two distinct properties in Search Console, each requiring separate verification
• Explicitly specifying the protocol (https://) in Fetch as Googlebot is mandatory to test the correct version
• During an HTTPS migration, verify the new HTTPS property before any crawl diagnosis
• Omitting the protocol leads to a default HTTP test, skewing results if the site redirects
• This separation aims to secure access to sensitive data related to HTTPS traffic

Is this statement consistent with observed practices in the field?

Yes, and that is exactly what makes this clarification important. In the field, one frequently encounters SEO professionals who believe they are testing their HTTPS pages while they have only verified the HTTP property. The result: they diagnose problems that no longer exist or overlook real blocks on the secure version.

The strict HTTP/HTTPS separation in Search Console is not a bug; it is a deliberate architecture. It requires rigorous property management, especially in large accounts where multiple protocols, subdomains, and www/non-www versions coexist. The issue is that Google has never communicated this clearly enough within the interface itself.

What areas of ambiguity remain in this statement?

Google talks about "proving control over the HTTPS page," but remains vague about the accepted verification methods. In practice, we know DNS validation, HTML file, Google Analytics, and Google Tag Manager work. But what about self-signed certificates, mixed configurations, complex internal redirects? [To be verified]

Another unclear point: the statement does not specify whether Fetch as Googlebot follows HTTPS to HTTPS redirects, nor how it handles multiple redirect chains. Does the tool display the final content, or does it stop at the first hop? Empirical tests show that it generally follows up to 10 redirects, but Google does not officially document this anywhere.

In which cases does this limitation pose problems?

First problematic case: sites with complex SSL authentication (client certificates, mutual TLS). If your architecture requires a client certificate to access resources, Fetch as Googlebot may fail even with a verified property because Googlebot does not present a client certificate.

Second case: partial migrations where some sections remain in HTTP while others switch to HTTPS. You will then have to juggle between two distinct Search Console properties, fragmenting your crawl data and complicating overall analysis. In such situations, Google's official recommendation is to migrate fully, but we know that this is not always operationally possible.

How to properly verify your HTTPS property in Search Console?

First step: log into Search Console and click on "Add a property". Enter your full URL with protocol: https://www.example.com (or https://example.com according to your canonical setup). Do not just validate the HTTP version hoping it will cover HTTPS.

Second step: choose a verification method. DNS validation via TXT record is the most robust, as it simultaneously covers all variations of protocol and subdomain if you verify the root domain. Alternative: upload an HTML file to the root of your HTTPS or use Google Analytics/Tag Manager if already implemented on the secure version. Avoid the HTML meta tag, which is too fragile during redesigns.

What critical mistakes must be absolutely avoided?

First mistake: testing your HTTPS URLs in Fetch as Googlebot without having verified the HTTPS property. You will either get an access denied error or the results of the HTTP version if it still exists, which skews any diagnosis.

Second mistake: omitting the protocol in the entered URL. Type https://example.com/page, not example.com/page. The tool does not infer the protocol from the active property; it defaults to HTTP. This is counterintuitive but documented in the official help (which no one reads).

Third mistake: not monitoring both properties during the migration. Even after fully switching to HTTPS, keep the HTTP property active for a few months to detect any residual internal links or Googlebot crawls on the old version, signs of poorly migrated internal linking.

What checklist should be applied during an HTTPS migration?

• Add and verify the property https://www.example.com AND https://example.com (with and without www) in Search Console
• Test at least 10 representative URLs via Fetch as Googlebot while explicitly specifying the https:// protocol
• Ensure all 301 redirects from HTTP to HTTPS are properly detected and that the final content is displayed
• Submit a new XML sitemap containing exclusively HTTPS URLs through the HTTPS property
• Monitor indexing coverage reports on both properties (HTTP and HTTPS) for a minimum of 3 months
• Update all internal links, canonicals, and hreflang to point to the HTTPS URLs