This should come as no surprise as we covered it here a couple times already but this morning, Google emailed those using property sets in Google Search Console that it is going away by the end of March. Google is shutting it down and may replace it with something else at some point in time.
The email that went out this morning said "Property sets no longer supported in Search Console after March, 2019." Here is the full text:
Dear Search Console user,You are the owner of one or more property sets in Search Console. At the end of March, 2019, Search Console will no longer support property sets. Google will continue indexing and serving any individual properties that comprise these sets, and your permission on these individual properties will not be changed. We have seen limited usage of sets in Search Console, which makes it hard to devote the engineering time required to maintain this feature. We are working on providing other ways to manage sites with multiple hosts or protocols.
The following property sets will be removed from your account at the end of March (max 8 shown):
- SET NAME
The properties that make up each set will not be removed or affected in either Search Console or Google Search.
If you would like to retain your data from these property sets, you can download it using the Search Console API or the Download button in various reports before the end of March.
Here is a screen shot:
What will replace it? Google did test something called domain property but that might be dead in the water. Google also launched by default a consolidated view of the reports, so maybe it is needed less?
Here are some of the feedback on Twitter, but again, none of this is new, we were expecting this email:
GSC property sets are going away. I liked this feature and found it useful for a combined view for a domain and migrations. The messaging is weird. We're not going to devote resources to property sets no one uses but we're going to make this other property set-like thing. pic.twitter.com/JOyMfnFChr
— Patrick Stox (@patrickstox) February 26, 2019
Not sure how I feel about that @googlewmc #seo #google
— Valentin Pletzer (@VorticonCmdr) February 26, 2019
"Property sets no longer supported in Search Console after March, 2019"
cc @rustybrick pic.twitter.com/VBBEKQdA5r
You may have heard earlier and seen this coming but property sets in #google #searchconsole are going away after March 2019. I'm sad because it was useful for keeping an eye on migrations like http->https or to the new domain. cc @rustybrick pic.twitter.com/4qJgm5xXHY
— Patryk (@pciechanowski) February 26, 2019
When Search Console comes to take away your property sets: pic.twitter.com/08I1GTLuUx
— Lord of the SERPs (@LordOfTheSERPs) February 26, 2019
Official notification of the retirement of GSC property sets this morning. Likely in the minority here, but I actually find these quite a helpful feature . Hopefully Google will now fast track the release of consolidated Domain properties in GSC 🤞 pic.twitter.com/fETv6RUpze
— Chris Mann (@MrChristophMann) February 26, 2019
😟GSC Property sets to be removed. Noooooooooooo I can't be the only one who finds this a very useful feature? pic.twitter.com/U1kH0gHIkt
— Martin Woods (@mocwoods) February 26, 2019
Forum discussion at Twitter
