How to Find Backlinks in Google Search Console (Step by Step)

Google Search Console shows you backlinks Google has actually discovered and counted for your site — for free, straight from the source. It won't have every backlink tool's full database, but it's the most accurate free way to see which links Google itself is crediting you for.

Step-by-step: finding your backlinks

1. Log in to Google Search Console and select your verified property.
2. In the left sidebar, click Links.
3. You'll see two sections: External links and Internal links. Backlinks live under External links.
4. Under "Top linked pages," you can see which of your pages get the most backlinks.
5. Under "Top linking sites," you'll see your referring domains — click any one to see every page on your site it links to.
6. Click "More" at the bottom of any table to see the full list rather than just the top rows.

How to export your full backlink list

Search Console doesn't offer a one-click full export button on every table, but you can:

• Click into any individual linking site to see and copy its specific linking pages.
• Use the small export icon (where available) on the External links table to download a CSV of what's currently shown.
• For a complete bulk export, Search Console's API allows programmatic access if you need this regularly — most people only need the manual view.

What Search Console's Links report does and doesn't show

For a fuller picture — including domain authority scores and competitor backlink data — a dedicated tool like Ahrefs or Semrush fills the gap. But for checking your own site's backlinks for free, Search Console is the most reliable source available.

Using this data to plan your next moves

Once you know which pages attract the most backlinks naturally, that's useful signal for two things: which content types to produce more of, and which pages deserve more internal links to spread that authority further. Pair this with our backlink strategy guide to turn the data into a plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is Google Search Console's backlink data accurate?

It shows links Google has actually crawled and counted for your site, so it's accurate for what it covers — though it may lag behind very recent links that haven't been crawled yet.

Why don't I see all my backlinks in Search Console?

Google only lists links it has crawled and chosen to count. Very new links, links from pages Google rarely crawls, or links Google has algorithmically devalued may not appear.

Can I see competitor backlinks in Search Console?

No — Search Console only shows data for properties you've verified ownership of. Competitor backlink data requires a third-party tool.