Wrong Google Site Verification Code Still Appearing After Fresh Install

#1017192
  • palletweasel

    4 weeks ago

    Rank Math free

    Summary of Issue:
    Even after a fresh install, with no connected sites and no Webmaster Tools data entered, Rank Math is still injecting a Google verification code from a different website I used to work on, not the current site.

    Hello,

    I’m reaching out regarding an issue I’m encountering with Rank Math and the Google Site Verification meta tag on my website (https://palletweasel.com).

    Here’s a full breakdown of the situation:

    I originally had Rank Math installed, but I noticed that an incorrect Google Site Verification code was being inserted into my website’s <head>.

    The verification code that appears is not associated with Pallet Weasel — it actually belongs to a different website that I worked on in the past.

    I disabled the Rank Math plugin and cleared my website cache. After doing so, the incorrect verification code disappeared from the source code, confirming that Rank Math was adding it.

    Let me be clear that the “Webmaster Tools” field under Rank Math settings was empty during all of this.

    I then deleted the Rank Math plugin completely, cleared cache again, and verified that the verification code was gone from the source.

    I then reinstalled Rank Math (fresh install — not restored from backup), and without configuring anything, the old, incorrect Google verification code reappeared in my source code.

    Inside WordPress, the Webmaster Tools field is empty.

    I also checked my account on the Rank Math website: No connected websites were listed.

    This suggests that Rank Math is pulling old verification code from somewhere else.

    Can you please advise:

    How to fully reset Rank Math’s database settings (if that’s necessary)?

    Or if there’s a different reason why the old code is persisting after a reinstall?

    I’m happy to provide any additional information or access if needed.
    Thanks so much for your help!

    Best,
    Lee

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • palletweasel

    3 weeks, 6 days ago

    Rank Math free

    I ended up using the HTML file method and that seemed to work.

    Ike

    3 weeks, 5 days ago

    Hello,

    Thank you for contacting Rank Math support.

    Please confirm that the Google Search Console field in Rank Math > General Settings > Webmaster Tools is empty.
    https://i.rankmath.com/i/45jOtD

    If you want to start from scratch in Rank Math, you may need to follow this guide to completely uninstall the plugin first:
    https://rankmath.com/kb/uninstall/#completely-removing-rank-math-s-data

    If the issue persists, we might need to take a closer look at your site.

    Please edit the first post on this ticket and include your WordPress & FTP logins in the designated Sensitive Data section.

    Please do take a complete backup of your website before sharing the information with us.

    It is completely secure and only our support staff has access to that section. If you want, you can use the below plugin to generate a temporary login URL to your website and share that with us instead:

    https://wordpress.org/plugins/temporary-login-without-password/

    You can use the above plugin in conjunction with the WP Security Audit Log to monitor what changes our staff might make on your website (if any):

    https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-security-audit-log/

    We really look forward to helping you.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

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