Published on 2025-08-07T06:18:08Z

Google-InspectionTool

Google-InspectionTool is a specialized web crawler from Google that is used exclusively by Google's search testing tools, such as the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console and the Rich Results Test. It does not crawl the web autonomously; instead, it is triggered on-demand when a user initiates a test on a specific URL. Its purpose is to provide webmasters and SEOs with immediate diagnostic feedback on how Googlebot would render and process a page.

What is Google-InspectionTool?

Google-InspectionTool is an official Google crawler that supports its search diagnostic tools, including the URL Inspection Tool and the Rich Results Test. It was introduced to differentiate diagnostic fetches from Google's primary indexing crawls. The crawler mimics Googlebot's behavior but uses its own distinct user-agent strings, such as Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Google-InspectionTool/1.0). It operates on-demand, executing targeted fetches to validate technical configurations only when requested by a user through one of Google's testing tools.

Why is Google-InspectionTool crawling my site?

The Google-InspectionTool crawler is visiting your site because someone—most likely you, a team member, or your SEO agency—is actively using one of Google's testing tools to analyze a specific URL on your site. Unlike Googlebot's regular, scheduled crawls, this crawler's visits are entirely on-demand and directly tied to a testing action. It accesses only the exact URL being tested. The frequency of visits depends solely on how often these diagnostic tools are used on your site.

What is the purpose of Google-InspectionTool?

The primary purpose of Google-InspectionTool is to provide the technical foundation for Google's search-related diagnostic tools. When a webmaster initiates a test, this crawler fetches the specified URL to simulate how Googlebot would render and process it. This provides immediate feedback and allows you to verify structured data, check indexability status, and identify potential issues without waiting for a regular Googlebot crawl. The data it collects is used solely for the diagnostic report and does not affect your site's indexing in search results.

How do I block Google-InspectionTool?

Blocking Google-InspectionTool is generally not recommended, as it will prevent you and others from using valuable diagnostic tools like the URL Inspection Tool and Rich Results Test on your site. However, if you must block it, you can add the following rule to your robots.txt file.

To block this tool, use this directive:

User-agent: Google-InspectionTool
Disallow: /

How to verify the authenticity of the user-agent operated by Google?

Reverse IP lookup technique

To verify user-agent authenticity, you can use host linux command two times with the IP address of the requester.
  1. > host IPAddressOfRequest
    This command returns the reverse lookup hostname (e.g., 4.4.8.8.in-addr.arpa.). 
  2. > host ReverseDNSFromTheOutputOfFirstRequest
If the output matches the original IP address and the domain is associated with a trusted operator (e.g., Google), the user-agent can be considered legitimate.

IP list lookup technique

Some operators provide a public list of IP addresses used by their crawlers. This list can be cross-referenced to verify a user-agent's authenticity. However, both operators and website owners may find it challenging to maintain an up-to-date list, so use this method with caution and in conjunction with other verification techniques.