API Returned a 403 Response / Error: We encountered an error when fetching the report data

When you try to view your MonsterInsights Search Console report, are you seeing the following error message?

“The API returned a 403 response with this message: Google Analytics for WordPress by MonsterInsights failed to retrieve the new report data”

An alternative message might be “Error: We encountered an error when fetching the report data”.

For either error message, follow this guide to learn how to resolve the issue.

Please ensure you have created a Domain Search Console property type by following our guide here: Introducing Google Search Console Domain Property Support

Prerequisites: You must have the MonsterInsights Plus Tier or higher to get access to the Search Console Report in MonsterInsights inside your WordPress admin.

Step 1: Navigate to analytics.google.com and go to Admin.

Then click into your Property Settings » and make a note of the Default URL settings.

Step 2: In a new tab, navigate to analytics.google.com and go to Admin » All Products » Search Console » and click Adjust Link and make a note of the URL of the site connected.

Step 3:  If no Search Console property is connected, follow these instructions to connect one (and make sure the URLs match: How to Verify Your Site in Google Search Console with Google Analytics).

If there is a property connected, make sure the listed URL matches the Default URL in your Property settings.

Both URLs need to match exactly:

Analytics Default URL Search Console Property
http://websiteURL.com http://websiteURL.com
https://websiteURL.com https://websiteURL.com
http://www.websiteURL.com http://www.websiteURL.com
https://www.websiteURL.com https://www.websiteURL.com

If there is a mismatch, go ahead and edit the Default URL in your property settings.

Or if you like the URL that’s listed as the Default URL, you can disconnect the non-matching Search Console property type and reconnect to the correct one.

If you need to create a new URL prefix Search Console property type with the matching URL variation, you can follow this guide: How to Verify Your Site in Google Search Console with Google Analytics.

Once you’ve made the necessary adjustments so that the Analytics Default URL setting matches exactly with the connected Search Console property type, you can try checking if you can view your MonsterInsights Search Console report at Insights » Reports » Search Console.

Step 4: If you continue to see an error message despite completing the above steps, try the following steps:

  • If you created a URL prefix Search Console property type, try creating a Domain Search Console property type instead by following our guide here: Introducing Google Search Console Domain Property Support. Once a Domain property is created and verified, you may need to wait 24 to 48 hours before you see any difference in your Search Console report.
  • Make sure your Google account has permissions to both your Analytics and Search Console properties
  • Try disconnecting and reconnecting MonsterInsights at Insights » Settings. You may need to try disconnecting twice (the first try you might see an error message, and that’s okay). On the second try, click on Force Deauthenticate. Once you’ve fully disconnected, try reconnecting again, making sure to use the Google account that has access to both your Analytics and Search Console property.

I still see an error message

If you continue to see an error message, you can reach out to our support team to double check all of your settings.

Here’s how to submit a support ticket:

Step 1: Log into your MonsterInsights Account page and click the Support tab.

Step 2: Fill out the all of the required fields in the support form as indicated.

In the Comment or Message section, share which steps you’ve followed as listed in this guide.

Step 3: Once done, click Submit.

Once you’ve submitted your ticket, you’ll immediately receive an email to confirm that we’ve received your ticket.

A member of our support team will follow up with a response to your message as soon as possible with further steps to take so our team can help verify all of the steps you’ve taken.

That’s it! While our team is looking into it, please know you can view your Search Console property directly at https://search.google.com/search-console/ in the meantime.