With Google search making it harder to scrape its search results, here are some tips.
How to test Google search for errors
The easiest way to visibly check for errors is to click on the test Google button.
Go to settings.
Go to settings > utility.
Click on test Google button.
SCM will open a browser window with a Google search for cat.
If you see any captcha requests or the page doesn’t load it means SCM has problems reading Google search.
Example Google search errors
|2/3/2025, 4:36:59 PM| Retry 1/1 in 10s
|2/3/2025, 4:36:58 PM| Warning ERR_ABORTED (-3) loading 'https://www.google.com/search?q=Chinese%20Cultural%20Acts%20for%20Hire&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&lr=lang_en&sei=O46gZ8vaF5iy0-kP6vuI8Q0'
|2/3/2025, 4:36:55 PM| Querying Google for 'Chinese Cultural Acts for Hire'
|2/3/2025, 4:36:55 PM| Searching Google Current Region:English for 'Chinese Cultural Acts for Hire'
|2/3/2025, 4:36:55 PM| Found 0 article variables in your keyword string
|2/3/2025, 4:36:55 PM| Starting keyword (1/1) 'Chinese Cultural Acts for Hire'
How to reduce Google search captcha requests via a Google account
If you open a test search it may show a captcha challenge.
You can solve this manually to unblock Google search.
The best way to avoid captchas is to Sign in to a Google account.
How to sign in to a Google account
Under settings > utility.
Click Google account button.
This will open a Google sign in page.
Sign in normally using a Google account.
Google will respond with ‘This browser may not be secure’
Click Try again.
After 2-3 retries, Google will accept the login.
Enter your password.
Finish the login.
You will be on your Google account page.
When you click test Google button, notice the presence of the logged in menu items.
Google also doesn’t show as many captchas when you provide a logged in account.