Integrating Google reCAPTCHA v3 into your website is one of the simplest ways to reduce spam, fake enquiries and automated abuse. It works quietly in the background, analysing visitor behaviour rather than forcing users to tick boxes or complete image challenges.
To use reCAPTCHA v3, you’ll need to generate a Site Key and a Secret Key from Google’s reCAPTCHA admin area. This guide explains how to create those keys, what they’re used for, and what happens once they’re installed on your website.
What Is Google reCAPTCHA v3 and How Does It Work?
Google reCAPTCHA v3 is a security system designed to protect websites without interrupting genuine users. Instead of asking visitors to prove they’re human, it monitors behaviour such as mouse movement, time on page and interaction patterns.
Each visit is given a score between 0.0 and 1.0. Higher scores indicate human behaviour, while lower scores suggest automated or suspicious activity. Your website can then decide how to respond — for example allowing a form submission, flagging it for review, or blocking it entirely.
This makes reCAPTCHA v3 ideal for contact forms, quote requests, login pages and newsletter signups where user experience and conversion rates matter.
How to Create Google reCAPTCHA v3 Keys
Step 1: Access the Google reCAPTCHA Admin Console
- Visit the Google reCAPTCHA Admin Console
- Sign in using your Google account (create one if needed)
You’ll see a dashboard listing any reCAPTCHA sites already linked to your account.
Step 2: Register a New Site
Click the “+” (Create) button and complete the registration form:
- Label: A name for your reference (usually your website or business name)
- reCAPTCHA type: Select reCAPTCHA v3
- Domains: Enter your domain name only (for example: athenamedia.co.uk). Do not include https:// or www
- Terms: Accept Google’s reCAPTCHA terms of service
Once complete, submit the form.
Step 3: Get Your reCAPTCHA Keys
After registration, Google will generate two keys:
- Site Key: Used on the front end of your website
- Secret Key: Used server-side to securely verify requests with Google
Copy both keys carefully. Even a small error or extra space will prevent reCAPTCHA from working correctly.
Step 4: Share the Keys Securely
The Secret Key is sensitive and should be treated like a password.
- Do not send it via public or unsecured channels
- Only share it with your website developer or provider
Once received, we’ll install and configure reCAPTCHA v3 properly on your site.
What Happens After Installation?
After reCAPTCHA v3 is installed, we configure scoring thresholds and test it across your forms. This ensures genuine users are not blocked while bots and spam submissions are filtered out.
Over time, the system continues learning and adapting, helping to keep your inbox clear without affecting user experience.
Common Questions About Google reCAPTCHA v3
- Is Google reCAPTCHA v3 GDPR compliant?
reCAPTCHA collects behavioural data to assess risk. If you use it, you should reference Google reCAPTCHA in your privacy policy and explain that it’s used to protect forms from spam and abuse.
- Can reCAPTCHA v3 block real users?
When configured correctly, this is very unlikely. Scores are used flexibly, not as a hard pass/fail, which allows genuine users to submit forms normally.
- Why use reCAPTCHA v3 instead of v2?
Version 3 avoids checkboxes and image tests, which improves accessibility, usability and conversion rates while still providing strong protection.
- Does reCAPTCHA v3 affect SEO or performance?
No negative SEO impact when implemented correctly. It runs in the background and has minimal performance overhead.
- Where is reCAPTCHA v3 most useful?
Contact forms, quote requests, login pages, account registration and newsletter signups benefit the most.
Final Thoughts
Google reCAPTCHA v3 is a low-friction, high-impact way to protect your website from spam and automated abuse. When configured properly, it improves security without harming user experience.
If you’d like help setting up reCAPTCHA v3 or want to make sure it’s configured correctly, get in touch with Athena Media and we’ll take care of it for you.
