Google Algorithm Updates
Every Google algorithm update from 2003 to today, newest first, with the date, the type of update and a one-line summary.
Click any update for our full breakdown: what changed, who was affected and what to do. When Google releases a new update, it is added at the top of this page.
140 updates · newest first · page 1 of 6
- Google's September 2026 Spam UpdateNewSpam
Google's September 2026 spam update rolled out from 24 September to 8 October 2026, much longer than earlier 2026 spam updates. Here's how to check for impact.
- Google's 2026 Site Reputation Policy Change for the EEAPolicy
In August 2026 Google changed how its site reputation policy is enforced for searchers in the European Economic Area. Here is what changed and what is still unclear.
- Google's 2026 Spam Updates: March, June and August ExplainedSpam
Google released three short spam updates in March, June and August 2026. Here are the confirmed dates, what little Google said and how to check for impact.
- Google's May 2026 Core Update ExplainedCore update
Google's May 2026 core update rolled out in about 12 days, from 21 May to 2 June. Here is what Google confirmed and what trackers suggested.
- Google's Back Button Hijacking Spam Policy (2026)Spam
In April 2026 Google made back button hijacking an explicit spam violation, enforced from 15 June. Here is what it covers and how to audit your site.
- Google's March 2026 Core Update ExplainedCore update
Google's March 2026 core update ran from 27 March to 8 April, three days after a spam update. Here is what was confirmed and what trackers reported.
- Google's February 2026 Discover Core Update: The First Discover-Only Core UpdateCore update
Google's February 2026 Discover core update was the first core update for Discover alone. Here is what Google said, what it didn't, and how to read your data.
- Google's December 2025 Core Update ExplainedCore update
Google's December 2025 core update ran from 11 to 29 December, right through the holidays. Here is what Google confirmed and what analysts observed.
- Google Drops the num=100 Parameter (September 2025): Why Impressions FellAlgorithm
Around 10–14 September 2025, Google stopped supporting the num=100 parameter. Rank trackers broke and desktop Search Console impressions fell sharply, a reporting change mistaken for an update.
- Google's August 2025 Spam Update: A Nearly Month-Long RolloutSpam
Google's August 2025 spam update took almost four weeks to roll out. Here is what Google confirmed, what was observed and how to audit your site.
- Google Preferred Sources (August 2025): Readers Pick Publishers in Top StoriesAlgorithm
Launched 12 August 2025 in the US and India. Preferred Sources let readers star news outlets so they appear more often in Top Stories, expanding to all languages worldwide by April 2026.
- Google's June 2025 Core Update: Partial Recoveries and Big SwingsCore update
Google's June 2025 core update ran from 30 June to 17 July and brought big swings plus some partial recoveries. Here is what is confirmed and what is anecdotal.
- Google's March 2025 Core Update ExplainedCore update
Google's March 2025 core update ran from 13 to 27 March. Here is what Google confirmed, what data providers saw and how AI search changes complicate the picture.
- Google's December 2024 Spam UpdateSpam
Google's December 2024 spam update rolled out globally from 19 to 26 December, right after a core update. Here is what was confirmed and how to respond.
- Google's December 2024 Core Update: A Second Core Update in WeeksCore update
Google released its December 2024 core update just one week after the November update ended. Here is what Google confirmed, what trackers saw and how to read your data.
- Google’s November 2024 Core Update ExplainedCore update
Google’s November 2024 core update rolled out through peak retail season. Here are the confirmed facts, reported effects and how to analyse Q4 data.
- Google’s August 2024 Core Update and Small PublishersCore update
Google’s August 2024 core update took creator feedback into account and aimed to show more small and independent sites. Here is what happened and how to read your data.
- Google's Explicit Fake Content Update (July 2024): Demoting Deepfake SitesAlgorithm
Announced 31 July 2024. Google made removals of explicit deepfakes easier, favored non-explicit results for name searches (cutting exposure by over 70%) and demoted sites with many removals.
- Google’s June 2024 Spam UpdateSpam
Google’s June 2024 spam update was a one-week rollout after the March 2024 changes. Here is what Google confirmed and how to respond if your site was affected.
- From SGE to AI Overviews to AI Mode: A Timeline of Google's AI Search RolloutsAI search
A dated timeline of Google's AI search rollouts, from the 2023 SGE experiment to AI Overviews and AI Mode, and how to measure their impact separately from ranking updates.
- How the Helpful Content System Became Part of Google’s Core Ranking (2024)Helpful content
Google folded its helpful content system into core ranking in March 2024. Here is what changed, what “retired” means and what it implies for sites hit by earlier updates.
- Google’s Scaled Content Abuse Policy ExplainedPolicy
Google’s scaled content abuse policy replaced the old auto-generated content rule in March 2024. Here is what it covers, Google’s examples and how to audit your site.
- Google’s Expired Domain Abuse Policy: What Changed in 2024Policy
Since March 2024, buying an expired domain to rank low-value content on its old reputation is spam under Google’s policies. Here is what counts and what does not.
- Google’s 2024 March Update | Latest Spammy Core Content UpdateSpam
About the update Google’s March 2024 Core Update in Brief Why Was The Update Required? SEOs have been exploiting the Google’s algorithm system of rankings by…
- Google's Hidden Gems Update (2023): Surfacing Forums and First-Hand ExperienceAlgorithm
Confirmed 16 November 2023 after rolling out within the fall 2023 core updates. Hidden gems boosted first-hand content from forums, social posts and blogs, lifting Reddit, Quora and many niche forums.
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