Google Updates are significant occurrences for webmasters and SEO professionals globally. These algorithm modifications, filters, data updates, or other changes often contribute to a decrease in a website's ranking or SEO visibility.
Google updates are pivotal moments for those managing websites and SEO strategies. When a website experiences a decline in ranking or visibility, these updates, which may involve algorithm tweaks, data refreshes, or other modifications, are frequently the cause. This page outlines key Google updates, dating back to 2010.
A Google update, such as the Mobile Update or Phantom Update, refers to changes that impact how rankings are calculated by the search engine, Google. These updates can range from major algorithm overhauls to applying filters or refreshing data. The primary goal of any update is to enhance the relevance and quality of search results, with many changes focusing on specific aspects, like optimizing against search engine spam or addressing duplicate content.
Most updates are rolled out manually and are deployed to Google’s country-specific indexes. Some updates, like the Penguin Update or Panda Update, have become integral to Google’s core algorithm, evolving continuously and automatically without manual intervention.
Annually, Google implements over 600 adjustments and updates to its algorithms. The majority of these changes occur without public announcements in the search engine industry.
The most impactful Google updates involve changes to the algorithm's structure and functionality. These updates create more significant effects compared to simple data refreshes, which only update the data used by the algorithm without adding new features.
The table below lists all important Google updates since 2010, ordered chronologically with the most recent updates first (as of June 2017).
| Update Name | Date First Rolled Out | Features | Confirmed by Google? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google September 2022 Core Update | September 12, 2022 | On September 12, Google announced the release of the “September 2022 Core Update”. The rollout was scheduled to span two weeks. | Yes |
| Google Helpful Content Update | August 25, 2022 | Google's rollout of the “Helpful Content Update” began on August 25 and concluded by September 9, 2022. » Google Helpful Content Update | Yes |
| Google May 2022 Core Update | May 22, 2022 | Following speculation from the SEO community, Google announced the May 2022 Core Update on May 25, 2022. » Google May 2022 Core Update | Yes |