Google Algorithm Updates +
Ranking Systems Tracking Tool  

Ranking algorithms change a lot. Stay up to date with confirmed updates and analysis here.

Simple overview of confirmed Google ranking updates (sorted by rollout start date)

Start Date
Name of Update
Link to Details
Nov 11, 2024
November 2024 Core Update
Details
Aug 15, 2024
August 2024 Core Update
Details
Jun 20, 2024
June 2024 Spam Update
Details
Mar 5, 2024
March 2024 Core Update
Details
Mar 5, 2024
March 2024 Spam Update
Details
Jan 1, 2024
Explicit Fake Content Updates
Details
Nov 8, 2023
November 2023 Reviews Update
Details
Nov 2, 2023
November 2023 Core Update
Details
Oct 5, 2023
October 2023 Core Update
Details
Oct 4, 2023
October 2023 Spam Update
Details
Sep 14, 2023
September 2023 Helpful Content Update (#3)
Details
Aug 22, 2023
August 2023 Core Update
Details
Apr 12, 2023
April 2023 Reviews Update
Details
Mar 15, 2023
March 2023 Core Update
Details
Feb 21, 2023
February 2023 Product Reviews Update (#6)
Details
Dec 14, 2022
December 2022 Link Spam Update
Details
Dec 5, 2022
December 2022 Helpful Content Update (#2)
Details
Oct 19, 2022
October 2022 Spam Update
Details
Sep 20, 2022
September 2022 Product Reviews Update (#5)
Details
Sep 12, 2022
September 2022 Core Update
Details
Aug 25, 2022
Helpful Content Update
Details
Jul 27, 2022
July 2022 Product Reviews Update (#4)
Details
May 25, 2022
May 2022 Core Update
Details
Mar 23, 2022
March 2022 Product Reviews Update (#3)
Details
Feb 22, 2022
Page Experience Update
Details
Dec 1, 2021
December 2021 Product Reviews Update (#2)
Details
Jun 15, 2021
Page Experience Update
Details
Apr 8, 2021
April 2021 Product Reviews Update (#1)
Details
Feb 10, 2021
Passage Ranking
Details
Oct 24, 2019
BERT Update
Details
Aug 1, 2018
Medic Update
Details
Apr 21, 2015
Mobile Update
Details
Mar 20, 2015
RankBrain Update
Details
Aug 26, 2013
Hummingbird Update
Details
Aug 26, 2012
Penguin Update
Details
Feb 23, 2011
Panda Update
Details

Detailed timeline of confirmed Google ranking updates

UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Core Update

November 2024 Core Update

Started
Nov 11, 2024
Completed
Dec 5, 2024
Announced
Nov 11, 2024
This is Google's third core algorithm update of 2024 (others were in March & August).
November 2024 Core Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Core update

August 2024 Core Update

Started
Aug 15, 2024
Completed
Sep 3, 2024
Announced
Aug 15, 2024
This is Google's second core algorithm update of 2024 (the first one was in March) and is intended to improve the quality of search results by highlighting content that's genuinely useful to people, rather than content that feels overly "SEO'd".
August 2024 Core Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search ranking algorithm update

June 2024 Spam Update

Started
Jun 20, 2024
Completed
Jun 27, 2024
Announced
Jun 20, 2024
Google has made a noteworthy improvement to their automated systems that detect search spam. The most recent search spam update occurred in March 2024, in conjunction with a core update.
June 2024 Spam Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Core Update

March 2024 Core Update

Started
Mar 5, 2024
Completed
Apr 26, 2024
Announced
Mar 5, 2024
This is Google's first core algorithm update of 2024 (the most recent one was in October 2023).
March 2024 Core Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search ranking algorithm update

March 2024 Spam Update

Started
Mar 5, 2024
Completed
Mar 20, 2024
Announced
Mar 5, 2024
Google has made a noteworthy improvement to their automated systems that detect search spam. This is the first search spam update since October 2023.
March 2024 Spam Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search Ranking Update Focus Area

Explicit Fake Content Updates

Started
Jan 1, 2024
Completed
Announced
Jul 31, 2024
Updates targeting non-consensual explicit content, particularly artificially generated (AI generated) "deepfakes."
Explicit Fake Content Updates
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search Ranking Algorithm Update

November 2023 Reviews Update

Started
Nov 8, 2023
Completed
Dec 7, 2023
Announced
Nov 8, 2023
This update affects Google Search's reviews system, which aims to reward high-quality review content. The reviews system doesn't just evaluate product reviews - it evaluates all first-party website content providing recommendations, opinions, or analysis on any topic: products, entertainment, services, or businesses. It does not evaluate third-party reviews, for example user reviews.
November 2023 Reviews Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Core Update

November 2023 Core Update

Started
Nov 2, 2023
Completed
Nov 28, 2023
Announced
Nov 2, 2023
This is Google's fourth core algorithm update of 2023 (the first one was in March, the second one was in August, the third was in October).
November 2023 Core Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Core Update

October 2023 Core Update

Started
Oct 5, 2023
Completed
Oct 19, 2023
Announced
Oct 5, 2023
This is Google's third core algorithm update of 2023 (the first one was in March, the second one was in August).
October 2023 Core Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search ranking algorithm update

October 2023 Spam Update

Started
Oct 4, 2023
Completed
Oct 20, 2023
Announced
Oct 4, 2023
Google has made a noteworthy improvement to their automated systems that detect search spam. This is the first search spam update since October 2022 (there was a link spam update in December 2022, which specifically seeks out spammy links in order to neutralize any potential benefit).
October 2023 Spam Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Sitewide Signal

September 2023 Helpful Content Update (#3)

Started
Sep 14, 2023
Completed
Sep 27, 2023
Announced
Sep 14, 2023
The September 2023 helpful content update improves Google's classifier and works across content globally in all languages.
September 2023 Helpful Content Update (#3)
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Core Update

August 2023 Core Update

Started
Aug 22, 2023
Completed
Sep 7, 2023
Announced
Aug 22, 2023
This is Google's second core algorithm update of 2023 (the first one was in March).
August 2023 Core Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search Ranking Algorithm Update

April 2023 Reviews Update

Started
Apr 12, 2023
Completed
Apr 25, 2023
Announced
Apr 12, 2023
This update affects Google Search's reviews system, which aims to reward high-quality review content. The reviews system doesn't just evaluate product reviews - it evaluates all first-party website content providing recommendations, opinions, or analysis on any topic: products, entertainment, services, or businesses. It does not evaluate third-party reviews, for example user reviews.
April 2023 Reviews Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Core Update

March 2023 Core Update

Started
Mar 15, 2023
Completed
Mar 28, 2023
Announced
Mar 15, 2023
This is Google's first core algorithm update since September 2022.
March 2023 Core Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search ranking algorithm update

February 2023 Product Reviews Update (#6)

Started
Feb 21, 2023
Completed
Mar 7, 2023
Announced
Feb 21, 2023
Google seeks to promote product reviews that are high quality and helpful to users as evidenced by insightful, original content created by experts and/or product enthusiasts.
February 2023 Product Reviews Update (#6)
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Spam update

December 2022 Link Spam Update

Started
Dec 14, 2022
Completed
Jan 12, 2023
Announced
Dec 14, 2022
Google is updating SpamBrain, their AI-based spam prevention system, to make sure it can keep catching new types of link spam.
December 2022 Link Spam Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Sitewide Signal

December 2022 Helpful Content Update (#2)

Started
Dec 5, 2022
Completed
Jan 12, 2023
Announced
Dec 8, 2022
The December 2022 helpful content update improves Google's classifier and works across content globally in all languages.
December 2022 Helpful Content Update (#2)
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search ranking algorithm update

October 2022 Spam Update

Started
Oct 19, 2022
Completed
Oct 21, 2022
Announced
Oct 19, 2022
Google has made a noteworthy improvement to their automated systems that detect search spam.
October 2022 Spam Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search ranking algorithm update

September 2022 Product Reviews Update (#5)

Started
Sep 20, 2022
Completed
Sep 26, 2022
Announced
Sep 20, 2022
Google is cracking down on product reviews that aren't authentic or don't help users.
September 2022 Product Reviews Update (#5)
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Broad core update

September 2022 Core Update

Started
Sep 12, 2022
Completed
Sep 26, 2022
Announced
Sep 12, 2022
Google makes core updates several times a year to increase the relevancy and usefulness of search results, and smaller core updates are not announced. Core updates are made to keep pace with the evolving web and include broad changes and refinements to Google’s algorithm and systems.
September 2022 Core Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Sitewide signal

Helpful Content Update

Started
Aug 25, 2022
Completed
Sep 9, 2022
Announced
Aug 18, 2022
This update includes a new, weighted, sitewide signal meant to reward content that’s useful to searchers and downgrade content that is unoriginal, unsatisfying, unhelpful, and written to rank well on search engines rather than help or inform people. Pages with “people-first content” could still rank well even if a website has been deemed unhelpful.
Helpful Content Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search ranking algorithm update

July 2022 Product Reviews Update (#4)

Started
Jul 27, 2022
Completed
Aug 2, 2022
Announced
Jul 27, 2022
Google really wants us to provide authentic and helpful product reviews
July 2022 Product Reviews Update (#4)
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Broad core update

May 2022 Core Update

Started
May 25, 2022
Completed
Jun 9, 2022
Announced
May 25, 2022
Google makes core updates several times a year to increase the relevancy and usefulness of search results, and smaller core updates are not announced. Core updates are made to keep pace with the evolving web and include broad changes and refinements to Google’s algorithm and systems.
May 2022 Core Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search ranking algorithm update

March 2022 Product Reviews Update (#3)

Started
Mar 23, 2022
Completed
Announced
Apr 8, 2021
Improvements to Google's ability to identify high-quality reviews.
March 2022 Product Reviews Update (#3)
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Desktop ranking update

Page Experience Update

Started
Feb 22, 2022
Completed
Announced
Nov 4, 2021
Commonly referred to as Core Web Vitals, the Page Experience update is now being released on desktop.
Page Experience Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Product Reviews

December 2021 Product Reviews Update (#2)

Started
Dec 1, 2021
Completed
Dec 15, 2021
Announced
Dec 1, 2021
Improvements to Google's ability to identify high-quality reviews.
December 2021 Product Reviews Update (#2)
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Mobile ranking update

Page Experience Update

Started
Jun 15, 2021
Completed
Aug 31, 2021
Announced
May 28, 2020
Core Web Vitals metrics in mobile search results.
Page Experience Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Search ranking algorithm update

April 2021 Product Reviews Update (#1)

Started
Apr 8, 2021
Completed
Apr 2, 2021
Announced
Apr 8, 2021
Identify and surface high-quality reviews.
April 2021 Product Reviews Update (#1)
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Ranking

Passage Ranking

Started
Feb 10, 2021
Completed
Feb 10, 2021
Announced
Feb 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/searchliaison/status/1359928797873594368
Passage Ranking
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Algorithm update

BERT Update

Started
Oct 24, 2019
Completed
Announced
Oct 25, 2019
Improved understanding of user search queries using a deep learning algorithm: Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers.
BERT Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Algorithm update

Medic Update

Started
Aug 1, 2018
Completed
Announced
Aug 1, 2018
Increased importance of expertise, authority, and trust (E-A-T) for YMYL (Your Money Your Life) content: sensitive topics that could potentially have a large impact on users’ finances, health and well-being.
Medic Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Broad core update.

Mobile Update

Started
Apr 21, 2015
Completed
Announced
Feb 26, 2015
More weight is placed on a mobile user’s experience of the website. This update applies to all search results in all languages, globally, and applies to individual pages, not sitewide.
Mobile Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Algorithm update

RankBrain Update

Started
Mar 20, 2015
Completed
Announced
Oct 26, 2015
Rollout of machine learning to better understand search queries, searcher intent and entities.
RankBrain Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Algorithm update

Hummingbird Update

Started
Aug 26, 2013
Completed
Announced
Sep 26, 2013
Improved search results for long-tail keywords and enabled conversational search. Humming bird also improved the appearance of search results on mobile devices.
Hummingbird Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Algorithm Update

Penguin Update

Started
Aug 26, 2012
Completed
Announced
Apr 24, 2012
Improved understanding of link quality to downgrade spam and optimize search results for users. Google also rolled out a series of Penguin updates through September 2016.
Penguin Update
UPDATE COMPLETE
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Algorithm update

Panda Update

Started
Feb 23, 2011
Completed
Apr 11, 2011
Announced
Feb 24, 2011
Lowered the ranking of sites with thin, low-quality content to help searchers find more high-quality results.
Panda Update
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