Google Algorithm Updates 2026: Full History and What to Do
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Google updates: the full algorithm update history

Every core, spam and other search update with rollout dates. Each one comes with a short summary: what changed and what a site owner should do.

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New updates are pulled from the official Google Search Status Dashboard every 3 hours.
31
updates in the archive since 2011
Sep 24, 2026
latest: Spam Update · September 2026
3
core updates in the last 12 months
4
spam updates in the last 12 months

Update timeline

Data updated: 01.11.2026 23:26

  1. 2026
  2. Spam

    Spam Update · September 2026

    14 days

    What changed

    Stronger spam-fighting systems (SpamBrain): Google gets better at finding sites and pages that break the rules, such as mass-generated content, cloaking, hacked pages and bought or manipulative links. The value of such links is simply zeroed out.

    What to do

    Audit your link profile: remove or ignore site networks, spammy directories and automated link runs. Build links gradually from live, relevant sites. If traffic dropped right during the update, look for a violation instead of waiting for a "rollback".

    Google announcement ↗
  3. Spam

    Spam Update · August 2026

    3 days

    What changed

    Stronger spam-fighting systems (SpamBrain): Google gets better at finding sites and pages that break the rules, such as mass-generated content, cloaking, hacked pages and bought or manipulative links. The value of such links is simply zeroed out.

    What to do

    Audit your link profile: remove or ignore site networks, spammy directories and automated link runs. Build links gradually from live, relevant sites. If traffic dropped right during the update, look for a violation instead of waiting for a "rollback".

    Google announcement ↗
  4. Spam

    Spam Update · June 2026

    2 days

    What changed

    Stronger spam-fighting systems (SpamBrain): Google gets better at finding sites and pages that break the rules, such as mass-generated content, cloaking, hacked pages and bought or manipulative links. The value of such links is simply zeroed out.

    What to do

    Audit your link profile: remove or ignore site networks, spammy directories and automated link runs. Build links gradually from live, relevant sites. If traffic dropped right during the update, look for a violation instead of waiting for a "rollback".

    Google announcement ↗
  5. Core Update

    Core Update · May 2026

    12 days

    What changed

    A broad update to Google's core ranking systems. Google reassesses page quality and relevance overall, there is no specific "violation" being punished. Rankings can fluctuate for the whole rollout (usually 2 to 3 weeks).

    What to do

    Avoid drastic changes while the update is rolling out. Once it ends, compare traffic for 2 weeks before and after in Search Console, find the pages that dropped and strengthen them: fresh content, author expertise, a better answer to the query, natural links.

    Google announcement ↗
  6. Core Update

    Core Update · March 2026

    12 days

    What changed

    A broad update to Google's core ranking systems. Google reassesses page quality and relevance overall, there is no specific "violation" being punished. Rankings can fluctuate for the whole rollout (usually 2 to 3 weeks).

    What to do

    Avoid drastic changes while the update is rolling out. Once it ends, compare traffic for 2 weeks before and after in Search Console, find the pages that dropped and strengthen them: fresh content, author expertise, a better answer to the query, natural links.

    Google announcement ↗
  7. Spam

    Spam Update · March 2026

    1 days

    What changed

    Stronger spam-fighting systems (SpamBrain): Google gets better at finding sites and pages that break the rules, such as mass-generated content, cloaking, hacked pages and bought or manipulative links. The value of such links is simply zeroed out.

    What to do

    Audit your link profile: remove or ignore site networks, spammy directories and automated link runs. Build links gradually from live, relevant sites. If traffic dropped right during the update, look for a violation instead of waiting for a "rollback".

    Google announcement ↗
  8. Discover

    Discover Update · February 2026

    22 days

    What changed

    An update to how Google picks content for the Discover feed. It only affects Discover traffic, not regular search.

    What to do

    Check the Discover report in Search Console separately from search. Publish original content with high-quality large images (1200 px and up) and honest headlines without clickbait.

    Google announcement ↗
  9. 2025
  10. Core Update

    Core Update · December 2025

    18 days

    What changed

    A broad update to Google's core ranking systems. Google reassesses page quality and relevance overall, there is no specific "violation" being punished. Rankings can fluctuate for the whole rollout (usually 2 to 3 weeks).

    What to do

    Avoid drastic changes while the update is rolling out. Once it ends, compare traffic for 2 weeks before and after in Search Console, find the pages that dropped and strengthen them: fresh content, author expertise, a better answer to the query, natural links.

    Google announcement ↗
  11. Spam

    Spam Update · August 2025

    27 days

    What changed

    Stronger spam-fighting systems (SpamBrain): Google gets better at finding sites and pages that break the rules, such as mass-generated content, cloaking, hacked pages and bought or manipulative links. The value of such links is simply zeroed out.

    What to do

    Audit your link profile: remove or ignore site networks, spammy directories and automated link runs. Build links gradually from live, relevant sites. If traffic dropped right during the update, look for a violation instead of waiting for a "rollback".

  12. Core Update

    Core Update · June 2025

    17 days

    What changed

    A broad update to Google's core ranking systems. Google reassesses page quality and relevance overall, there is no specific "violation" being punished. Rankings can fluctuate for the whole rollout (usually 2 to 3 weeks).

    What to do

    Avoid drastic changes while the update is rolling out. Once it ends, compare traffic for 2 weeks before and after in Search Console, find the pages that dropped and strengthen them: fresh content, author expertise, a better answer to the query, natural links.

  13. Core Update

    Core Update · March 2025

    14 days

    What changed

    A broad update to Google's core ranking systems. Google reassesses page quality and relevance overall, there is no specific "violation" being punished. Rankings can fluctuate for the whole rollout (usually 2 to 3 weeks).

    What to do

    Avoid drastic changes while the update is rolling out. Once it ends, compare traffic for 2 weeks before and after in Search Console, find the pages that dropped and strengthen them: fresh content, author expertise, a better answer to the query, natural links.

  14. 2024
  15. Spam

    Spam Update · December 2024

    7 days

    What changed

    Stronger spam-fighting systems (SpamBrain): Google gets better at finding sites and pages that break the rules, such as mass-generated content, cloaking, hacked pages and bought or manipulative links. The value of such links is simply zeroed out.

    What to do

    Audit your link profile: remove or ignore site networks, spammy directories and automated link runs. Build links gradually from live, relevant sites. If traffic dropped right during the update, look for a violation instead of waiting for a "rollback".

  16. Core Update

    Core Update · December 2024

    6 days

    What changed

    A broad update to Google's core ranking systems. Google reassesses page quality and relevance overall, there is no specific "violation" being punished. Rankings can fluctuate for the whole rollout (usually 2 to 3 weeks).

    What to do

    Avoid drastic changes while the update is rolling out. Once it ends, compare traffic for 2 weeks before and after in Search Console, find the pages that dropped and strengthen them: fresh content, author expertise, a better answer to the query, natural links.

  17. Core Update

    Core Update · November 2024

    24 days

    What changed

    A broad update to Google's core ranking systems. Google reassesses page quality and relevance overall, there is no specific "violation" being punished. Rankings can fluctuate for the whole rollout (usually 2 to 3 weeks).

    What to do

    Avoid drastic changes while the update is rolling out. Once it ends, compare traffic for 2 weeks before and after in Search Console, find the pages that dropped and strengthen them: fresh content, author expertise, a better answer to the query, natural links.

  18. Core Update

    Core Update · August 2024

    19 days

    What changed

    The first core update after March: Google partly restored visibility to small independent sites that had dropped earlier and kept demoting content written just for search.

    What to do

    Review the pages that dropped through a reader's eyes: do they answer better than competitors? Strengthen expertise and experience, refresh outdated data.

  19. Spam

    Site Reputation Abuse

    What changed

    Google started enforcing its policy against "parasite SEO": third-party content on authoritative sites (coupons, casinos, loans) published only to rank on the strength of the domain's reputation.

    What to do

    If you host partner content, it must be under your editorial control. Buying "sections" on authoritative domains for promotion has become risky.

  20. Core Update

    Core Update · March 2024

    45 days

    What changed

    One of the biggest updates ever: the helpful content system became part of the core algorithm, and new spam policies launched alongside it, targeting scaled content abuse, expired domain abuse and site reputation abuse. Google said it cut low-quality content in results by about 40%.

    What to do

    Remove thin pages that were mass-generated without review. Do not buy expired domains just to pass their authority. Bet on unique value and real experience.

  21. 2023
  22. Helpful Content

    Helpful Content · September 2023

    14 days

    What changed

    The helpful content system demotes sites with lots of content written "for search engines" rather than for people. The signal works at the whole-site level.

    What to do

    Delete or rewrite weak pages that add no value of their own. Add real experience, authors, examples and data. Write for your audience, not for every single keyword.

  23. 2022
  24. Links

    Link Spam Update · December 2022

    29 days

    What changed

    SpamBrain learned to detect not only spam sites but also sites that buy and sell links. The value of those links is zeroed out, so a site loses any rankings that depended on them.

    What to do

    Audit your profile: site networks (PBNs) and obviously paid articles are the main risk. The safer path is slow growth from live sites and varied anchors.

  25. Helpful Content

    Helpful Content · August 2022

    15 days

    What changed

    Launch of the helpful content system: a site-wide signal that demotes sites with a large share of content created just for search traffic.

    What to do

    Ask yourself: would people come to your site if Google did not exist? Delete or merge pages written only to target keywords.

  26. 2021
  27. Links

    Link Spam Update · July 2021

    29 days

    What changed

    The first standalone update against link spam. Google reminded everyone that sponsored and affiliate links must be marked with rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow".

    What to do

    Mark paid placements with the right attributes. For promotion, rely on natural mentions and discussions, not mass link runs.

  28. Other

    Page Experience (Core Web Vitals)

    79 days

    What changed

    Page speed and usability (Core Web Vitals: LCP, CLS, then FID, later INP), mobile friendliness and HTTPS became ranking signals.

    What to do

    Check the Core Web Vitals report in Search Console. Optimize images, fonts and scripts. This is a tie-breaker, not a replacement for quality content.

  29. Reviews

    Reviews Update · April 2021

    14 days

    What changed

    An update for product and service reviews: reviews with real hands-on experience, comparisons and evidence rank higher than ones that just repeat the specs.

    What to do

    Add your own photos, tests, pros and cons and comparisons with alternatives to your reviews. Show that the author actually used the product.

  30. 2019
  31. Other

    BERT

    What changed

    A neural network model for natural language understanding: Google got better at reading context and prepositions in long queries.

    What to do

    Write in natural language and answer questions fully. Keyword stuffing does not help, clear text does.

  32. 2018
  33. Core Update

    Medic Update

    What changed

    A broad core update that hit YMYL topics (health, finance, law) the hardest. After it, the E-A-T concept (now E-E-A-T) became central.

    What to do

    In YMYL niches, show qualified authors, sources, contacts and brand reputation. Mentions and links from topical communities build trust.

  34. 2016
  35. Links

    Penguin 4.0

    What changed

    Penguin became part of the core algorithm and started working in real time. Instead of penalizing the whole site, Google simply devalues spammy links.

    What to do

    A devalued link is money down the drain. Invest in links that make sense to people: discussions, recommendations, relevant sites.

  36. 2015
  37. Other

    RankBrain

    What changed

    The first machine learning system in ranking: it helps interpret new and ambiguous queries and match them to pages.

    What to do

    Cover the topic fully, with synonyms and related questions, not just the exact keyword.

  38. Other

    Mobile-Friendly Update

    What changed

    "Mobilegeddon": mobile usability became a ranking signal in mobile search. Later Google moved to mobile-first indexing.

    What to do

    Your site must work fully on a phone: the same content, a readable font, easy-to-tap buttons.

  39. 2013
  40. Other

    Hummingbird

    What changed

    A new search engine core that understands the meaning of the whole query rather than separate words. The start of semantic search.

    What to do

    Optimize for user intent and topic, not for exact-match phrases.

  41. 2012
  42. Links

    Penguin

    What changed

    A filter against manipulative links: mass link runs, over-optimized exact-match anchors, link schemes. Sites with such profiles lost rankings sharply.

    What to do

    That is when a natural anchor list started to matter: most links should be branded or naked URLs, with only a few exact matches.

  43. 2011
  44. Helpful Content

    Panda

    What changed

    A filter against low-quality content: doorways, content farms, duplicate and thin pages. Later it became part of the core algorithm.

    What to do

    Every indexed page should be useful. Noindex or merge duplicates and empty pages.

What to do if traffic dropped after an update

01

Wait for the rollout to finish

Rankings jump around during a rollout. Draw conclusions only 1–2 weeks after Google announces it is complete.
02

Identify the update type

A core update re-evaluates quality; a spam update targets policy violations. The type tells you what to fix: content or your link profile.
03

Find the pages that dropped

Compare periods in Search Console by page and query. Often it's specific sections that drop, not the whole site.
04

Strengthen, don't break

Refresh content, add expertise and natural links. Deleting pages in bulk or overhauling site structure usually does more harm.
01

How often do core updates roll out?
Usually 3–4 times a year. Google announces them on the Search Status Dashboard, and a rollout takes anywhere from a few days to 2–3 weeks.
02

Can spam updates hit my backlinks?
Spam updates devalue links from site networks, spammy directories and automated link blasts. Manual links from active, relevant discussions are not what these updates target.
03

Where does the data on this page come from?
New updates are pulled automatically from the official Google Search Status Dashboard every 3 hours. Historical ones come from official Google Search Central announcements.
04

Can a site recover after a core update?
Yes, but usually not right away: changes often "stick" only with the next core update. So work on quality all the time, not just after a drop.

Useful next steps

Link budget calculator A safe link velocity Anchor text generator A natural anchor distribution Blog Articles on SEO and link building

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