Google updates its search ranking algorithms regularly to ensure users get the most relevant, helpful, and trustworthy results.
For SEO professionals and content creators, staying updated on these changes is crucial. Each update can shift rankings, traffic, and visibility depending on how well your site aligns with Google’s evolving standards of quality.
Below is a complete Google Algorithm Update History (2020–2025) directly based on the official Google Search Status Dashboard.
Each entry includes the update name, date, duration, and a brief explanation of what it means for SEO.
🗓️ Google Algorithm Updates – 2025
🔸 August 2025 Spam Update
Date: 26 August 2025
Duration: 26 days, 15 hours
Summary:
Focused on combating AI-generated spam, low-quality link schemes, and thin content. Websites publishing human-authored, unique, and trustworthy content saw improvements.
🔸 June 2025 Core Update
Date: 30 June 2025
Duration: 16 days, 18 hours
Summary:
A broad core update that refined how Google evaluates authority and topical depth. Emphasized expertise, clarity, and user satisfaction metrics.
🔸 March 2025 Core Update
Date: 13 March 2025
Duration: 13 days, 21 hours
Summary:
Targeted overall content helpfulness and expertise. This update strengthened E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) signals.
🗓️ Google Algorithm Updates – 2024
🔸 December 2024 Spam Update
Date: 19 December 2024
Duration: 7 days, 2 hours
Summary:
Tackled AI-spun and keyword-stuffed content. Reinforced Google’s spam detection to promote authentic and editorially controlled sites.
🔸 December 2024 Core Update
Date: 12 December 2024
Duration: 6 days, 4 hours
Summary:
Focused on refining how Google interprets expertise and authority, rewarding experienced writers and niche experts.
🔸 November 2024 Core Update
Date: 11 November 2024
Duration: 23 days, 13 hours
Summary:
Emphasized authentic, experience-based content. Many AI-heavy or templated websites saw declines.
🔸 August 2024 Core Update
Date: 15 August 2024
Duration: 19 days, 4 hours
Summary:
Brought volatility across industries. Favored high-value, original writing over repetitive or over-optimized SEO content.
🔸 June 2024 Spam Update
Date: 20 June 2024
Duration: 7 days, 1 hour
Summary:
Strengthened link spam detection and reduced manipulative redirect tactics.
🔸 March 2024 Core Update
Date: 5 March 2024
Duration: 45 days
Summary:
A major, long-running update improving Google’s overall understanding of content quality across the web.
🔸 March 2024 Spam Update
Date: 5 March 2024
Duration: 14 days, 21 hours
Summary:
Launched simultaneously with the core update to tackle scaled content abuse and expired domain spam.
🗓️ Google Algorithm Updates – 2023
🔸 November 2023 Reviews Update
Date: 8 November 2023
Duration: 29 days
Summary:
Expanded to include all review-type content (products, services, destinations). Rewarded firsthand, experience-based insights.
🔸 November 2023 Core Update
Date: 2 November 2023
Duration: 25 days, 21 hours
Summary:
Refined content evaluation and intent matching. Favored expert-driven content with clear value.
🔸 October 2023 Core Update
Date: 5 October 2023
Duration: 13 days, 23 hours
Summary:
Focused on relevance and helpfulness. Sites offering real insights gained visibility.
🔸 October 2023 Spam Update
Date: 4 October 2023
Duration: 15 days, 12 hours
Summary:
Cleaned up search results by removing hacked and auto-generated content.
🔸 September 2023 Helpful Content Update
Date: 14 September 2023
Duration: 13 days, 11 hours
Summary:
Updated the Helpful Content System to reward people-first writing and penalize purely SEO-driven pages.
🔸 August 2023 Core Update
Date: 22 August 2023
Duration: 16 days, 3 hours
Summary:
Rewarded brands and experts demonstrating firsthand experience within their niche.
🔸 April 2023 Reviews Update
Date: 12 April 2023
Duration: 13 days, 2 hours
Summary:
Improved how Google identifies and ranks in-depth review content.
🔸 March 2023 Core Update
Date: 15 March 2023
Duration: 13 days, 7 hours
Summary:
A broad refresh prioritizing accuracy, credibility, and depth.
🔸 February 2023 Product Reviews Update
Date: 21 February 2023
Duration: 14 days
Summary:
Rewarded unique, honest product review content with real use-case insights.
🗓️ Google Algorithm Updates – 2022
🔸 December 2022 Link Spam Update
Date: 14 December 2022
Duration: 29 days
Summary:
Used SpamBrain AI to neutralize unnatural links and paid link patterns.
🔸 December 2022 Helpful Content Update
Date: 5 December 2022
Duration: 38 days
Summary:
Improved detection of unhelpful or auto-generated content across multiple languages.
🔸 October 2022 Spam Update
Date: 19 October 2022
Duration: 2 days
Summary:
Quick but targeted spam clean-up in global search results.
🔸 September 2022 Product Reviews Update
Date: 20 September 2022
Duration: 6 days
Summary:
Enhanced ranking of in-depth product review pages.
🔸 September 2022 Core Update
Date: 12 September 2022
Duration: 14 days
Summary:
Improved assessment of content depth and topical relevance.
🔸 August 2022 Helpful Content Update
Date: 25 August 2022
Duration: 15 days
Summary:
First-ever “helpful content” system introduced — rewarding people-first writing.
🔸 July 2022 Product Reviews Update
Date: 27 July 2022
Duration: 6 days
Summary:
Refined multilingual review content evaluation.
🔸 May 2022 Core Update
Date: 25 May 2022
Duration: 15 days
Summary:
Broad quality update that caused noticeable SERP volatility.
🔸 March 2022 Product Reviews Update
Date: 23 March 2022
Duration: 14 days
Summary:
Boosted rankings for thorough, insightful product evaluations.
🔸 February 2022 Page Experience (Desktop)
Date: 22 February 2022
Duration: 9 days
Summary:
Brought desktop ranking in line with mobile UX signals such as speed, interactivity, and stability.
🗓️ Google Algorithm Updates – 2021
🔸 December 2021 Product Reviews Update
Date: 1 December 2021
Duration: 20 days
Summary:
Rewarded detailed and first-hand product review content.
🔸 November 2021 Core Update
Date: 17 November 2021
Duration: 13 days
Summary:
Recalibrated ranking factors around E-A-T and relevance.
🔸 November 2021 Spam Update
Date: 3 November 2021
Duration: 8 days, 1 hour
Summary:
Targeted thin and low-trust content across various verticals.
🔸 July 2021 Link Spam Update
Date: 26 July 2021
Duration: 29 days
Summary:
Improved detection of paid and manipulative backlinks.
🔸 July 2021 Core Update
Date: 1 July 2021
Duration: 11 days
Summary:
Follow-up to the June 2021 core update, refining quality signals.
🔸 June 2021 Spam Updates (Part 1 & 2)
Dates: 23 June & 28 June 2021
Duration: ~1 day each
Summary:
Two rapid spam cleanups targeting automated, low-trust content.
🔸 Page Experience Update (Mobile)
Date: 15 June 2021
Duration: 79 days
Summary:
Introduced Core Web Vitals as ranking factors for mobile pages.
🔸 June 2021 Core Update
Date: 2 June 2021
Duration: 10 days
Summary:
Improved understanding of page intent and context.
🔸 April 2021 Product Reviews Update
Date: 8 April 2021
Duration: 14 days
Summary:
Rewarded in-depth, authentic reviews with original insights.
🗓️ Google Algorithm Updates – 2020
🔸 December 2020 Core Update
Date: 3 December 2020
Duration: 13 days
Summary:
A major quality recalibration that reshaped SERPs worldwide. Focused on rewarding genuine expertise and helpful content.
🧩 Key Takeaways
- Core Updates adjust how Google evaluates site-wide quality and expertise.
- Spam Updates focus on eliminating manipulation and low-quality content.
- Helpful Content Updates reward user-focused, human-written information.
- Review Updates emphasize real-life experience in product or service evaluations.
- Page Experience Updates push for faster, more stable, and user-friendly websites.
💡 Final Thoughts
Google’s mission remains consistent — deliver the most useful and trustworthy content possible.
If your website focuses on authentic value, user satisfaction, and originality, these updates become opportunities, not threats.
Stay focused on people-first SEO, keep content fresh, and adapt continuously. That’s the real key to long-term success in Google’s ever-evolving ecosystem.
