Heavy turbulence hit Google search rankings on October 20 and 21, based on reports from Search Engine Roundtable. Sharp movements in search positions across multiple industries were flagged by more than 15 SEO tracking tools, though Google has not verified any algorithm update causing the shifts.
This shakeup comes after the September 2026 spam update from Google, which deployed in three waves from September 24 to October 8 to target spammy content in search results. Due to the timing, numerous SEO experts suspect Google might have silently started testing a new core update.
During the same period, SEO consultant Glenn Gabe discovered even more severe issues, stating that two websites within the sensitive health and finance sectors completely dropped out of Google search. These pages disappeared entirely, even for brand name queries, before returning on October 16. Gabe also noted that Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Sistrix displayed conflicting data regarding the timing of these drops.
Experiences were also shared by website owners on social media and forums. Sudden declines in Google Search and Discover traffic on October 20 were reported by some, while others noticed improved rankings accompanied by 60 to 70% fewer clicks than usual. Low-quality spam filling Google News and Discover feeds was another complaint from several users.
SEMrush, Mozcast, Algoroo, Sistrix, and Wincher are among the tools that detected the volatility. Search Engine Roundtable pointed out that certain tools had difficulty capturing the full extent of the modifications. Barry Schwartz, the site founder, described the rankings as being "super volatile again" despite these measurement gaps and raised the possibility that Google initiated a new update.
Since early September, this event marks the latest in a series of ranking disturbances. Unconfirmed updates were also released by Google on September 15 and October 16 within that timeframe. Website owners currently have no choice but to wait and see if Google releases details regarding the modifications.
