Google Algorithm Updates (2024-2019) History of SERP Changes

Recent algorithm updates have targeted Spam, Reviews, and (un)helpful content. Then there are the Core Updates that affect all serps. In the past, there have been Medic, YMYL, Panda, and Penguin updates.

There have been 36 significant Google algorithm updates in the past four years. The frequency has increased, from just four updates in 2020 to 10 in 2022. And the March 2024 update (still running) is changing the search landscape.

Understanding what each update targeted and when it happened is key to correcting any loss of ranking and traffic.

Here’s how we can help improve your SEO.

Here are all the updates (from 2021 to 2024), beginning with the most recent.

2024 Google Updates (1)

There is one announced Google algorithm update so far in 2024.

• March 2024 Core Update: Announced on March 5, 2024. This core update addressed unhelpful content, content spam, and manipulative SEO practices (like exploiting expired domains for affiliate marketing). This update is still running. And changing search like never before.

2023 Google Updates (8)

There were 8 announced Google algorithm updates in 2023.

1. November 2023 Core Update: Announced on November 2, 2023.
2. October 2023 Core Update: October 5-19, 2023.
3. October 2023 Spam Update: October 4-19, 2023.
4. September 2023 Helpful Content Update: September 14-28, 2023
5. August 2023 Core Update: August 22 to September 7, 2023.
6. April 2023 Reviews Update: April 12 to 25, 2023.
7. March 2023 Core Update: March 15 – 28, 2023.
8. February 2023 Product Reviews Update: February 21 to March 18, 2023.

Also affecting rankings in 2023: Two 2022 updates (December 2022 Link Spam Update and December 2022 Helpful Content Update) ran into 2023. Both updates ended on January 12, 2023.

2022 Google Updates (10)

In 2022, Google announced ten updates to its algorithm. Each update had significant effects on the SERPS.

1. December 2022 Link Spam Update: December 14, 2022 to January 12, 2023
2. December 2022 Helpful Content Update: December 5, 2022 to January 12, 2023
3. October 2022 Spam Update: October 19-21, 2022
4. September 2022 Product Review Algorithm Update: September 20-26, 2022.
5. September 2022 Core Algorithm Update: September 12-26, 2022.
6. August 2022 Helpful Content Update: August 25, 2022
7. July 2022 Product Reviews Update: July 27 to August 2, 2022.
8. May 2022 Core Algorithm Update: May 22 to June 9, 2022.
9. March 2022 Product Reviews Update: March 23, 2022.
10. February 2022 Page Experience Update: February 22, 2022.

2021 Google Updates (13)

There were 13 notable (announced) updates to Google’s search algorithm in 2021.

1. December 2021 Product Review Update: December 1, 2021
2. November 2021 Local Search Update: November 30, 2021
3. November 2021 Broad Core Update: November 17, 2021
4. November 2021 Google Spam Update: November 3-11, 2021
5. July 2021 Google Link Spam Algorithm Update: July 26 to August 9, 2021
6. July 2021 Core Update: July 1-12, 2021
7. June 2021 Spam Update (Part 2): June 28, 2021
8. June 2021 Spam Update (Part 1): June 23-30, 2021
9. June 2021 Page Experience Update: June 15 – August 2021
10. June 2021 Known Victims Protection: June 10, 2021
11. June 2021 Broad Core Algorithm Update: June 2, 2021
12. April 2021 Product Reviews Update: April 8, 2021
13. February 2021 Passage Ranking: February 10, 2021

2020 Google Updates (4)

There were four significant Google updates in 2020.

1. December 2020 Core Update: December 3, 2020
2. May 2020 Core Update: May 4-18, 2020
3. January 2020 Featured Snipped Deduplication: January 22, 2020
4. January 2020 Core Update: January 13, 2020

2019 Google Updates (4)

1. December 2019 Bert (Worldwide): December 9, 2019
2. October 2019 Bert: October 25, 2019
3. September 2019 Broad Core Algorithm Update: September 24-28, 2019
4. August 2019 Featured Snippets Update: August 1, 2019

Other Notable Google Updates (15)

In the past, Google used to give fun names to their notable updates. These include:

1. Penguin
2. Panda
3. EMD (Exact Match Domain) Update
4. RankBrain
5. Page Layout Algorithm
6. Florida
7. Big Daddy
8. Venice Update
9. Payday
10. Vince
11. Caffeine
12. Jagger
13. Pigeon
14. Hummingbird
15. Mobilegeddon

More recently, Google has been boring names to these notable changes to the serps. Because of the frequency of updates, a date/description name works better than a fun, brandable title.

I’ll be updating this guide with updates from previous years. Along with specifics of what each Google update targeted and what sites were primarily affected.

Have a question or comment? Let me know below.