Google Announced the Retirement of Google’s Mobile Usability Report From Google Search Console. Starting December 1, 2023, Google will no longer provide the Mobile Usability report, Mobile-Friendly Test tool, or Mobile-Friendly Test API. These tools were designed to help webmasters ensure their sites were mobile-friendly, but Google has decided to retire them in favor of newer tools such as Lighthouse from Chrome.
Google Post on Twitter, 4th December 2024
Today we’re sunsetting Search Console’s Mobile Usability report, Mobile-Friendly Test tool and Mobile-Friendly Test API. We believe these tools helped website owners make the web a better place – thank you for working with us on this journey!
How to Accessing Mobile Usability Tools
The Search Console mobile usability report is no longer available within Google Search Console Issues. The mobile friendly testing tool, which was previously accessible at https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/6352293?hl=en, has been redirected to Lighthouse. And the API should no longer be returning results.
Alternatives After The Retirement of Google’s Mobile Usability
After the Retirement of Google’s Mobile Usability Report From GSC. While Google’s mobile usability tools are no longer available, there are numerous other tools that can be used to assess mobile-friendliness. Here are a few options:
- Lighthouse: Lighthouse is a developer tool from Chrome that provides a comprehensive evaluation of mobile usability, including metrics such as viewport configuration, text readability, tap targets, and content suitability.
- ExcellentWebCheck: ExcellentWebCheck offers a thorough analysis of an entire website’s mobile-friendliness.
- Bing Mobile-Friendliness Test: Bing Mobile-Friendliness Test focuses on individual webpages.
Importance of Mobile-Friendliness
Mobile-friendliness remains a critical factor for SEO success. With the majority of users accessing websites from mobile devices, ensuring an optimal mobile experience is paramount. Regularly evaluating mobile-friendliness using alternative tools and addressing any identified issues will help websites maintain a positive user experience and enhance their search engine rankings.
FAQ’s
1. Why did Google retire its Mobile Usability report, Mobile-Friendly Test tool, and Mobile-Friendly Test API?
Google retired these tools because other reports and tools already include Mobile-Friendliness in some form. For example, the Page Experience report includes a metric called “Mobile-Friendly,” which measures how easy it is for users to use your website on a mobile device. Google can also determine the Mobile Usability of a website based on other metrics, such as page speed and viewport size.
2. Is Mobile Usability still important for SEO after 2023?
Yes, Mobile Usability is still important for SEO. In fact, Google has said that Mobile-Friendliness is one of the top ranking factors for mobile searches. This means that you should still make sure that your website is mobile-friendly, even though you can no longer use Google’s Mobile Usability tools to check it.
3. What are alternatives for Google’s Mobile-Friendliness Test?
There are a number of alternative tools that you can use to check the mobile-friendliness of your website. Here are a few of the most popular:
4. How can I make sure my website is mobile-friendly?
There are a number of things you can do to make sure your website is mobile-friendly, including:
- Use a responsive design: A responsive design will automatically resize your website to fit the screen of any device.
- Use large fonts: Large fonts will be easier for users to read on a mobile device.
- Avoid using pop-ups: Pop-ups can be annoying and difficult to close on a mobile device.
- Make sure your website loads quickly: Mobile users are more likely to abandon a website if it takes too long to load.
5. What steps should I take to address the retirement of Google’s Mobile Usability tools?
Here are a few steps you should take to address the retirement of Google’s Mobile Usability tools:
- Identify alternative tools for assessing mobile-friendliness: Choose from the available options that best suit your needs and preferences.
- Regularly evaluate your website’s mobile-friendliness: Use the chosen tools to assess your website regularly and address any identified issues promptly.
- Monitor your website’s performance: Utilize tools like PageSpeed Insights to track your website’s performance and ensure it meets user expectations.
- Stay updated on Google’s guidelines: Keep abreast of any changes or updates to Google’s mobile-friendliness recommendations.
