Google’s January 2020 Core Update: What We Know So Far

2020 has barely started, and Google has already updated its algorithm. As it does several times a year, Google has rolled out a new broad core update: the January 2020 core update. Details are scarce, but the first ranking shifts are already being felt.

What Is a Google Core Update?

Google regularly updates the core of its ranking algorithm to deliver more relevant results for searchers. In November 2019, for example, Google changed how it handles local search results. The January 2020 core update affects how Google ranks pages more broadly. As usual, Google has kept the details vague, and it will take some time to understand exactly what changed.

Google’s Search Liaison account announced on Twitter on January 13, 2020, that the January 2020 Core Update was “now live” and would roll out to its data centers over the following days.

Is the Impact Already Visible?

Rolling out since January 13, 2020, the January core update is starting to make itself felt. On Twitter, SEO practitioners began reporting traffic swings within a day, with some noting big movements on YMYL (“Your Money or Your Life”) sites. More reactions are sure to follow in the coming days.

How Do I Know If My Site Was Hit by the January 2020 Core Update?

As with every core update, it’s essential to measure the impact on your website. Two Google tools are especially useful: Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

With these tools, you can track your organic search traffic day by day. If you see an unusual drop in visits compared with previous days and weeks, there’s a good chance your rankings in Google have slipped. To check exactly where your keywords stand, use a rank tracking tool. It will show you precisely which keywords lost the most ground. Before blaming the update, though, rule out a change on your own site.

If your organic traffic and rankings took a significant hit, consider working with an SEO agency to rebuild your search visibility.

Where Things Stand in 2026

Google still releases broad core updates several times a year, such as the March 2026 core update, and now announces them, with their start and end dates, on the Google Search Status Dashboard. Universal Analytics stopped processing data on July 1, 2023, so today you’d run this kind of traffic check in Google Analytics 4 (GA4) alongside Search Console.

Need Help After a Core Update?

Did you notice a drop in your visibility? Référenceur, a French-speaking digital marketing agency from Belgium and Luxembourg, works with U.S. businesses remotely to diagnose ranking losses and find the right fix. Get a free assessment.