Google May 2020 Core Update: What We Know

Google announced it on May 4: a new broad core update to its search algorithm has started rolling out. What do we know so far, and what should you do in the days ahead? Here’s our take.

Update: On May 18, 2020, exactly two weeks after launch, Google confirmed on Twitter that the May 2020 core update had finished rolling out.

The May 2020 Core Update rollout is complete.

Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison), May 18, 2020

Google’s Second Core Update of 2020

The year had barely started when Google rolled out its first core update of 2020 in January. These core updates happen several times a year and reshuffle where websites rank in Google Search.

The second core update of 2020 rolled out on May 4, against the unusual backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. As usual, Google shared very little about the May 2020 core update. The one thing we know: it typically takes one to two weeks before you can measure the real impact on your website’s SEO. Keep a close eye on your rankings over the coming weeks.

The May 2020 Core Update is now rolling out live. As is typical with these updates, it will typically take about one to two weeks to fully roll out.

Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison), May 4, 2020

An Update Shaped by COVID-19?

You’ve probably noticed it during the crisis: the way we look for information on Google has changed. For starters, Google says it has never seen so many searches on a single topic sustained over such a long period as it has with COVID-19.

Among those searches, local and more specific queries have soared. We’ve all searched for “COVID-19” along with our own town far more often than with a city 100 miles away. People want to know what the health crisis looks like where they live, as precisely as possible.

That may hint at one aspect of this update: even more precise local results that better match what searchers are looking for. We’ll be watching closely in the weeks ahead.

Google Search has never seen as many searches for a single topic continue over a sustained period as is happening now with COVID-19. Many searches are for news about what’s happening in local areas, such as sheltering updates or the latest on testing.

Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison), May 4, 2020

How to Check the Impact of a Core Update

To avoid unpleasant surprises, build a few habits to check how this update affects your website. Better safe than sorry: don’t wait to be caught off guard. Google gives you two very useful free tools to stay ahead: Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

They let you analyze your website whenever you need to. Over the coming weeks, it will be important to keep a close eye on your traffic. It’s an early warning sign: if traffic drops sharply, the core update has likely affected your rankings on Google. Just make sure the drop isn’t caused by a change on your own site: our checklist on algorithm update vs. site change helps you tell the difference.

To go further, rank tracking tools let you follow specific keywords day by day. With that kind of tool, you’ll see whether the May 2020 core update affected your site.

Either way, everyone in the industry will be watching this core update closely, and we’ll share what we learn over the next few weeks. If your website runs into serious trouble after this core update, we can help you find the right fix.

Seeing a Drop in Your Visibility?

Référenceur is a French-speaking digital marketing agency from Belgium and Luxembourg that works with U.S. businesses remotely. If a core update has hurt your traffic, get a free assessment and we’ll look at what changed. For a deeper dive, see our guide to Google penalty recovery.

Where Things Stand in 2026

Google still releases broad core updates several times a year and now announces each one on its Google Search Status Dashboard, including the March 2026 core update. Universal Analytics, the version of Google Analytics mentioned above, stopped processing data on July 1, 2023, and was replaced by Google Analytics 4 (GA4). Search Console remains the first place to check after a core update.