0498 70 98 60Google Speed Update: Page Speed Becomes a Mobile Ranking Factor in July 2018
In a few weeks, Google’s mobile search will follow its desktop version and factor page speed into its algorithm. What impact should you expect from the Google Speed Update, and how can you speed up your website? Here are the answers.
Google Speed Update: Taking Effect in July 2018
Page load time has been one of Google’s ranking factors on desktop since 2010. Now mobile search is about to add the same factor to its algorithm. Starting in July 2018, slow websites risk losing ground in mobile results.
“Starting in July 2018, page speed will be a ranking factor for mobile searches.”
Google, January 2018
We live in a world where instant is the norm, and Google knows it. People want answers as fast as possible, and on the web, patience runs out after just a few seconds of waiting for a page to load. Google has applied this principle on desktop for years; the Mountain View company is now extending it to mobile.
Google has also been clear that the update targets the worst offenders: it will only affect pages that deliver the slowest experience to users, and only a small percentage of queries. A page with great, relevant content can still rank well even if it is not the fastest.
How to Prepare for the Speed Update
The Google Speed Update, as it has been named, takes effect in July 2018. That leaves you a few weeks to work on your website’s speed before slow pages start to lose visibility. Several free tools can help:
For a full list of fixes, see our website speed optimization checklist.
Référenceur is a French-speaking SEO agency from Belgium and Luxembourg that works with U.S. businesses remotely. If you’d like advice on Google rankings and site speed, request a free assessment.
Where Things Stand in 2026
The Speed Update rolled out to all users on July 9, 2018. Google later folded speed into its page experience signals with Core Web Vitals, which reached rankings between June and August 2021. On March 12, 2024, Interaction to Next Paint (INP) replaced First Input Delay (FID) as the Core Web Vital for responsiveness.