Search Console adds reporting for image-based searches from Lens and Circle to Search
Google Search Console now reports web multimodal search, meaning searches made with images through Google Lens, Circle to Search, image uploads to Google Search and Chrome's Search this image. A new search type filter appears in the Performance and Generative AI reports, and the rollout is global.
What happened?
On 24 September 2026 Google's Search Lens and Search Console product leads announced web multimodal Search performance reporting in Search Console. It covers searches where people use an image as their query: Google Lens, Circle to Search on Android, image uploads to Google Search and Chrome's right-click "Search this image" option. Site owners can see this traffic with a new multimodal search type filter in the Performance report for Search results and in the Generative AI features report. The data can be exported. Google said the integration is rolling out globally from the day of the announcement, and metrics appear only if a site actually gets traffic from these searches. Feedback can be sent through Search Console or the Search Central Community.
Why it matters for businesses
Indian shoppers often use Google Lens on their phones to find a product they saw in a shop, on Instagram or on someone else, or to identify parts, plants and dishes. Until now, businesses could not see how much of their search traffic came from these image-led journeys. For ecommerce stores, furniture and fashion sellers, auto-parts dealers and restaurants, this report shows whether product photos are bringing visitors. It also helps decide whether investing in better imagery is worth it.
How businesses can use this update
- Open the Performance report in Search Console, choose the multimodal search type filter and export the data for your key product pages. - Compare multimodal traffic with regular web search to see which products or categories people find through images. - Use original, clear product photos with descriptive file names, alt text and nearby text, instead of only manufacturer stock images. - Add Product structured data with correct price and availability so image-led visitors land on pages ready to convert.
Pacewalk expert note
Visual search has been hard to measure, and that often meant image optimisation got left out of SEO plans. Now that you can see the data, set a baseline this month and track it every quarter. For product businesses, good photography and clean product pages often help both regular search and visual search, so the work is rarely wasted.
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Original source: Google Search Central Blog
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Talk to PacewalkFrequently asked questions
What is the latest SEO update?+
On 24 September 2026 Google's Search Lens and Search Console product leads announced web multimodal Search performance reporting in Search Console. It covers searches where people use an image as their query: Google Lens, Circle to Search on Android, image uploads to Google Search and Chrome's right-click "Search this image" option. Site owners can see this traffic with a new multimodal search type filter in the Performance report for Search results and in the Generative AI features report. The data can be exported. Google said the integration is rolling out globally from the day of the announcement, and metrics appear only if a site actually gets traffic from these searches. Feedback can be sent through Search Console or the Search Central Community.
Why does this SEO update matter for businesses?+
Indian shoppers often use Google Lens on their phones to find a product they saw in a shop, on Instagram or on someone else, or to identify parts, plants and dishes. Until now, businesses could not see how much of their search traffic came from these image-led journeys. For ecommerce stores, furniture and fashion sellers, auto-parts dealers and restaurants, this report shows whether product photos are bringing visitors. It also helps decide whether investing in better imagery is worth it.
How can my business use this update?+
- Open the Performance report in Search Console, choose the multimodal search type filter and export the data for your key product pages. - Compare multimodal traffic with regular web search to see which products or categories people find through images. - Use original, clear product photos with descriptive file names, alt text and nearby text, instead of only manufacturer stock images. - Add Product structured data with correct price and availability so image-led visitors land on pages ready to convert.
How can Pacewalk help with SEO?+
Pacewalk helps businesses act on seo trends — SEO Services, Advanced SEO Services, Website Designing. Book a free consultation and our team will apply this update to your marketing.