It is time for the monthly Google webmaster report, where I recap the larger stories from the past month, specifically related to Google SEO, search, and webmaster/site owner topics. If you took a vacation, some days off, or if you just want to make sure you didn't miss anything important on this topic, keep reading.
This month we had the Google August 2026 spam update that started on August 18th and completed on August 21st. We had unconfirmed updates before and after the spam update as well. Google also updated its site reputation abuse policy to not impact searchers in the EEA, which is weird but legal. Google also spoke about when/why it announces search updates, which sums up the past month pretty nicely.
Google started to push AI Mode into AI Overviews within Google Search, which is pretty wild. Google AI Mode can now show link carousel cards for developing stories. Google tested AI-generated images in AI Overviews but d the test shortly after. Google AI Mode is partially powered by Gemini 3.7 Flash.
Google Search is rolling out new goto URL parameters for search result URLs to "protect" its search results for third-party tools, probably mostly SerpAPI which Google is still fighting in court. - don't worry, the tools have fixes for this change already. Google updated its home page to test new AI buttons. Google improved the preferred sources button for publishers and lowered the subscriber requirement for search profiles.
Google fixed a bugs with favicons and crawl stats data, which may have led to Google updating its favicon help documentation. Google said Reddit gets no special preference in Google Search and there is nothing to do for generative AI responses in Search. Google started to temporarily show fewer PDFs in search and the IRS website dropped heavily in Google, but it is back now.
Google Search Console's new generative AI reports expanded, but the report had a bug a couple of weeks ago. On the local side, Google is aware of missing reviews for reinstated Google Business Profiles.
And Google had some big [AI leadership changes](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-leadership-shuffle-41824.html) this month.
If you missed last month, you can read the [August 2026 Google Webmaster Report](https://www.seroundtable.com/august-2026-google-webmaster-report-41804.html).
Here are the important headlines from the past month on this topic:
Google Search Updates
Google August 2026 Spam Update Has Been UnleashedGoogle August 2026 Spam Update Has Finished Rolling OutGoogle Search Ranking Volatility Continues Post Spam UpdateGoogle Search Ranking Volatility Spikes On August 12-13Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Into August 5th & 6thGoogle Won't Enforce Its Site Reputation Policy Manual Actions In EuropeWhy Google Announces Some Search Updates But Not AllGoogle Announces Search Updates For Transparency, Actionable Updates Get Blog PostsGoogle: We Do Not Roll Out Updates Prior To The Announcement
Google AI Overviews Pushing Searchers Into AI Mode, Drops Show More ButtonGoogle AI Mode Also Gains Link Carousels For Developing TopicsGoogle AI Overviews With AI-Generated Images In The Wild (Test d)Google Search Using Gemini 3.7 Flash In AI ModeGoogle AI Overview Local Results Pulling From Low-Quality ListiclesGoogle AI Mode Asking Searchers To Sign InGoogle AI Mode Adds Flight Price Tracking, Mile Rates & Hotel BookingGoogle Shows AI Overviews Above Stock Charts For Stock Price QueriesGoogle Copyable Emojis In AI Overviews
Confirmed: Google Search Rolling Out google.com/goto Tracking ParametersGoogle Home Page Create Images, Ask About Files & Brainstorm ButtonsGoogle Preferred Source Button Improved For PublishersGoogle Lowers Subscriber Requirements For Search ProfilesYou Can Now Edit Your Handle On Google Search ProfilesGoogle Search Video Carousel Showing Less OftenGoogle Tests Pink Highlights In Featured SnippetsGoogle Discover Feed Can Be Tailored By WordsGoogle Assistant Shutting Down On Mobile Devices On September 4
Google Fixed Favicon Bug & Crawl Stats Missing DataSpike In Complaints On Favicons Disappearing From Google SearchGoogle: Reddit Gets No Special Preference In Google Search RankingsGoogle: There Is Nothing Special To Do For Generative AI Responses In SearchGoogle Search Now Lists The Supported Favicon File FormatsGoogle Search Showing Fewer PDF Files. But Why?IRS Website Drops Heavily In Google SearchGoogle Crawlers Send HTTP Requests: HEAD, OPTIONS, PUT, PATCH, DELETEGoogle Search Will Eventually Support HTTP QUERY MethodJSON-LD Extraction For Googlebot Now Does One Pass Of HTML UnescapingGoogle: Hreflang URLs Not Indexed In The Proper SenseGoogle Says Google's Crawlers Don't Parse JSONMisconfiguring Cloudflare Can Hurt Your SEO BadlyGooglebot Say They Are Coming From California But Might Not
Google Search Console Generative AI Performance Report Expands To MoreGoogle Search Console Shows AI Mode Queries, Not In Generative AI ReportsGoogle Performance Reports Drop In Impressions/Clicks ~August 12Google Search Console Crawl Stats Missing Two Days Of DataGoogle Search Console Sends New Owner Email Notifications - Bug?Spammy Google Selected Canonical In Search Console
Google Aware Of Reviews Missing After Google Business Profile ReinstatementGoogle Bringing Back Google Posts Insights (People Viewed)Google Business Profiles Testing Revamped Q&A FeatureGoogle Local Disallows Repeated Bilingual Names & Transliterations
Google AI Leadership Changes: Jeff Dean Leaves, Demis Hassabis Change & MoreGoogle Amends Lawsuit Against SerpApi Over Licensed ContentSEOs Taking Over Expired Google X Accounts
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.