Google Search Console Performance Reports Drop In Impressions/Clicks August 12th

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Aug 17, 2026 – 1:37 pm8
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Filed UnderGoogle Search Engine Optimization

There are a number of reports that the performance reports, both for Google Search and the Generative AI features reports, are showing a decline in impressions and clicks (AI report does not show clicks) starting around August 12th and 13th. This seems like a bug because the drop seems to be super widespread

Update, Google has confirmed the issue – the story is updated below

Here is one chart showing the Generative AI performance report impressions dropping off a cliff:

Here are some of those reports:

Glenn Gabe wrote on X:

Heads-up, I’m hearing from site owners about a weird drop in clicks starting around 8/12 in GSC that might be a bug. Visibility reporting is stable and analytics shows no drop. Just a heads-up if you are seeing a weird drop starting 8/12 but visibility is still strong + analytics shows no drop. Stay tuned.

Juan wrote on Bluesky:

Seeing a decline in impressions in the Generative AI report in GSC since Aug 13th/14th. Coincidentally, we seem to hace drop our number of citations. We wonder if Google changed something in AIOs and has not been reported?

Meenka Pandita wrote on LinkedIn:

Anyone else seeing a sharp drop in Google Search Console’s AI impressions around August 12?

I’m seeing almost every client project show the same pattern: weeks of growth, then a sudden cliff-edge drop within a couple of days

Because it’s happening across multiple sites at the same time

Here is Meenka’s chart:

A thread on Google Webmaster Forums says:

In Google Search Console’s Generative AI Features report, I’m seeing a very large decrease in impressions in the past 2 days (starting 8/13).

Is anyone else experiencing similar, or know of relevant changes made by Google recently?

Here is that chart:

Dave Smart replied to that post saying:

I am seeing a similar pattern across a number of properties, so I suspect there’s perhaps partial data for some days, rather than something specific to your site / property.

I’ll escalate it, just to set some expectations, I can’t give a timeframe of when or even if we’ll hear something back, but I’ll make sure to update you if I do

Are you noticing this in both your Search performance report and Generative AI performance report within Google Search Console?

Forum discussion at X, Bluesky, LinkedIn and Google Webmaster Forums

Update: John Mueller confirmed the issue on Bluesky and wrote:

Hi Juan, we’re aware of this issue and working on resolving it. This is just a logging issue and not representative of visibility changes in Search. We’re adding an annotation in Search Console to let folks know about this in the near future.

Google added to its data anomalies page:

August 13 (Generative AI in Search)

A logging error caused a decrease in impressions on the Generative AI performance report in Search for data starting on August 13, 2026. This issue affects data logging only and is ongoing

 
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