Google’s algorithm evolves constantly to deliver better user experiences, and one of its latest moves, the February 2026 Discover Core Update, marks a significant shift specifically for the Google Discover feed. 

Unlike traditional search results, Google Discover is a personalized content recommendation system that surfaces articles, videos, and other content based on users’ interests without requiring a query. This update, announced on February 5, 2026, is the first core update of its kind targeted exclusively at Discover, not the broader search engine. As SEO professionals and content creators adapt, understanding this algorithm changes’ implications is crucial for maintaining visibility and traffic.

In this in-depth article, we’ll break down what core updates are, provide a historical overview, dive into the specifics of the February 2026 Discover Core Update, and explore the core SEO impact. We’ll also share practical strategies to optimize your content, incorporating insights from tools like Ahrefs for keyword analysis and monitoring.

Understanding Google Core Updates

Core updates are broad, significant changes to Google’s search algorithms and systems, designed to improve the overall quality and relevance of results. They occur several times a year and aim to better align with Google’s mission of presenting helpful, reliable content to users. Unlike targeted updates (e.g., spam or product review updates), core updates recalibrate how Google evaluates content across the web, often reshuffling rankings without penalizing specific sites.

Key characteristics of core updates include:

• Broad Scope: They affect a wide range of content and queries, not just niche areas.
• Focus on Quality Signals: Emphasis on factors like E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), relevance, and user satisfaction.
• Rollout Duration: Typically takes 1-4 weeks to fully implement, with noticeable volatility in rankings during this period.
• Global Impact: Changes roll out worldwide, though some, like the recent Discover update, start in specific regions (e.g., U.S. English users).

These updates don’t target individual pages but refine the ranking formula, potentially boosting high-quality sites while demoting those that no longer meet evolving standards.

A Brief History Of Google Core Updates

Google has released numerous core updates since 2018, each building on the last to enhance search quality. Here’s a chronological list of major core updates from recent years, based on official announcements:

1. March 2018 Core Update: Focused on rewarding underserved content and improving relevance.
2. August 2018 Core Update (Medic Update): Heavily impacted health and YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) sites, emphasizing expertise.
3. March 2019 Core Update: Addressed content quality issues from prior updates.
4. June 2019 Core Update: Broad refinements to better match user intent.
5. September 2019 Core Update: Continued emphasis on E-A-T.
6. January 2020 Core Update: Global rollout with volatility in diverse sectors.
7. May 2020 Core Update: Significant shifts amid the pandemic, affecting news and e-commerce.
8. December 2020 Core Update: Rewarded in-depth, original content.
9. June/July 2021 Core Updates: Dual rollouts targeting spam and quality.
10. November 2021 Core Update: Holiday-season timing with focus on mobile usability.
11. March 2022 Core Update: Integrated with product reviews update.
12. May 2022 Core Update: Broad changes to combat low-quality content.
13. September 2022 Core Update: Aligned with helpful content signals.
14. March 2023 Core Update: Enhanced AI-generated content detection.
15. August 2023 Core Update: Prioritized user-first content.
16. October 2023 Core Update: Follow-up to August, refining spam policies.
17. November 2023 Core Update: Targeted review systems.
18. March 2024 Core Update: Major overhaul addressing low-quality and manipulative practices.
19. August 2024 Core Update: Feedback-driven, aiding small publishers.
20. November 2024 Core Update: Focused on relevance.
21. December 2024 Core Update: End-of-year quality boost.
22. March 2025 Core Update: Emphasized content depth post-AI overviews spike.
23. June 2025 Core Update: 18-day rollout refining user intent matching.
24. December 2025 Core Update: Volatile update lasting 18 days, restructuring SERPs and favoring diverse sources.
25. February 2026 Discover Core Update: The first Discover-specific core update, prioritizing local relevance and reducing clickbait.

This history shows a pattern: Google increasingly prioritizes original, user-centric content while cracking down on manipulation. Tools like Ahrefs can help track these changes by monitoring keyword rankings and traffic fluctuations over time.

What is Google Discover And Why Does It Matter?

Google Discover, formerly Google Feed, is a proactive content discovery tool available in the Google app on mobile devices and the Chrome homepage. It uses machine learning to recommend content based on users’ search history, location, and interests, driving billions of impressions monthly. Unlike traditional SEO, which relies on queries, Discover SEO focuses on visual appeal, timeliness, and engagement.

For publishers, appearing in Discover can generate massive traffic spikes, often surpassing standard search referrals. However, optimization requires high-quality images, compelling headlines, and fresh content.

Diving Into The February 2026 Discover Core Update

Released on February 5, 2026, this update is unique as it’s the first core update dedicated solely to Discover, not affecting general search rankings. It began rolling out to English-language users in the U.S., with plans to expand globally and to other languages. The rollout is expected to take up to two weeks.

Google outlined three key improvements:

• Local Relevance: Prioritizes content from the user’s country, reducing visibility for non-local publishers in U.S. feeds.
• Reduced Sensationalism: Demotes clickbait and sensational headlines to favor in-depth, original reporting.
• Timely and Original Content: Boosts fresh, high-quality articles that provide genuine value over recycled or AI-generated material.

Early analysis shows volatility for affiliate sites and international publishers, with YouTube and in-depth news gaining ground. This aligns with broader trends seen in prior core updates, like the December 2025 update, which restructured SERPs to favor diverse, satisfying content.

The SEO Implications: What It Means For Your Strategy

This Discover-specific update signals Google’s intent to make the feed more user-focused, potentially reducing traffic for sites relying on global reach or provocative titles. For SEO, it means:

• Traffic Shifts: Non-U.S. sites may see drops in U.S. Discover traffic, emphasizing the need for localized content strategies.
• Content Quality Emphasis: Original, timely pieces with strong E-E-A-T will thrive, while clickbait could lead to demotions.
• Visual and Engagement Focus: High-res images and engaging formats (e.g., videos) become even more critical for Discover visibility.
• Monitoring Challenges: Tools like Ahrefs’ Organic Keywords report can help track global metrics and anonymous queries affected by updates.

Overall, sites with strong topical authority and user-centric content may see gains, while those with thin or sensational material face losses.

How To Optimize For The Discover Core Update: A Step-by-Step Guide

To adapt, follow these numbered steps for Discover SEO optimization:

1. Audit Your Content: Review existing articles for originality and timeliness. Use Ahrefs’ Site Explorer to identify top-performing pages in Discover referrals.
2. Enhance Local Relevance: Tailor content to specific regions. For U.S. audiences, incorporate location-based keywords and cultural references.
3. Avoid Clickbait: Craft headlines that accurately reflect content. Test with A/B variations to balance engagement and honesty.
4. Prioritize Visuals: Optimize images with descriptive alt text and high resolution (at least 1200px wide). Ensure fast-loading pages for mobile users.
5. Boost E-E-A-T: Showcase author expertise through bios, citations, and original insights. Update old content to keep it fresh.
6. Monitor with Tools: Leverage Ahrefs for keyword tracking post-update. Set up alerts for traffic drops and analyze “AI-proof” keywords that maintain clicks despite changes.
7. Diversify Traffic Sources: Don’t rely solely on Discover – strengthen standard SEO, social media, and email newsletters.

SEO Recovery Strategies If Your Site Was Hit

If you’ve noticed a traffic dip, don’t panic. Here are a couple of SEO recovery strategies and tips:

• Conduct a full site audit using Google’s Search Console and Ahrefs to pinpoint affected pages.
• Refresh content with new data, expert quotes, or user feedback to signal freshness.
• Improve user experience metrics like load speed and mobile-friendliness, as these indirectly influence Discover.
• Build backlinks from authoritative, local sources to enhance trust signals.
• Track progress weekly, as full recovery can take months after the update completes.

Conclusion

The February 2026 Discover Core Update underscores Google’s commitment to quality and locality in content discovery, challenging SEOs to prioritize authentic, region-specific value. By understanding core updates’ history, adapting strategies, and using tools like Ahrefs for keyword insights, you can not only weather these changes but thrive. 

Stay vigilant – Google’s algorithm will continue evolving, and proactive optimization is key to long-term success.