Google Added Multimodal Search Filter to Search Console

The update enables site owners to track performance metrics for images surfaced in multimodal search results.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Isometric editorial illustration showing a stack of matte geometric cubes, representing structured data inputs. — Google introduced a new multimodal filter in Search Console, providing site owners with granular traffic data for images appearing in hybrid search results. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you plan to adjust your website's image strategy to improve product discovery in search results?

Google has deployed a new multimodal filter within the Search Console performance report. The tool provides page-level visibility into traffic originating from image-based search discovery.

Why it matters

This addition allows merchants and site owners to quantify visibility from visual search, helping them optimize indexing strategies for images. It marks a shift toward granular reporting in search experiences that combine text and visual inputs.

The tool tracks click-through rates and average search position for indexed images, though it excludes specific image files and text queries. Site owners can view these metrics by selecting the Multimodal option within the performance dashboard.

The players

Google

A global technology company specializing in internet-related services, including the dominant search engine, advertising platforms, and developer tools like Search Console.

The details

The tool integrates into the existing Search Console performance reporting architecture, which already handles Web, Image, and Video search data. By selecting 'Multimodal' under the search type settings, users see page URLs and associated click data for content served in visual discovery results. To improve indexing performance, site operators can submit structured image sitemaps through the Indexing menu in the same interface.

September 27, 2026: Feature update published for Google Search Console.

The Tech Race

This update follows a steady pattern of increasing visibility for non-text search data within the Google Search Console. It positions the platform to better support e-commerce and visual discovery as image-driven search becomes a primary consumer interface.

Web administrators and digital marketers can now access image-specific traffic data to adjust their site's indexing approach. The new reporting is currently available within the standard Search Console dashboard at no additional cost to verified site owners.

The takeaway

The move underscores the growing importance of visual discovery in modern search patterns. Site owners should monitor their image sitemaps and traffic metrics to verify how these multimodal updates impact their indexed content performance.