Google Discover Core Update: February 2026 SEO Guide
Google launched its first Discover-specific core update on February 5, 2026. What changed, who was impacted, and how to optimize content for Discover.
Traffic From Discover for Publishers
First Discover-Specific Update
Minimum Image Width Required
Higher CTR With Large Images
Key Takeaways
On February 5, 2026, Google launched its first-ever Discover-specific core update — a milestone that fundamentally changes how publishers think about content distribution. Until now, Discover rankings were a byproduct of the same algorithm that powered traditional search. That era is over. Google now evaluates Discover content through a separate lens, prioritizing quality signals, topic authority, and visual presentation over the engagement metrics that previously dominated.
This matters because Discover drives 30-50% of total organic traffic for many publishers, news sites, and content-heavy blogs. For some verticals — travel, lifestyle, technology news — Discover delivers more traffic than search itself. Sites that built their traffic strategy around clickbait headlines, sensationalized angles, and engagement farming woke up on February 6 to traffic drops of 30-60%. Meanwhile, sites with deep topical expertise, original reporting, and high-quality imagery saw their Discover visibility surge.
What the February 2026 Update Changed
The February 2026 Discover Core Update introduced three fundamental shifts in how Google evaluates content for Discover feeds. These changes affect every publisher, blogger, and content-heavy site that relies on Discover traffic as a meaningful part of their distribution strategy.
Previously, Discover heavily weighted engagement metrics — click-through rate, dwell time, and bounce rate — to determine which content to surface. This incentivized clickbait: write a sensational headline, earn clicks, get more Discover impressions. The February update inverts this. Google now evaluates content quality at the page level using E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) before considering engagement. Content must pass a quality threshold to be eligible for Discover at all.
Google now evaluates site-level topical authority for Discover separately from search. A site that publishes consistently about cybersecurity will see its cybersecurity articles surfaced more frequently than a general news site covering the same topic sporadically. This rewards niche expertise over broad coverage and penalizes sites that chase trending topics outside their established authority.
Google introduced a "headline-content alignment" classifier that compares the promise of a headline against the substance of the article. Headlines that over-promise relative to the content body now receive a ranking demotion. This affects listicles that pad thin lists with filler, articles that use "shocking" or "you won't believe" framing without delivering substantive content, and content that buries the actual answer behind extensive preamble.
| Signal | Before Update | After Update |
|---|---|---|
| Click-through rate | Primary signal | Secondary signal |
| Content quality (E-E-A-T) | Moderate weight | Primary signal |
| Topic authority | Minimal weight | Heavy weight |
| Headline-content alignment | Not evaluated | Active classifier |
| Image quality | Recommended | Required for visibility |
For a deeper look at how Google's broader search algorithm is evolving alongside this Discover-specific update, see our Google February 2026 Core Update SEO guide.
Who Was Impacted
The update created clear winners and losers across the publishing landscape. Impact was not distributed evenly — the magnitude of traffic change correlated strongly with how dependent a site was on engagement-bait tactics versus genuine topical authority.
- Niche publishers with deep topical expertise
- Sites with original reporting and first-hand data
- Content with high-quality, large images (1200px+)
- Blogs with named, credentialed authors
- Sites with consistent publishing schedules
- Clickbait-heavy news aggregators
- Sites republishing trending topics without added value
- AI-generated content farms with thin coverage
- Listicles and galleries optimized for pageview inflation
- Sites with low-quality or stock-photo-only imagery
Impact by Vertical
| Vertical | Average Impact | Key Factor |
|---|---|---|
| News / Current Events | -25 to -45% | Clickbait headline correction |
| Technology / Reviews | +10 to +35% | Expert authority rewarded |
| Health / Wellness | -15 to -40% | E-E-A-T requirements tightened |
| Travel / Lifestyle | +5 to +20% | High-quality imagery advantage |
| Finance / YMYL | -20 to -50% | Stricter expertise verification |
Discover vs Search Ranking Factors
After the February 2026 update, Discover and Search operate as fundamentally different distribution channels with distinct ranking models. Understanding these differences is critical for publishers who need to optimize for both — strategies that work in search can actively hurt Discover performance, and vice versa.
| Factor | Google Search | Google Discover |
|---|---|---|
| User intent | Query-based (explicit) | Interest-based (predicted) |
| Keywords | Critical for ranking | Minimal direct impact |
| Content freshness | Varies by query type | Heavily weighted |
| Visual elements | Supplementary role | Primary engagement driver |
| Backlinks | Major ranking signal | Indirect influence only |
| Topic authority | Growing importance | Critical ranking factor |
| Content lifespan | Evergreen performs well | Peaks within 48-72 hours |
The most important distinction is that Discover has no search query. In traditional search, Google matches your content to a specific user intent expressed through keywords. In Discover, Google predicts what content a user might find interesting based on their browsing history, location, app usage, and topic interests. This means keyword optimization — the foundation of search SEO — has minimal direct impact on Discover visibility.
Instead, Discover rewards content that matches broad topic interests, presents well visually, offers genuine substance, and comes from sources the user's behavior profile suggests they would find credible. For a comprehensive search-focused strategy, see our SEO optimization services.
Optimizing Content for Discover
Optimizing for Discover requires a different mindset from search SEO. You are not answering questions — you are creating content compelling enough that Google's algorithm predicts users will want to read it proactively. Here are the strategies that drive consistent Discover visibility after the February 2026 update.
Discover heavily favors fresh content. Most Discover traffic arrives within the first 48-72 hours of publication, then declines rapidly. Publish timely content when it is most relevant — covering a product launch on day one outperforms covering it a week later by 5-10x in Discover impressions. Evergreen content can still appear in Discover, but it needs regular updates to signal freshness.
Images are the primary visual element in Discover cards — they are what users see first, before the headline. Use original, high-resolution images at least 1200 pixels wide. Avoid generic stock photos, text-heavy graphics, and logos as hero images. The most effective Discover images show people, places, or products in context — they tell a visual story that complements the headline.
Write headlines that are compelling and accurate. Good Discover headlines create curiosity while delivering on their promise. Avoid superlatives like "shocking," "unbelievable," or "you won't believe" — these trigger the clickbait classifier. Instead, use specific, descriptive headlines that communicate the value of the content. "Google Launches First Discover-Specific Update" outperforms "This Google Update Will Destroy Your Traffic" post-update.
Publish consistently within your core topics. A site that publishes three AI articles per week will build stronger Discover authority for AI content than a site that publishes one AI article per month alongside random other topics. Topic clusters, internal linking between related articles, and consistent author bylines all reinforce topical authority signals that Discover now heavily weights.
Technical Requirements
While content quality is the primary ranking factor after the February 2026 update, technical requirements remain a prerequisite for Discover eligibility. Missing any of these can prevent your content from appearing in Discover regardless of its quality.
- Minimum 1200px width for hero images
- Include
max-image-preview:largemeta tag - Use 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios
- Original photography over stock images
- Descriptive alt text for all images
- LCP under 2.5 seconds
- CLS below 0.1
- INP under 200ms
- Mobile-first responsive design
- HTTPS required
Structured Data and Meta Tags
While structured data does not directly influence Discover rankings, it helps Google understand your content type and can improve how your article appears in Discover cards. Article structured data with proper author markup, publication date, and image references gives Google additional context for quality evaluation.
| Element | Status | Impact |
|---|---|---|
max-image-preview:large | Required | Enables large image cards in Discover |
| Article structured data | Recommended | Improves content understanding |
| Open Graph tags | Recommended | Fallback for image and title |
| AMP | Optional | No ranking advantage in 2026 |
| Web Stories | Optional | Separate Discover carousel placement |
<meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"> to every page you want eligible for Discover. Without this tag, Google cannot display large image cards for your content, reducing CTR by up to 45%.Measuring Discover Performance
Google Search Console provides a dedicated Discover performance report that tracks impressions, clicks, and CTR for your content across Google Discover feeds. This report is your primary tool for understanding Discover traffic patterns and identifying optimization opportunities.
Google Search Console Discover Report
The Discover report appears in the Performance section of Search Console. It shows data from the last 16 months and includes filters for page, country, and Discover type (standard or follow). If you do not see a Discover tab, your site has not received sufficient Discover impressions — you need a minimum threshold of visibility before Google activates the report for your property.
| Metric | What It Tells You | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Impressions | How often your content appeared in Discover | Varies by niche and authority |
| Clicks | How many users tapped through to your content | Directly tied to CTR |
| CTR | Click-through rate from Discover cards | 4-12% (varies by vertical) |
CTR Optimization
Discover CTR is driven primarily by three factors: image quality, headline appeal, and source recognition. Unlike search where users actively seek answers, Discover users passively browse — your content competes for attention against everything else in their feed. High-performing Discover content typically achieves 8-12% CTR, while the average across all content is 4-6%.
Image Quality
Large, original images drive 45% higher CTR
Headline Clarity
Specific, descriptive titles over vague teasers
Brand Recognition
Established sources get higher trust taps
For advanced analytics setup and tracking configuration, see our analytics and insights services.
Recovery Strategies
If your Discover traffic dropped after the February 2026 update, recovery requires a content quality audit — not a technical SEO fix. Google re-evaluates Discover eligibility on a rolling basis, so improvements to content quality can restore traffic within 2-4 weeks if the underlying issues are addressed.
Open Google Search Console and compare Discover performance before and after February 5. Identify which specific pages lost the most impressions and clicks. Look for patterns — are the affected pages in a specific topic area? Do they share similar headline styles? Are images below the 1200px threshold? This data guides your recovery priorities.
For each affected page, ask: Does the headline accurately represent the content? Does the article provide original analysis or just restate what others published? Is the content substantive enough to justify a reader's time? Would a subject-matter expert find the content credible? If the answer to any of these is no, the page needs a rewrite, not a technical tweak.
Replace all hero images below 1200px width with high-resolution alternatives. Ensure every page has the max-image-preview:large meta tag. Verify Open Graph images are properly sized and referenced. This is the fastest technical fix — some sites report partial Discover recovery within 7-10 days after upgrading images alone.
Review every headline on affected pages. Remove superlatives, clickbait phrases, and misleading framing. Replace with specific, accurate titles that communicate exactly what the reader will learn. A title like "Complete Guide to React Server Components (2026)" outperforms "The React Feature That Changes Everything" in the new Discover algorithm.
Publish new, high-quality content consistently within your core topic areas. Each quality article reinforces your site's topical authority signal for Discover. Focus on depth over breadth — five excellent articles in your niche are worth more than twenty thin posts across unrelated topics. Internal linking between related articles strengthens topic clusters that Discover now evaluates at the site level.
Conclusion
The February 2026 Discover Core Update marks a fundamental shift in how Google distributes content through its Discover feed. By decoupling Discover from traditional search rankings and introducing quality-based evaluation with topic authority signals, Google has created a separate optimization challenge for every publisher. The old playbook — write clickbait headlines, chase trending topics, and let engagement metrics do the work — no longer produces results.
The new Discover rewards substance, consistency, and visual quality. Publishers who invest in original reporting within their niche, maintain high-quality imagery above 1200px, and write accurate headlines that deliver on their promise will see sustained Discover traffic growth. Those still relying on engagement farming will continue to see declining visibility as Google refines its quality classifiers.
Ready to Optimize for Discover?
Whether you're recovering from the February update or building a Discover-first content strategy, our SEO team can help you earn sustainable traffic from Google's highest-growth distribution channel.
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