Google Launches February 2026 Discover Core Update

Google has rolled out its February 2026 Discover Core Update, marking another significant shift in how content appears in Google Discover feeds across mobile devices worldwide. This update, announced on February 3, 2026, represents Google’s ongoing effort to refine content relevance and user experience within its personalised content recommendation platform. For publishers, content creators, and digital marketers who rely on Discover traffic, understanding this update’s implications is crucial for maintaining and improving visibility.

What is the February 2026 Discover Core Update?

The February 2026 Discover Core Update is a major algorithmic adjustment specifically targeting how Google selects, ranks, and displays content in its Discover feed. Unlike traditional search updates that affect query-based results, Discover updates influence the personalised content stream that appears on mobile devices when users open the Google app or swipe right from their Android home screen.

Google Discover serves billions of content impressions daily to users based on their interests, search history, location, and engagement patterns. This update aims to better align displayed content with user preferences while promoting higher-quality, more engaging material.

Key Changes Introduced

Enhanced Content Quality Assessment

The February 2026 update places even greater emphasis on content quality metrics. Google is now better at identifying genuinely informative, well-researched content versus thin, low-value material designed primarily to generate clicks. Sites producing comprehensive, authoritative content on specific topics are seeing increased Discover impressions, while those relying on superficial coverage are experiencing declines.

The algorithm now evaluates the depth of information, expertise demonstrated in the content, citation of credible sources, and overall usefulness to readers more rigorously than before.

Improved Personalisation Algorithms

Google has refined how it matches content to individual user interests. The update introduces a more sophisticated understanding of user intent and content context, meaning the algorithm can now better distinguish between different aspects of broad topics. For example, someone interested in “fitness” might prefer strength training content over cardio content, and the updated algorithm identifies these nuances more accurately.

This increased personalisation means content creators need to be more specific and focused in their topic coverage rather than attempting to appeal to the broadest possible audience.

User Engagement Signal Adjustments

The February 2026 update recalibrates how Google weights various engagement signals. While click-through rates remain important, the algorithm now places greater emphasis on time spent reading content, scroll depth, return visits, and shares. This shift discourages clickbait headlines and rewards genuinely engaging content that holds reader attention.

Content that users quickly abandon after clicking now faces reduced Discover visibility, even if initial click-through rates were high.

Freshness and Timeliness Refinements

Google has updated how it evaluates content freshness for Discover. While evergreen content still performs well, the algorithm now better identifies when timeliness matters for specific topics. Breaking news, trending topics, and time-sensitive information receive appropriate priority, while evergreen content on stable topics isn’t penalised for age if it remains relevant and accurate.

Publishers updating older content with current information and new insights are seeing positive results, provided the updates add genuine value rather than merely changing publication dates.

Visual Content Standards

The update introduces stricter standards for images accompanying content in Discover. High-quality, relevant images that accurately represent the content continue to perform well, while misleading thumbnails, low-resolution images, or stock photos that don’t relate to the article face negative impacts.

Google is also better at identifying when featured images match the actual content versus when they’re designed purely to attract clicks through curiosity or sensationalism.

Impact on Different Content Types

News Publishers

News organisations are experiencing mixed results from the February 2026 update. Those producing original reporting with clear sourcing and expert commentary are seeing maintained or increased Discover traffic. However, sites that primarily aggregate news from other sources or produce quick rewrites of breaking stories without adding value are experiencing declines.

Local news outlets providing unique community coverage are benefiting from enhanced local relevance signals in the update.

Lifestyle and Entertainment Sites

Entertainment and lifestyle content publishers face perhaps the most significant impact. The update’s emphasis on engagement quality over clickbait means that celebrity gossip sites relying on sensational headlines are seeing reduced visibility, while publications offering thoughtful interviews, analysis, and original photography maintain strong performance.

Recipe sites with detailed instructions, original photography, and useful tips continue performing well, while those with thin content surrounding recipes are declining.

Educational and How-To Content

Publishers producing educational content, tutorials, and how-to guides are among the biggest winners in this update. Content that thoroughly addresses user questions, provides step-by-step guidance, and includes helpful visuals is receiving increased Discover impressions.

Sites demonstrating genuine expertise through detailed explanations and practical advice are being rewarded, particularly when content is structured clearly with headings, lists, and visual aids that enhance comprehension.

Blog and Opinion Content

Personal blogs and opinion pieces face higher standards under the February 2026 update. Well-reasoned arguments supported by evidence and expertise continue to perform well, while poorly supported opinions or inflammatory content designed purely to provoke reactions are seeing reduced visibility.

Blogs demonstrating consistent expertise in specific niches are benefiting from improved topic authority recognition in the algorithm.

Early Data and Observations

While still early in the rollout period, initial data from analytics platforms and publisher reports reveal several trends. Some sites report Discover traffic increases of 30-50% following the update, while others have experienced declines of similar magnitude. The variance appears closely tied to content quality and alignment with the update’s quality-focused direction.

Volatility in Discover impressions has been higher than usual during the rollout period, which is typical for core updates. Google has indicated the update will take approximately two weeks to fully roll out globally.

What Publishers Should Do?

Audit Your Content Quality

Review your content that previously performed well in Discover and analyze why. Assess whether it meets the enhanced quality standards the update emphasizes. Identify thin content or clickbait-oriented pieces that might now harm your site’s overall Discover performance and either improve them or remove them.

Focus on creating comprehensive, well-researched content that genuinely serves reader needs rather than optimizing purely for clicks.

Enhance Visual Assets

Review the images accompanying your content in Discover. Ensure featured images are high-quality, relevant to the content, and accurately represent what readers will find in the article. Replace misleading thumbnails or low-quality stock images with original, contextually appropriate visuals.

Consider creating custom graphics, infographics, or original photography that enhances content value while meeting Discover’s visual standards.

Improve Content Depth

Expand superficial content to provide more comprehensive coverage of topics. Add expert quotes, data, examples, and practical advice that increases value for readers. Structure content with clear headings, bullet points, and visual breaks that improve readability and engagement.

Prioritize thoroughness over brevity when topics warrant detailed coverage, but maintain clear, concise writing that respects reader time.

Monitor Engagement Metrics

Pay close attention to engagement metrics like time on page, scroll depth, and bounce rate. These signals now carry more weight in the Discover algorithm. Content with high impressions but poor engagement may be hurting your overall Discover performance.

Use analytics to identify content that engages readers effectively and analyze what makes it successful, then apply those insights across your content strategy.

Update Evergreen Content

Review your evergreen content that historically performed well in Discover. Update it with current information, fresh examples, new data, and recent developments in the topic area. Ensure all facts remain accurate and links to external resources still function.

Signal to Google that older content remains valuable by making substantial, meaningful updates rather than simply changing dates.

Focus on Expertise and Authority

Demonstrate expertise through author credentials, citation of credible sources, and depth of knowledge in your content. The update rewards content from recognized authorities in specific fields.

If appropriate, add author bios highlighting relevant expertise and credentials. Include references to authoritative sources and research that supports your content claims.

Long-term Strategy Adjustments

Prioritize User Value Over Virality

Shift focus from creating content designed to go viral toward creating genuinely useful material that serves specific user needs. While viral content may generate short-term traffic spikes, the February 2026 update rewards sustained value and relevance.

Develop Topic Authority

Rather than covering every trending topic superficially, build deep expertise in specific subject areas. The improved personalization algorithms reward sites recognized as authorities on particular topics.

Create content clusters around core topics where you can demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and consistent value.

Invest in Original Content

The update’s quality focus makes original reporting, unique insights, and proprietary data more valuable than ever. Differentiate your content through original research, exclusive interviews, unique analysis, or perspectives that readers can’t find elsewhere.

Optimize for Engagement

Design content with engagement in mind from the start. Use compelling openings that deliver on headline promises, structure content for easy scanning and reading, incorporate relevant multimedia elements that enhance understanding, and end with clear conclusions or actionable takeaways.

Technical Considerations

Ensure Mobile Optimization

Since Discover is primarily a mobile experience, mobile optimization is essential. Ensure pages load quickly on mobile devices, content is easily readable without zooming, images scale appropriately for mobile screens, and interactive elements work smoothly on touch screens.

Implement Proper Structured Data

Use structured data markup to help Google understand your content context. Implement Article schema with appropriate properties, use ImageObject markup for featured images, and include Author and Publisher information where relevant.

Maintain Technical Health

Technical issues can prevent content from appearing in Discover regardless of quality. Ensure your site has no crawling or indexing errors, SSL certificates are valid and current, server response times are fast, and mobile usability issues are resolved.

Measuring Impact

Track Discover performance through Google Search Console’s Discover report, which shows impressions, clicks, and click-through rates specifically for Discover traffic. Compare performance before and after the update rollout, analyse which content types are gaining or losing visibility, and identify patterns in successful versus declining content.

Monitor changes in overall traffic patterns, engagement metrics for Discover referrals, and conversion rates from Discover traffic to understand the update’s full business impact.

Conclusion

The February 2026 Discover Core Update marks a significant shift in how Google evaluates and distributes content through its personalised feed. By emphasising content quality, genuine engagement, and accurate personalisation, the update rewards publishers who prioritise reader value over clickbait tactics.

For content creators and publishers, this update presents both challenges and opportunities. Those willing to invest in high-quality, well-researched, engaging content that demonstrates expertise will find increased visibility in Discover. Meanwhile, sites relying on sensationalism, thin content, or manipulative tactics will likely see declining performance.

The path forward is clear: focus on creating genuinely valuable content that serves specific user needs, demonstrates expertise, and engages readers authentically. By aligning your content strategy with these principles, you can not only recover from any negative impacts of the February 2026 update but also position yourself for sustained success as Google continues refining its Discover algorithm.

Stay informed about additional insights and observations as more data becomes available in the weeks following the update’s complete rollout, and be prepared to continue adapting your strategy as the digital content landscape evolves.