QUICK ANSWER
Google Search Console now reports web multimodal searches that begin with an image. The new filter can show whether your pages receive impressions or clicks from experiences such as Lens, Circle to Search, image uploads and Chrome image search. Use it to find patterns; do not treat it as a complete “visual SEO score.”
What changed in Search Console
Google announced global rollout of a web multimodal search-type filter in September 2026. It appears in Search results performance reporting and the generative AI features report when the site has relevant data.
What the report includes
- Google Lens searches.
- Circle to Search on Android.
- Images uploaded to Google Search.
- Chrome’s right-click “Search this image” experience.
What the report does not prove
An impression does not prove that an image alone caused a sale. A click can land on a page with several images and other search signals. Use the filter to discover demand and page patterns, then connect it with product, enquiry or commerce data where possible.
How to review the data
- Select the web multimodal search type in the relevant performance report.
- Compare pages, queries, countries, devices and dates without mixing dimensions carelessly.
- Export the data when a longer analysis is useful.
- Review the landing pages and images behind meaningful patterns.
- Record changes and compare like-for-like periods rather than reacting to one day.
Can people understand your product images?
Use clear, accurate images that show the real product, important details and relevant context. Support them with useful page text, descriptive filenames where practical, meaningful alt text and product information that matches what is visible.
Technical checks
Practical checklist
- Important images are crawlable and not blocked.
- Pages return a canonical indexable response.
- Images have stable HTTPS URLs.
- Responsive sources do not replace the subject with an unsuitable crop.
- Width and height are present to protect layout stability.
- Alt text describes the image’s purpose without stuffing keywords.
- Product and page information are accurate and consistent.
Frequently asked questions
Does the filter show Google Lens traffic?
Google says the reported multimodal data includes Lens along with several other image-led search experiences.
Will every site see the filter?
Google states that sites begin seeing metrics when they receive traffic from these queries. An empty report is not proof of a technical fault.
Should I create image pages for every keyword?
No. Improve the pages and images that genuinely help people inspect, compare or understand the subject. Thin image pages create clutter rather than value.
