What happens when someone finds your website without typing a traditional search query?
They might use Google Lens, upload an image, circle something on their phone, or search an image directly from Chrome. Until now, it was harder to separate this type of search activity from regular Search performance.
Google has now added a new multimodal search filter to Search Console. The update gives website owners more visibility into how their content is surfaced when people search using images. Google announced the feature on September 24, 2026, and started rolling it out globally the same day.
What has Google Added to Search Console?
Google has introduced a new multimodal search type filter in Search Console’s Performance reports.
In simple terms, it helps website owners identify Search activity where users use images as part of their search instead of relying only on typed queries.
The reporting is available in the Search results Performance report and the report for Generative AI features. Marketers can use the new multimodal Search reporting to understand how their content is being discovered through these experiences.
This is mainly a reporting update. Google is giving site owners another way to understand where their Search performance is coming from.
Which Image Searches are Included?
The new filter covers several Google experiences that allow people to search with images.
These include:
- Google Lens
- Circle to Search on Android
- Image uploads to Google Search
- Chrome’s right-click “Search this image” feature
For example, someone could see a product they want to know more about, use their phone camera or Lens to search for it, and eventually reach a website. That type of Search activity can now be included in the multimodal reporting.
This gives website owners a clearer view of searches that begin with something visual rather than a typed keyword.
New Performance Data in Search Console
The new filter works inside the existing Performance reports, so marketers do not need a separate reporting platform to check this data.
Once the feature is available for a site, users can select the multimodal search type and review the available performance data. Google also provides an Export option, allowing teams to download the data and analyze it alongside other marketing reports.
This fits into the wider purpose of the Search Console Performance report, which helps website owners analyze how their content performs in Google Search.
The amount of multimodal data will depend on whether users are actually reaching the website through these types of searches.
Why does Multimodal Search Matter?
Search is no longer limited to typing words into a search box.
A person can take a picture, upload an image, use Lens, or circle something on their screen and continue searching for information.
That creates another way for people to discover website content.
Google says the new reporting is intended to help site owners better understand their performance in the modern search landscape and optimize their visual content.
For marketers, the useful part is the visibility into this behavior. Instead of looking only at what people type, they can now begin to see whether visual searches are also contributing to website discovery.
Does this Affect Your SEO Strategy?
This update does not mean businesses need to completely change their SEO strategy.
The immediate change is in measurement: marketers now have another data point to review.
If a website starts receiving multimodal search traffic, teams can look at which pages are attracting that traffic and whether the images and supporting content clearly explain what the page is about.
Google’s image SEO best practices also recommend using descriptive filenames, relevant surrounding content, and useful alt text to help Google understand images. These are established practices and are separate from the new reporting filter.
So the practical approach is not to change everything because of this update. It is to use the new data to understand what is already working.
When will the New Data Come Out?
Google says the multimodal reporting started rolling out globally on September 24, 2026.
However, that does not mean every website will immediately see a large amount of data. Google says the metrics will appear in the Performance report if the site is receiving traffic from these relevant multimodal searches.
So, if the filter appears but shows little or no activity, that does not necessarily indicate a problem with the website. It may simply mean the site has not received measurable traffic from these search experiences yet.
What Marketers should do Now?
The first step is simple: check Search Console when the multimodal filter becomes available.
Then review:
- Which pages receive multimodal search traffic
- Whether those searches generate clicks
- Which content attracts visual-search visitors
- How this performance changes over time
You can also export the data for deeper analysis. Search Console’s filtering and comparison options can help teams examine available performance data in more detail.
There is no need to make major changes before seeing the data. First, understand whether multimodal search is already contributing to your website’s visibility, then use those findings to guide future content decisions.
Final Thoughts
Google’s new multimodal filter gives website owners another way to understand how people discover their content.
Users can now reach websites through images, cameras, Lens, Circle to Search, and other visual experiences, while Search Console can show when these searches contribute to website performance.
For businesses, the practical takeaway is simple: do not look at Search performance only through typed keywords. Check whether visual search is also bringing people to your content and use the data to understand that behavior.
Whether this work is handled in-house or with support from a best digital marketing agency, the focus should remain on creating useful content and visual assets that help people find the information they need.
As Search becomes more visual, this new reporting gives marketers another useful way to understand how their content is being discovered.
