Last week, reports surfaced suggesting that Google might be testing a new SERP layout without favicons or colors, potentially leveling the playing field by removing the branding advantages of optimized favicons. However, Google quickly clarified that this wasn’t an experiment. A company representative confirmed that the missing favicons were due to a glitch, not a deliberate test.
What’s a Favicon Anyway?
Favicons, or “favorite icons,” are small images used to visually represent a website, commonly seen in browser tabs, bookmarks, and Google search results. Recently, Google recommended that publishers use favicons with a minimum size of 32×32 pixels to ensure clarity. Including favicons in search results can help websites stand out, drawing more attention and clicks. If Google were to remove favicons, it would be a setback for brands relying on them for visibility in search.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Favicons
SEO expert Lily Ray tweeted a screenshot showing search results with missing favicons. Her screenshot appeared to confirm that favicons had disappeared from Google’s search results. However, this odd layout turned out to be an unintended display. Rajan Patel, VP of Engineering at Google, responded on Twitter, clarifying that this simplified version of search results is typically only shown on low-end devices that lack the capability to display rich results.
Patel tweeted:
“This isn’t intended. @lilyraynyc Did you have JavaScript disabled on the device? What kind of device was it? The experience you’re showing is what we show for lower-end devices that can’t support the richness of the search result page.”
Ray replied:
“JS is not disabled. iPhone iOS 18.1 on an iPhone 15 Pro. I was either using the Chrome app or Google app to search, can’t remember which.” Patel speculated that it might have been a misconfigured experiment.
The Complexity of Google’s Search Display
Ultimately, this was just another example of Google experiencing a glitch, likely related to device detection or network latency. It highlights the complexity of Google’s SERP delivery, where even small disruptions can lead to unexpected results. For users and SEOs alike, it’s a reminder that behind the scenes, search displays are intricately tailored for best performance across a range of devices.
If you’re finding it all confusing and overwhelming, check out our monthly SEO packages and let the experts handle it for you!
