Quick answer: Google’s Discover feed, long a mobile-first content surface, no longer appears on the desktop version of Google.com. Google tested Discover on desktop in 2023 and expanded the rollout in 2025, but this week’s observations confirm the feature has been pulled from the desktop interface.
What happened
Publishers and SEOs tracking Google’s homepage layout this week noted that Discover content, which had been appearing below the search box on desktop, is no longer present. Google has not issued a formal announcement explaining the removal, consistent with how quietly the desktop test was rolled out in the first place.
Why it matters
Discover has been a meaningful traffic source for publishers with strong visual and evergreen content, but it has always been measured separately from standard organic Search performance. Sites that had started seeing incremental desktop Discover impressions should expect that traffic to disappear from Search Console’s Discover report, while mobile Discover traffic remains unaffected for now.
Key facts
- Desktop Discover first tested in 2023, expanded in 2025
- No longer visible on Google.com desktop as of this week
- No official Google announcement about the removal
- Mobile Discover appears unaffected
FAQ
Is Discover being shut down entirely?
No — this appears specific to the desktop surface. Discover continues to operate on mobile as before.
Should I stop optimizing for Discover?
Not necessarily. Mobile Discover remains active; this change mainly affects sites that had been tracking incremental desktop Discover impressions.
Related reading
- Google Must Open Ad Tech to Rivals After Antitrust Ruling
- Google Won’t Enforce Site Reputation Policy in Europe
- More Google Updates coverage
Source: Search Engine Roundtable
