Quick answer: Google has added a new “Multimodal” filter to the Search type dropdown in Search Console’s Performance report, sitting alongside the existing “Text-based” option. This lets site owners isolate performance data for multimodal queries — searches that combine text, images, or other inputs — from standard text search.
What happened
Starting September 24–25, 2026, Search Console began rolling out the new filter. Previously, all query types were lumped together in Performance reports regardless of how the search was initiated. The new filter gives a dedicated lens on multimodal search behavior, complementing the generative AI performance reporting Google expanded globally earlier this month.
Why it matters
As search increasingly blends text, voice, and visual inputs, lumping all traffic together makes it hard to tell which content formats are actually working. Being able to filter by multimodal versus text-based queries gives SEOs a much more precise way to evaluate whether image-rich or multi-format content is earning its keep, rather than guessing from aggregate numbers.
Key facts
- New filter: “Multimodal,” alongside existing “Text-based” option
- Located in the Search type dropdown of Performance reports
- Rolling out the week of September 24, 2026
- Complements Search Console’s existing generative AI reporting
FAQ
Where do I find the new filter?
In Search Console, open the Performance report and check the Search type dropdown — “Multimodal” now appears as an option alongside “Text-based” and others.
Is this available to every site?
It’s rolling out broadly as of late September 2026, though as with most Search Console feature rollouts, availability can vary slightly by property.
Related reading
- Search Console’s Generative AI Reports Go Global
- Google Tests Replacing AI Overviews’ ‘Show More’ Button With ‘Loading…’
- More Google Updates coverage
Source: Search Engine Roundtable
