Google Search Console Adds Multimodal Reporting for Image-Led Search

Google Search Console has introduced a new feature to its Performance reports, allowing website owners to see how content appears when a search begins with an image rather than text. This multimodal reporting groups traffic from Google Lens, Android's Circle to Search, image uploads, and Chrome's right-click image search. The addition provides a cross-channel view of visual input-driven search journeys, which can differ from conventional keyword-based searches.

The feature began rolling out globally on September 24, 2026. Website owners can access the data by applying a new multimodal search type filter in their Performance reports. This includes information from searches initiated through Google Lens, Circle to Search on Android, image uploads, and Chrome's right-click "Search this image" feature.

The filter is available in both the standard Search results Performance report and the Generative AI features report. It is important to note that this filter does not turn image-search activity into a separate analytics product but rather offers an aggregate view of visual search behavior. For SEO and content workflows, the primary change is enhanced measurement.

Teams can now separate image-initiated search interactions from other Search Console traffic, allowing for a more focused review of pages that already receive multimodal visibility. This data can help identify content that deserves closer editorial or merchandising attention, as well as guide decisions on whether to allocate more resources to visual content.

The practical value lies in observing the reported data before making any workflow changes or resource allocation decisions.