Google Search Console Adds Multimodal Filter to Track Image-Based Search Performance

Google Search Console has introduced a new Multimodal filter that gives website owners more insight into how their content performs in image-based search experiences. The update was announced by Google on September 24, 2026, and is rolling out globally.

The update adds another layer of reporting to Search Console, helping publishers understand how users discover visual content through Google Search.

What Is the New Multimodal Filter?

The Multimodal filter is designed to help separate performance data associated with multimodal search experiences, where images and other visual elements play a key role in the search process.

The data includes searches made through Google Lens, Circle to Search on Android, image uploads to Google Search, and Chrome’s “Search this image” feature.

Previously, website owners had limited visibility into how their content was being discovered through these image-led search experiences. The new filter provides a more focused way to examine this activity within Search Console’s performance reporting.

Why It Matters for Website Owners

Images are becoming an increasingly important part of how people search for information, products, places, and ideas. As visual search continues to evolve, businesses need better data to understand whether their visual content is reaching users.

The new filter can help marketers and SEO teams identify patterns in image-based search performance, including changes in clicks, impressions, and overall visibility. Google says the new reporting is available in the Search results Performance report and the Generative AI features report.

This can be particularly useful for businesses that rely heavily on visual content, such as e-commerce stores, travel websites, publishers, restaurants, fashion brands, and local businesses.

A New Opportunity for Image SEO

The update also highlights the growing importance of optimizing images as part of a broader SEO strategy.

Businesses may want to pay closer attention to elements such as:

· Descriptive image filenames
· Relevant alt text
· High-quality and original images
· Structured data where appropriate
· Fast-loading image formats
· Context surrounding images on the page

However, the value of these optimizations ultimately depends on how users discover and interact with the content. Search Console data can help website owners make those decisions based on actual performance rather than assumptions.

What This Means for SEO Professionals

The addition of the Multimodal filter reflects a broader shift in search toward experiences that combine text, images, and other forms of information.

For SEO professionals, this means image optimization should no longer be treated as a secondary task. Understanding how visual content appears in search and measuring its performance can become an important part of ongoing search strategy.

One important limitation is that specific search query data is not available for multimodal traffic, because these searches primarily use images rather than text.
As Google continues expanding multimodal search, Search Console reporting will likely become increasingly important for businesses looking to understand where their visibility comes from.

The key takeaway: Google’s new Multimodal filter gives website owners another way to understand image-based search performance and make more informed decisions about their visual SEO strategy.