By the Seovoro Team · Last updated October 2, 2026
Key takeaways
- Google released its September 2026 spam update on September 24. It applies globally to all languages and may take up to two weeks to roll out.
- Google has not said which spam policies this update targets, so avoid panic changes while it rolls out.
- A spam update is not a core update. If your site is affected, Google says to review its spam policies.
- Recovery can take months, because Google's systems need time to see that your site complies.
If your traffic moved in the last few days, you may be wondering whether Google's new spam update is the reason. This guide explains what a spam update is, what Google has actually confirmed about the September 2026 update, how to check your own data in Search Console, and what to do next, calmly and without guesswork.
In this guide
- What is a Google spam update?
- What Google has confirmed about the September 2026 update
- Spam update vs core update
- How to check if your site was affected
- What to do while it is rolling out
- What to do if you see a real drop
- How to protect your site
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
What is a Google spam update?
Google's automated systems for detecting search spam are always running. Sometimes Google makes a notable improvement to how they work, and it calls that a spam update. According to Google's spam updates documentation, sites that violate its spam policies may rank lower in results or not appear at all.
What Google has confirmed about the September 2026 update
- Start date. Google released the September 2026 spam update on September 24, 2026.
- Scope. It applies globally and to all languages.
- Timing. The rollout may take up to two weeks. Google says it will update its ranking release history when the rollout is complete, so check the Search Status Dashboard.
- Frequency. It is the fourth spam update of 2026 on that dashboard, after March, June and August.
- Target. Google has not said which spam policies this update focuses on.
Anything beyond this, including claims about exactly what the update punishes, is speculation. Be careful with confident theories from third parties.
Spam update vs core update
| Spam update | Core update | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An improvement to the systems that detect spam | A broad change to how Google's ranking systems assess content |
| Who is affected | Sites that violate Google's spam policies | Any site, including sites that did nothing wrong |
| What Google advises | Review the spam policies and make sure your site complies | Focus on helpful, reliable, people-first content |
| Notification | Google documents no individual notice for spam updates | No individual notice |
How to check if your site was affected
- Open Search Console, then Performance. Compare clicks and impressions for a period before September 24 with a period after it. Use the same number of days for both.
- Break the data down. Look at pages and queries, not just the total. A real impact usually shows up on specific groups of pages.
- Check the Manual actions report. Spam updates are automatic, but if your site has a manual action it appears there.
- Rule out other causes. A core update, a tracking change, a technical problem or seasonality can look like a spam update. Follow Google's guide to debugging drops in Search traffic.
- Wait for the rollout to finish. Data during a rollout can move around. Compare again once Google marks the update complete.
What to do while it is rolling out
- Do not make big changes in a panic. Because Google has not named a target, large content or link changes right now are guesswork.
- Keep a record. Save screenshots of your traffic and note any changes you make, with dates.
- Keep publishing useful content. Google has not asked sites to stop publishing. Just avoid mass-producing low-value pages.
- Check again when it is complete. Decide based on data after the update finishes.
What to do if you see a real drop
- Review Google's spam policies. Read the full list in the spam policies and check your site honestly against each one. Categories include scaled content abuse, link spam, cloaking, hidden text and links, keyword stuffing, doorway pages and site reputation abuse.
- Find the pages that dropped. Group them by type. If a whole group of similar, thin or templated pages fell, start there.
- Fix the real problem. Improve or remove low-value pages, clean up manipulative links or practices, and make sure content is original and genuinely useful.
- Be patient. Google says changes may help if its systems learn over a period of months that your site complies. Improvement is not immediate.
- Know the link spam exception. If an update deals with link spam, Google says the ranking benefit from spammy links is lost and cannot be regained, so cleanup alone may not bring it back.
How to protect your site
- Write for people. Original, helpful content with real expertise is what Google describes in its guide to helpful content.
- Do not mass-produce pages. Publishing many pages mainly to manipulate rankings breaks the scaled content abuse policy.
- Review AI-assisted content. If you use AI tools, edit and fact-check everything before publishing. Google updated its guidance on AI-generated content on October 1, 2026 to stress accuracy and review.
- Do not buy links or fake mentions. Earn them by being useful.
- Keep your site technically clean. Run a regular check with our free site audit and fix errors early.
Frequently asked questions
Will Google tell me if a spam update affected my site?
Google documents no individual notification for spam updates. You check your own data in Search Console. A manual action, if you have one, appears in the Manual actions report.
Is AI-written content spam?
Not automatically. Google's concern is low-value content produced at scale to manipulate rankings, and content that is not accurate or helpful. If you use AI, review and fact-check it and add your own expertise.
How long does recovery take?
Google says it can take months for its systems to learn that a site complies with its policies. Do not expect a quick return.
Should I delete pages after a drop?
Not blindly. First find which pages fell and why. Improve pages that can be useful, and consider removing or merging ones that add little value.
Is a spam update the same as a penalty?
Spam updates are automatic changes to ranking systems. A manual action is a separate, human decision that appears in Search Console.
Should I stop publishing while the update rolls out?
Google has not asked sites to stop. Keep publishing genuinely useful content, and avoid creating many low-value pages.
Sources
- Google Search Central: Google Search spam updates and your site
- Google Search Central: Spam policies for Google web search
- Google Search Central: Debug drops in Search traffic
- Google Search Central: Guidance on using generative AI content
- Google Search Central: Google Search Status Dashboard: ranking updates
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Written by Seovoro SEO Team
SEO, AEO & AI Search specialists at Seovoro. View author profile