Key Takeaways
Google added multimodal reporting to Search Console on 24 September 2026
It counts searches that use an image, including Google Lens and Circle to Search
The Web search type now splits into text-based and multimodal traffic
Multimodal traffic comes with page data and no query data
The same split is rolling out to the generative AI performance report
Some of your visitors never type a search. They point a phone at something or circle it on screen.
On 24 September, Google announced the Search Console multimodal filter, which finally separates those image-led searches from typed ones. The rollout is still reaching properties, so you may not see it yet.
What does the Search Console multimodal filter show?
The Search Console multimodal filter shows clicks and impressions for pages reached through Google searches that used an image, such as Google Lens or Circle to Search. It sits under the Web search type in the Performance report. It has no query data, because these searches start from an image.
4 ways a search counts as multimodal
- Google Lens searches from a phone camera or saved photo
- Circle to Search on Android phones
- Images uploaded directly to Google Search
- The Chrome right-click option "Search this image"
You get pages and no queries
Google now divides Web traffic in two. Text-based traffic comes from queries typed into the search bar, and multimodal covers searches that used an image.
Pick multimodal and the queries tab disappears. Pages, countries and devices stay available.
So a product page with multimodal clicks tells you an image search led there. The photo or screenshot that started it stays hidden. If you already track Discover separately from your Search traffic, treat this as a third view with its own trend line.
Product pages feel this first
If you sell anything with a photo, this is your first page-level look at camera-led traffic. SEJ notes you can compare these pages with text traffic by country and device.
The same split is coming to the gen AI report. That report counts impressions only, so expect visibility numbers without clicks.
3 things to check this week
Open Performance, choose Web, and look for the multimodal option. If it's missing, the rollout hasn't reached your property yet.
Export the multimodal page list with the Export button. Then put it next to your top text-search pages and note which products appear only in the multimodal list.
Add a Search Console annotation for 24 September. Google hasn't said whether this split moves your old Web totals, and an annotation stops a false alarm later. This all fits Google's position that AI search visibility is still SEO: the reporting changes, and the page fundamentals stay the same.
Disclaimer: This article is AI-assisted and may contain errors, so please verify key details against the linked sources.
