Article
Search Console adds multimodal search reporting
October 2026: Search Console covers 4 image-based search methods. See where reporting appears and how to choose pages for an image-content test.
Owners of independent local service businesses in the United States
- Supporting sections
- 3
- Research captured
- 2026-10-11
Google began rolling out multimodal search reporting globally on September 24, 2026. The change adds a search-type filter to Search Console’s Search results and Generative AI performance reports.
For a local service business, this gives you or your agency a way to inspect how your website content surfaces in image-based searches. Metrics appear for sites receiving traffic from these queries, so the first practical step is to check whether your property has data.
The argument
The thesis
Use the multimodal filter to establish a baseline where data exists, then select pages for a focused image-content test. The reporting gives local businesses and their agencies a way to inspect image-based search performance when that traffic is available.
What changed on September 24
Google began the global rollout on September 24, 2026. Multimodal reporting appears in both the Search results and Generative AI performance reports in Search Console.
The new search-type filter covers Lens, Circle to Search, image uploads, and Chrome image searches. Metrics appear for websites receiving traffic from these queries. Reporting availability therefore depends on whether your site receives that traffic.
What local service businesses can inspect
If your business uses an agency, the agency can inspect how your website content surfaces in image-based searches when data is available. You can use that information to guide the selection of pages for an image-content test.
Start with the data available for your own Search Console property. The useful next step is to establish a baseline before choosing the pages to test.
A proposed test for your website
Step 1: Check your Search Console property for the multimodal search-type filter. Look in the Search results and Generative AI performance reports. If an agency manages your search work, have it check your property.
Step 2: Establish a baseline where multimodal data exists. Use the available reporting to record your starting point for image-based search performance.
Step 3: Use the report to select pages for a focused image-content test. Base the selection on the data available for your website.
Takeaway
Check your Search Console property for the multimodal filter. Where data exists, establish a baseline and use the report to choose pages for a focused image-content test.
Sources
1 sources, captured 2026-10-11 · show· hide
Vendor pages change. Figures are as published on the capture date; confirm before deciding.