GoogleCore UpdateConfirmedHigh impact
August 2023 core update
Second core update of 2023, rolling out over sixteen days with significant movement for independent publishers.
What changed
Google ran the August 2023 core update from 22 August to 7 September. It was a large release by third-party measures and drew particular attention from small independent publishers reporting sustained losses. Google issued its standard core update guidance and made no policy changes alongside the release.
Timing
Rollout began 22 August 2023. Google declared it complete on 7 September 2023, 16 days later. Rankings typically remain unstable for the whole rollout window, so measurements taken inside it are not a reliable read on the outcome.