Visible URL element simplified on mobile results

What changed

Google changed the display of the URL element on mobile search results to a simpler form, reducing the use of breadcrumb-style paths that had previously been derived from site structure and BreadcrumbList markup. Google said the change made results easier to scan on small screens. Publishers lost some ability to shape the visible path shown beneath a title. Only the month of announcement is documented here.

Timing

Rollout began 1 January 2025. No completion date was announced. Rankings typically remain unstable for the whole rollout window, so measurements taken inside it are not a reliable read on the outcome.

What it affected