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Tuesday, September 01, 2015
When it comes to search on mobile devices, users should get the most relevant answers, no matter
if the answer lives in an app or a web page. We've recently made it easier for users to
find and discover apps
and
mobile-friendly web pages.
However, sometimes a user may tap on a search result on a mobile device and see an app install
interstitial that hides a significant amount of content and prompts the user to install an app.
Our analysis shows that it is not a good search experience and can be frustrating for users
because they are expecting to see the content of the web page.
Starting today, we'll be updating the
Mobile-Friendly Test
to indicate that sites should avoid showing app install interstitials that hide a significant
amount of content on the transition from the search result page. The
Mobile Usability report
in Search Console will show webmasters the number of pages across their site that have this issue.
After November 1, mobile web pages that show an app install interstitial that hides a significant
amount of content on the transition from the search result page will no longer be considered
mobile-friendly. This does not affect other types of interstitials. As an alternative to app
install interstitials, browsers provide ways to promote an app that are more user-friendly.
App install banners are supported by Safari (as
Smart Banners)
and Chrome (as
Native App Install Banners).
Banners provide a consistent user interface for promoting an app and provide the user with the
ability to control their browsing experience. Webmasters can also use their own implementations
of app install banners as long as they don't block searchers from viewing the page's content.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],[],[[["Google Search prioritizes relevant results for mobile users, regardless of source (app or webpage)."],["Google's Mobile-Friendly Test will now flag sites using app install interstitials that obscure content."],["After November 1, 2015, sites with these obstructive interstitials will be deemed not mobile-friendly."],["Google recommends using browser-supported app install banners as a user-friendly alternative."],["Webmasters can find more information and support in the Webmaster Central Forum."]]],["Google updated the Mobile-Friendly Test to discourage app install interstitials that obscure content when transitioning from search results. The Mobile Usability report will identify affected pages. After November 1st, pages with these interstitials will not be considered mobile-friendly. Safari's Smart Banners and Chrome's Native App Install Banners are suggested alternatives for promoting app installs. Webmasters can use other types of banners, provided they allow users to see the page content.\n"]]
