If you’ve recently checked your Google Search Console (GSC) Performance Report and noticed that the Search Appearance: Android App metric suddenly dropped to zero from August 2025 onwards, you’re not alone. Many app owners and SEO professionals have noticed the same change. This shift has led to confusion about whether the feature was deprecated, the tracking changed, or there’s a deeper indexing issue.
Before August 2025, GSC used to report impressions and clicks from Android app content (via Firebase App Indexing or Web/App mappings) under the “Search Appearance: Android App” tab. This data helped app developers understand how deep-linked pages or app content surfaced in mobile search results. However, starting mid-2025, that data was no longer visible—indicating possible updates in Google’s tracking methods or indexing integration.
There are a few potential reasons behind this sudden drop:
Data migration to a new reporting model: Google may have moved the Android App appearance data to another internal dataset or combined it under “Rich results” or “Web results” reporting to simplify metrics.
Discontinuation of app indexing metrics: With the evolution of Google Play’s search integrations and WebView indexing, Google may have deprecated traditional Android app appearance reporting.
Changes in Firebase integration: Apps not actively connected to Firebase App Indexing might have lost reporting capability from August 2025 updates.
If your app data vanished, it doesn’t necessarily mean your app content stopped appearing in search results. Instead, it likely means Google no longer segments this data under a unique “Android App” appearance type. To verify current visibility, monitor “Discover,” “Web,” and “Video” appearances in GSC, and cross-check mobile impressions using Analytics or the Play Console’s “Traffic Sources” section.
GSC continues to evolve, aligning more closely with the way mobile and app search results are integrated into unified results. While your Android app metrics may show zero in the appearance tab, your app content could still be performing well—just tracked differently within Google’s newer reporting ecosystem.
FAQs
1. Is Google app indexing discontinued for Android apps?
No, Google hasn't discontinued app indexing entirely. However, reporting of app appearance metrics in GSC has changed, so detailed impression/click data as a separate “Android App” appearance type is no longer available in Search Console after August 2025. App content may still be indexed and shown via web or rich results.
2. How can I track app search performance now?
To monitor your app’s current search visibility, use Google Play Console’s “Traffic Sources” for referral and search traffic, and check GSC’s other appearance types (like Discover, Web, Video). You should also leverage Analytics tracking to analyze user journeys and mobile impression data for comprehensive performance insights.
Credits: AI Generated content
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