What is mobile-first indexing?

Mobile-first indexing means that Google mainly uses the mobile version of a website to crawl, index and assess its content. Because most people search on their phone, the mobile version now takes the lead. A site that works well on mobile is therefore a requirement for being found.

What does mobile-first indexing mean?

Google used to look mainly at the desktop version. Now the mobile version is the basis for indexing and ranking. If content or structure is missing on mobile, that can hurt your positions, even if the desktop version is complete.

Consequences for your website

Make sure your mobile site contains the same important content, headings and structured data as the desktop version. A responsive design that adapts to the screen is the most reliable approach and prevents differences between the two versions.

What should you pay attention to?

Look out for text that is readable without zooming, clickable elements that are large enough, a fast loading time on mobile and good Core Web Vitals. This is a fixed part of technical SEO.

Do I need a separate mobile site?

No. A responsive website that adapts automatically to the screen is usually the best choice.

How do I test my mobile version?

Google retired its Mobile-Friendly Test in 2023. Use Lighthouse in Chrome or PageSpeed Insights instead, and simply view your site on different phones.