Google is rolling out another significant update to search results—this time, simplifying how URLs appear on mobile search results. Breadcrumbs, which have long been a part of mobile search results, will no longer be displayed. Instead, only the domain name will be visible.
This change aims to make mobile search results cleaner and more streamlined, improving readability for mobile users. While breadcrumbs will still be visible on desktop search results, their removal from mobile search represents a shift in how Google presents website hierarchy to users.
In this blog, The Digi Marketer (Visit Us) explores how this change impacts SEO, user experience, and best practices for website owners.
Why Is Google Removing Breadcrumbs from Mobile Search?
Breadcrumbs were initially introduced as part of the “site hierarchy” feature to help users understand a website’s structure at a glance. However, on mobile devices, breadcrumbs often get truncated or cut off, reducing their usefulness.
Key reasons for this update:
- Limited Screen Space: On smaller mobile screens, breadcrumbs often get cut off, making them less effective for navigation.
- Improved Readability: A cleaner look makes search results easier to scan and understand.
- Consistency Across Mobile Results: Streamlining the visible URL improves uniformity across different search queries.
With these factors in mind, Google is removing breadcrumbs from mobile search results globally across all languages and regions.

Breadcrum on Desktop

Breadcrum on Mobile
How URLs Will Appear in Mobile Search Results
Before the Update (Current Display)
Previously, mobile search results displayed breadcrumbs in place of the raw URL. For example:
📌 example.com > Blog > SEO-Updates > Google-Changes
This format provided users with an idea of where a page was located within a website’s structure.
After the Update (New Display)
Now, only the domain name will be shown, simplifying the appearance of URLs:
📌 example.com
This means users will no longer see site hierarchy information in the search snippet.
🔹 Desktop search results remain unchanged—Google will continue displaying both the domain and breadcrumbs on desktop.
SEO Impact of Google’s Breadcrumb Removal on Mobile
While this update does not directly impact search rankings, it has several indirect effects on SEO, CTR (Click-Through Rate), and user experience.
1. Reduced Context for Users
Breadcrumbs helped mobile users understand where a specific page was located within a website’s hierarchy. Their removal might make it harder for users to assess the relevance of a page at a glance.
🔸 Potential Impact: Mobile users may hesitate to click on a result if they can’t immediately see how deep within the site the page is located.
Solution: Ensure your title tags and meta descriptions are well-optimized to clearly indicate the page’s purpose.
2. Shift in CTR Patterns
Click-through rates (CTR) could change, especially for sites that relied on breadcrumbs for keyword visibility in search results.
🔸 Potential Impact: Without breadcrumbs, domain authority and brand trust might play a more significant role in CTR.
Solution: Focus on strong branding and trust signals in meta descriptions to encourage clicks.
3. No Changes to Structured Data Requirements
Google has confirmed that breadcrumb markup is still supported for desktop search results and structured data testing tools like:
- Google Search Console’s Breadcrumb Rich Results Report
- Google’s Rich Results Test Tool
🔸 No action required if you already have breadcrumb structured data implemented.
Solution: Continue implementing breadcrumb structured data, as it remains valuable for desktop search and potential future SEO benefits.
4. Brand Recognition Becomes More Important
With only the domain name visible, users will rely more on recognizing trusted brands rather than specific URLs.
🔸 Potential Impact: Websites with generic or unfamiliar domains might experience a drop in CTR if users don’t recognize them.
Solution: Invest in brand awareness through content marketing, social media, and backlinks to improve domain trust.
How Website Owners Can Adapt to This Change
1. Optimize Title Tags & Meta Descriptions
Since breadcrumbs no longer provide context, your title tag and meta description must do the job.
✔ Title Tag Example: “Best SEO Practices for 2024 – The Digi Marketer”
✔ Meta Description Example: “Stay ahead in SEO with expert strategies from The Digi Marketer. Learn the latest Google updates for better rankings.”
2. Improve Internal Site Navigation
Make it easier for users to navigate within your site without relying on breadcrumbs in search results.
✔ Use clear category pages and well-structured menus.
✔ Improve internal linking so users can easily find related content.
3. Implement & Maintain Breadcrumb Schema
Even though breadcrumbs won’t be displayed in mobile search, keeping breadcrumb schema markup is still beneficial for:
✔ Desktop search rankings
✔ Structured data compliance
✔ Future-proofing against further Google updates
4. Leverage Google Search Console for Insights
Monitor your breadcrumb rich results report in Search Console to ensure structured data remains valid.
✔ Track performance changes in mobile vs. desktop CTR.
✔ Identify if pages with removed breadcrumbs see any drop in traffic.
Will This Affect Google’s Future SEO Strategies?
Google has been gradually shifting towards a cleaner, simpler search results experience. This update aligns with recent changes, such as:
🔹 Removal of Sitelink Search Boxes (November 2024)
🔹 Core Web Vitals Prioritization for Page Experience
🔹 Increased AI Integration in Search (Search Generative Experience – SGE)
Given this trend, we can expect further simplifications in how Google displays search results, especially on mobile.
🚀 Future Predictions:
- Google may increase reliance on AI-generated summaries in search results.
- Visual elements (images, videos, featured snippets) could become more prominent.
- Structured data may still influence search results, even if not visually displayed.
Conclusion: Key Takeaways for SEO Professionals
🔹 Breadcrumbs are being removed from mobile search results but remain on desktop.
🔹 SEO rankings will not be directly affected, but CTR and user experience may shift.
🔹 Optimize title tags and meta descriptions to compensate for the loss of breadcrumb visibility.
🔹 Maintain breadcrumb schema markup for desktop search and structured data compliance.
🔹 Brand trust and recognition will become more important in search visibility.
As Google continues refining its search experience, staying informed and adaptable is key.
📌 For expert SEO insights and updates, trust The Digi Marketer—your go-to resource for digital marketing success.
🌐 Visit us: The Digi Marketer
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