Google will soon retire the Sitelinks Search Box, a search function that appears under certain search result snippets for specific types of queries. This feature, which was introduced a decade ago, will be removed globally across all languages and regions starting November 21, 2024.
What is the Sitelinks Search Box?
The Sitelinks Search Box offers users a quick way to search a specific website or app directly from the Google search results page, providing real-time suggestions and other enhancements, according to Google.
Google’s Statement on the Change
In a post on its Search Central blog, Google cited low usage as the primary reason for discontinuing the feature. Google stated, “Over time, we’ve noticed that usage has dropped.” To streamline search results, Google will remove this visual element starting on November 21, 2024. This change will be implemented worldwide across all search results, regardless of language or country.
How the Sitelinks Search Box Appears
Here’s a snapshot of what these Sitelinks Search Boxes look like:
No Effect on Rankings or Other Sitelinks
Google confirmed that removing the Sitelinks Search Box will not impact search rankings or affect other sitelinks that appear in search results. “This doesn’t affect rankings or sitelinks otherwise and won’t be reflected in the Search Status Dashboard,” Google explained.
Additional Details
Alongside this change, Google will also remove the Sitelinks Search Box report from Search Console and stop supporting the markup in the Google Rich Results Test. Google noted that it’s unnecessary to remove Sitelinks Search Box structured data from websites, as unsupported structured data won’t cause errors in Search Console reports. However, if you choose to remove it, Google noted that site names use a form of the WebSite structured data, which will remain supported.
Why It Matters
The Sitelinks Search Box has provided users a quick way to search within your site directly from Google’s search results. While Google has noted a decline in its use, sites that relied heavily on this feature may be affected by its removal. If this change impacts your users, consider making your internal site search more accessible to compensate for the loss of this direct access on Google Search.
At SEO Guru NYC, we’re dedicated to staying on top of these shifts in the digital landscape. As a search engine optimization company based in New York, SEO Guru NYC helps businesses adapt to changes like this to ensure that they’re well-positioned for search engine success. For companies looking to make the most of their online presence in a changing SEO world, we provide strategic guidance on how to strengthen website accessibility, user experience, and visibility.
For more insights into optimizing your site and staying aligned with Google’s latest updates, explore our other resources at SEO Guru NYC.
