Google will reportedly discontinue the continuous scrolling feature for search results on desktop browsers, starting from June 26 onwards. This change has been marked as a return to a more traditional pagination system, which will be similar to the earlier days of search engine functionality. The modification is said to be extended to mobile devices in the coming months. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming feature:
Discontinuing a long scrolling feature
Google will reportedly phase out the continuous scrolling on the search results for desktop users, which was introduced in late 2022.
Earlier, users used to browse the search results without any need to click a ‘Next’ button, as the pages loaded automatically. Now, Google is reportedly reverting to the previous method, where the users manually navigate through pages further.
Why did Google change the feature?
As per the Search Engine Land report, a spokesperson of Google explained that the shift further aims at improving the speed and efficiency of delivering search results.
By not preloading the pages (automatically), the users could prioritize and expedite the results which they actively seek.
Desktop Implementation: For desktop users, a pagination bar will reappear at the bottom of the search results page. Users could navigate through pages by clicking on the ‘Next’ or selecting a specific page number.
This method will provide more control over the number of results a user can watch at once.
Mobile Implementation: On mobile devices, the continuous scrolling feature, which has been active since October 2021, will be phased out soon. Instead, users will have to tap a ‘More results’ button at the bottom of the page to load further results. This change is expected to take place in the coming months (timeline unspecified, by the time of writing).
Continuous Scrolling feature on Google Search
Continuous scrolling was introduced to mobile searches in October 2021, and later to the desktop in late 2022. The feature was designed to streamline the user experience by removing the need to click on multiple pages.
It was reported that the feature is retired despite its convenience to enhance the search result.
Gemini AI Integration: It is said that the adjustment to search results coincides with Google’s recent Gemini AI rollout in the side panel of its Workspace apps, which further includes Docs, Slides, Sheets and Drive.
Announced at the I/O developers conference which took place in May, Gemini AI will be made available to the users, for enhancing productivity tools with advanced AI capabilities.
With the reintroduction of pagination in Google Search, users could expect a more controlled and potentially faster search experience. Google’s decision will reflect an ongoing effort to refine how search results will be presented, by balancing user convenience with performance optimization.
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