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Google SERP Anomalies

Why Rank Tracker positions may swing sharply since September 2026, and how to tell an anomalous Google SERP from a real ranking drop.

Written by Mike

🟡 Status: active · updated 27.10.2026

Google SERP Anomalies: Why Positions May Change Sharply

Since September 2026, Google has more often returned alternative (“poisoned”) search results to services that collect SERP data automatically. These pages look like regular search results but differ from what users see in their browser. The issue is global: it affects every SEO platform that works with Google data, including Serpstat.

What's happening

  • The page looks genuine: There is no error or CAPTCHA, so the page is saved as regular ranking data. Your site appears to drop in the report, even though nothing has changed.

  • The Top 10 is affected most: Positions outside the Top 10 change less or show no noticeable changes.

  • Typical symptoms: A site may temporarily drop, leave the Top 10, or get untypical positions while the real SERP stays the same.

  • The scale varies: The share of anomalous SERPs changes constantly and can differ between mobile and desktop results. Collected results are not completely different from real ones.

  • No official comment yet: Google has not commented on the situation.

What an Anomalous SERP Looks Like

Example: the search query “Karta Polaka” refers to a document that confirms Polish heritage. In the collected SERP, Google Maps ranked first and pagination stopped at page 4. The People also search for block was entirely about maps and routes. Google answered the word “karta” as if it meant “map”, not the full query.

Typical signs of an anomalous SERP:

  • Partial match: For longer queries, results match only part of the query's intent.

  • Irrelevant results at the top: The first page of results suffers the most.

  • Irrelevant People also search for: Off-topic suggestions stand out clearly in this block.

  • Marketplaces on informational queries: For example, eBay or Amazon rank for a query that looks for information, not a product.

  • Duplicate domains: Quora, Reddit, Pinterest, and similar sites take several spots.

  • SERP features stay the same: The intent of the results shifts, not the set of SERP features. The pattern is not limited to specific regions.

These signs can change over time: other platforms report that replaced pages gradually lose their usual markers.

What Serpstat is doing

  • We run additional quality checks on data from our providers and flag suspicious results.

  • We continuously re-collect suspicious SERP snapshots and recheck the affected positions. This does not use your credits.

  • We keep monitoring the situation and will update this article.

How to Check: 4 Steps

  1. Spot sharp ranking changes. Open Rank Tracker → Project Overview. Check Average position, SERP storm, and the Raised, Dropped, and Lost counters. Jumps of dozens of positions across many keywords are a reason to check the SERP before changing your site.

  2. Open SERP History. Go to Rank Tracker → SERP History, pick a keyword with a sharp change, and choose a date range. Each day gets its own column. Check whether the top domains match the query across days.

  3. Look at the cached SERP. Click Cached SERP above a date to open the saved copy of Google results from that update. Check whether the results match the full search intent and scroll to People also search for. Compare cached SERPs for two dates to see exactly what changed. Cached SERPs are available for the last 4 days of updates.

  4. Check Google and record your findings. Click Actual SERP to open the current Google results for the query and region. You can also search Google manually with the same country, language, and device. Add a Project notes entry with the date, keyword, and what you observed.

⚠️ Important: The cached SERP shows the results Serpstat collected, while the Actual SERP button opens the current Google SERP. If the cache shows an anomaly but the current SERP looks normal, wait for 2–3 position updates before drawing conclusions.

Pro Tip: How to Interpret the Results

Compare the cached SERP with the current Google SERP before you change anything on your site.

  • Genuine ranking change: The SERP is relevant in both the cache and Google, and your rankings dropped. Analyze competitors and your own content.

  • Anomalous SERP snapshot: The cache shows shifted intent, but Google looks normal. Don't change your site based on this snapshot. Compare the data after Serpstat rechecks the positions.

  • Persistent SERP change: The signs appear in both the cache and Google and remain after a recheck. Review the search intent and the pages now ranking at the top.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Serpstat use my credits when it re-collects SERPs?
​A: No. Re-collecting suspicious SERP snapshots does not affect your credits.
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Q: Is this a Serpstat-only issue?
​A: No. Every service that collects Google data receives alternative SERPs, and other SEO platforms have confirmed the issue.
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Q: Should I change anything on my site?
​A: Not if the signs appear only in the cached SERP and the current Google SERP looks normal. Wait for 2–3 updates and compare the results again.
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Q: Can I check my positions in Google Search Console?
​A: Yes, for your own site. Search Console shows your average position for the selected period, not your position at a specific moment. Competitor data is not available there.
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Q: When will the situation stabilize?
​A: It depends on Google. We monitor the situation and will update the status in this article.
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Next Steps

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