Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Confirms Search Console Discover Performance Report Bug Affecting May 21, 2026 Data
Google has identified a data logging bug in the Search Console Discover performance report affecting May 21, 2026. This issue caused a noticeable drop in recorded clicks and impressions, but it did not impact actual site performance on Discover. Previous similar incidents occurred on May 7 and 8, with some data now permanently lost. Additionally, the Search Console link report currently remains broken, compounding data reliability concerns.
Optimixed’s Overview: Understanding the Recent Data Logging Issues in Google Search Console Discover Reports
Background on the Discover Performance Reporting Bug
On May 21, 2026, Google acknowledged a logging error that led to an artificial decrease in recorded clicks and impressions within the Search Console Discover performance report. Importantly, this problem only affected data recording, not the actual user engagement or site visibility on Google Discover.
Details and Impact of the Issue
- The bug caused underreporting of performance metrics specifically for May 21, 2026.
- Similar logging errors were previously reported on May 7 and 8, resulting in permanently lost data for those dates.
- Google clarified the issue is limited to data logging and does not reflect any real decline in website Discover traffic.
- The ongoing malfunction of the Search Console link report adds to data integrity challenges faced by site owners.
What This Means for Website Owners
Site owners should be aware that apparent drops in Discover metrics for the affected dates are due to reporting flaws, not genuine traffic loss. Monitoring performance trends beyond these dates and combining multiple data sources can help maintain accurate insights despite these reporting interruptions.
