Search Console data shows AI Overviews cut clicks and CTR for some French sites after July 22, 2026 rollout
TLDR
Search Console data from France after Google's July 22, 2026 AI Overviews rollout shows sharp click and CTR drops for many sites, while some sites held steady.
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
GSQi Blog examined Search Console data for France following Google's July 22, 2026 rollout of AI Overviews and AI Mode there. Several sites saw clicks and click-through rate fall immediately on that date while impressions held or rose, and average position became unstable. Other sites showed little or no click impact, and the outlet notes that not every site dropped.
How we got here: earlier coverage
On August 18, SE Ranking's analysis of 100,000 French searches found AI Overviews appearing on over half of queries, with YouTube and Facebook among the most-cited sources. Later, on September 16, Ahrefs tracked 963 domains and found that the most-exposed sites lost 23.1% of click-through rate within nine days. Now, Search Console data from France, covering the period after Google's July 22 AI Overviews rollout there, shows sharp click and click-through-rate drops for many sites, while some sites held steady.
Summary of earlier coverage
- Nov 9One Site Estimates Google's AI Features Drove 21% of Its Clicks
A site that opted out of Google's AI features estimated that AI Overviews and AI Mode accounted for about 21% of its clicks, with a possible lift on regular listings.
- Sep 16Ahrefs finds AI Overviews reduced click-through rates by 23.1% in France
Ahrefs tracked 963 domains after AI Overviews rolled out in France and found the most-exposed sites lost 23.1% of click-through rate within nine days.
- Aug 31Google expands AI Overviews tracking to all sites in Search Console
Google has finished rolling out AI performance reports to all Search Console users worldwide, enabling tracking of AI Overview and AI Mode impressions.
- Aug 18AI Overviews Already Appearing on More Than Half of French Searches, SE Ranking Data Shows
SE Ranking's analysis of 100,000 French searches shows AI Overviews appearing on over half of queries, with YouTube and Facebook among the top cited sources.