Google Instant: What It Was and Why Google Shut It Down

Google Instant was the Google search feature, launched in September 2010, that showed search results on the page while you were still typing your query. This article explains how Google Instant worked, why Google switched it off in 2017, and what replaced it in Google Search today.

Quick answer: Google Instant updated the results page with every keystroke, so you could see results before finishing your search. Google removed it in July 2017, saying most searches now happen on mobile, where typing and screen space work differently. Its legacy lives on in Google’s autocomplete suggestions, which still predict your query as you type.

What was Google Instant?

When Google Instant rolled out, Google called it search that is faster than the speed of type. As I typed search terms on Google.com, the results changed instantly with each letter, and Google suggestions appeared below the search box. It also predicted the rest of your query and showed it in light gray text before you finished typing.

Why Google said it was faster

In its launch announcement (external site), Google explained the idea: people type slowly but read quickly. Google said a typical user takes about 300 milliseconds between keystrokes but only about 30 milliseconds to glance at another part of the page, so you can scan results while you type. Google also released a video showing how its testers used the feature: Google Instant Testers (external site).

Why Google Instant was shut down

In July 2017, Google confirmed it had removed Google Instant from desktop search. The reason Google gave was that most searches were now done on mobile devices, where people type and read differently and Instant had never been a good fit. Google wanted a consistent, faster experience across devices, so results now load after you press Enter or pick a suggestion.

What replaced Google Instant

Several parts of the idea survive in today’s Google Search (external site):

• Autocomplete: Google still predicts your query as you type and shows suggestions you can pick with one tap or click.
• Fast results pages: pages load quickly once you search, which makes the “instant” step less important.

Use autocomplete for keyword ideas

Bloggers and site owners still use Google’s suggestions to see what people search for. See our guide to using Google to find long-tail keywords, and for more search tools browse the big Google search tools collection.

FAQ

When did Google Instant launch?

Google launched Google Instant in September 2010, after a testing period during the summer.

When was Google Instant discontinued?

Google confirmed in July 2017 that it had removed Google Instant, citing the shift to mobile search.

Can I turn Google Instant back on?

No. The feature and its setting were removed, so results no longer update as you type. Autocomplete suggestions are what remain.

Is Google autocomplete the same as Google Instant?

No. Autocomplete only suggests queries as you type, while Google Instant also loaded full results pages with each keystroke.