Definition
Mobile-first indexing means Google primarily uses the mobile version of a website's content for indexing and ranking, rather than the desktop version.
Common Misconceptions
“Mobile-first indexing means Google only indexes mobile content”
Google still indexes both mobile and desktop versions when available, but it prioritizes the mobile version for ranking decisions. Desktop content isn’t ignored entirely.
“Responsive websites don’t need to worry about mobile-first indexing”
While responsive sites have fewer issues, they still need to ensure mobile performance is optimized, images load properly, and the user experience is good on smaller screens.
“Mobile-first indexing only affects mobile search results”
Google uses the mobile version of your content to determine rankings for both mobile and desktop search results. Poor mobile content can hurt desktop rankings too.
References & Resources
Documentation & Learning Resources:
Testing Tools: