Google has officially wrapped up its December 2025 core search update, bringing to a close an unusually long rollout that triggered notable ranking volatility across global search results.
Okay News reports that the update, which began on December 11 at 9:25 a.m. Pacific Time, was fully completed on December 29, according to information published on the Google Search Status Dashboard.
The rollout lasted just over 18 days, exceeding the duration of most recent core updates.
The December release marks the third confirmed core algorithm update introduced by Google in 2025. Earlier in the year, the March core update launched on March 13 and concluded after 14 days, while the June update, which started on June 30, ran for 16 days before finishing on July 17.
Industry analysts note that the December update broke from Google’s usual release rhythm. Core updates are typically rolled out every three to four months, but the latest deployment came roughly five months after the June update, underscoring Google’s long-standing position that its core updates do not follow a fixed calendar.
In a brief public explanation shared via LinkedIn, Google characterised the December update as a routine improvement aimed at refining how search results surface “relevant and satisfying content” for users, regardless of site size or category. The company did not disclose which specific ranking systems were adjusted or what signals were recalibrated during the update.
As with previous core updates, Google has advised site owners affected by ranking changes to focus on long-term content quality rather than attempting short-term fixes.
Search performance is expected to stabilise gradually in the days following the completion of the rollout.
