Google Search Console Adds Custom Performance Report Annotations
▼ Summary
– Google Search Console now offers custom annotations in performance reports to mark important events like website changes or algorithm updates.
– Users can add annotations by right-clicking charts, selecting dates, and entering notes up to 120 characters, with a limit of 200 per property.
– Annotations cannot be edited and are automatically deleted after 500 days, requiring deletion via the annotation pop-up window for removal.
– These annotations help track changes affecting data, such as infrastructure updates, SEO efforts, or external events like holidays.
– Annotations are visible to all users with property access, so content should be chosen carefully to maintain privacy.
Google has officially launched custom performance report annotations within Google Search Console, providing website owners with a powerful new method for tracking important events directly alongside their search performance data. This long-awaited feature allows you to mark significant occurrences like site updates, algorithm adjustments, or technical fixes, ensuring you never lose the context behind your traffic fluctuations.
These custom annotations serve as personal notes that highlight property-specific milestones, such as launching a new website feature or resolving a persistent bug. Google initially tested this functionality in May 2025 and has now made it available to all users.
Adding an annotation is a straightforward process. Begin by opening the Performance report in Search Console. Right-click the chart on the date you wish to mark, then use the date picker to confirm your selection. A text field will appear where you can type your note, which supports up to 120 characters. Click “Add” to save the annotation. Each property can hold a maximum of 200 annotations.
Should you need to remove an annotation, simply click on the annotation marker displayed on the chart to view the note. An option to DELETE will appear in the pop-up window. A confirmation screen will follow where you can either cancel the action or proceed with deletion. It’s important to note that once created, annotations cannot be edited. Additionally, any annotation older than 500 days will be automatically removed by the system.
This tool is invaluable for correlating site modifications with performance trends. As Google explains, annotations supply crucial context for understanding the shifts visible in your data charts. Practical uses include documenting infrastructure changes, such as template updates or full site migrations, recording SEO initiatives like implementing new plugins or engaging a marketing agency, noting content strategy pivots aimed at different user intents, and marking external business influences like holiday seasons.
Keep in mind that anyone with access to the property can view these annotations, so it’s essential to be mindful of the information you record.
(Source: Search Engine Land)
