Google Blocks Hack to Access Desktop Data in Discover Reports
▼ Summary
– Google disabled a workaround that allowed marketers to access desktop performance data in Discover reports via Search Console before its official desktop rollout.
– The method involved modifying the URL in the Discover performance report, enabling comparisons between mobile and desktop metrics.
– Marketers Brodie Clark and John Shehata discovered the technique, revealing trends like higher mobile click-through rates compared to desktop.
– Google’s action to block the workaround highlights the importance of monitoring Search Console updates for future device-specific reporting once Discover officially launches on desktop.
Google has quietly disabled a clever workaround that allowed marketers to view desktop performance data in Discover reports through Search Console. The temporary solution let users compare mobile versus desktop metrics before the official rollout of Discover on Google’s desktop homepage.
The method involved modifying the URL in the Google Search Console Discover performance report by adding specific parameters. Digital marketers Brodie Clark and John Shehata first identified and shared this technique, which provided early insights into how content performed across different devices.
How the workaround functioned: By appending `[&metrics=CLICKS&compare_device=MOBILE&device=DESKTOP]` to the report URL, users could generate a side-by-side comparison of mobile and desktop engagement. Shehata analyzed the data and noted several key trends, including that mobile click-through rates were nearly double those on desktop in many regions.
Early findings from the unofficial data revealed:
- Google has been testing desktop Discover for over 16 months, with notable traffic spikes in mid-2024.
- Desktop impressions remain minimal, accounting for just 4% of mobile traffic in the U.S.
- New Zealand showed unusually high desktop engagement, suggesting possible regional testing.
While the hack provided valuable preliminary insights, Google has since blocked the method, reinforcing that official filters for desktop data are likely still in development. Given that Discover hasn’t fully launched on desktop, the data may not yet reflect its true performance potential.
For marketers, this development underscores the importance of monitoring Search Console updates as Google expands Discover to desktop. Once officially available, device-specific reporting will help refine content strategies for different platforms. Until then, the temporary workaround serves as a reminder of how quickly the search landscape evolves—and how Google responds to unintended data access.
(Source: Search Engine Land)
