Google’s Desktop Search Page Experience Report: What You Need to Know

Simultaneously, Google has confirmed that its three Core Web Vitals metrics—Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)—will all be used to rank desktop pages, alongside other page experience signals like HTTPS security and the absence of intrusive interstitials (i.e., pop-up ads).

Google’s page experience ranking signals: Mobile vs. desktop

In this article, let’s examine the ranking metrics of this algorithm update and explore the new desktop page experience report on Google Search Console so that you can optimize your website and rank higher for desktop searches on Google.

An Overview of Google’s Desktop Page Experience Ranking Signals

Google’s Core Web Vitals

Before we explore each metric, here are some tools to help you measure your Core Web Vitals, which make up most of Google’s ranking signals for its desktop page experiences:

• Chrome User Experience Report
• Google PageSpeed Insights
• Google Search Console (Core Web Vitals report)
• Google Lighthouse Audit Report
• Chrome DevTools

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

Google page experience metric: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) measures the time it takes for a webpage to load its largest content on a user’s screen completely. The more time webpages need to fully load their largest content, the lower their page experience score.

LCP only considers the load time of page contents relevant to the user experience, including:

• Images
• Video thumbnails
• Text elements

Google also confirmed that LCP only accounts for a webpage’s contents above the fold (i.e., the largest content that appears on a user’s screen without them having to scroll down).

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Google page experience metric: Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is Google’s website stability metric that measures any page layout shifts not caused by user interaction—i.e., when visible elements on a webpage shifts as the user views it. You’ve likely experienced this when trying to click a button before the page contents unexpectedly shifts, causing you to end up clicking on an ad redirecting you to a third-party website.

Google deems webpage layout instability as a frustrating user experience that can discourage users from exploring your website.

First Input Delay (FID)

Google page experience metric: First Input Delay (FID)

First Input Delay (FID) calculates the time between a user’s first interaction on a webpage—like clicking on a link or playing a video—and when the browser can respond to that interaction. As such, the more time a page needs to process a user interaction, the lower its page experience score.

Other Page Experience Ranking Signals

HTTPS Security

HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is a protocol that maintains the integrity and confidentiality of data between web browsers and websites. Therefore, websites that require users to submit their personal information must be secured with HTTPS to ensure that the data is private and securely encrypted.

Furthermore, Google has stated that a page must be served over HTTPS to be eligible for a Good Page Experience status on Google Search.

Absence of Intrusive Interstitials

Interstitials are elements on a page—typically popup ads—that obstruct a user’s view of its contents, resulting in negative user experiences and, in turn, poorer search performance on Google. You should avoid intrusive interstitials in all cases unless they are legally required, like age verification, for accessing your content.

Example of an intrusive popup blocking a page’s contents