Google: HTTP/2 Doesn't Have A Direct SEO Benefit But Makes For Faster Sites

Apr 5, 2016 - 7:58 am 3 by

Google Http2

Google's John Mueller wrote on Google+ that both browsers and crawlers support HTTP/2 web server configuration and he recommends that if you have a choice, you go with it. But he made it clear that going HTTP/2 with your server does not have a direct SEO benefit.

HTTP/2, as John explained, "doesn't change the URLs, and is transparently supported for users & crawlers if they ask for it." It does help improve the performance of your host, so it does speed things up. He said "you don't have to set up redirects, change links, add markup, or make any changes in Search Console."

He did clarify that GoogleBot won't yet support crawling HTTP/2 specifically yet, which is surprising because we thought it would be here by now. But even if you are HTTP/2 he said search engine crawlers, including GoogleBot "will continue to work normally."

John then added on Twitter, "HTTP/2 is for speed. Fast sites make users happy, happy users recommend websites, so it's very indirect."

Have any of you gone HTTP/2?

Forum discussion at Google+.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Google Search Volatility

More Details

Search Video Recaps

 
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: June 12, 2026

Jun 12, 2026 - 10:00 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google Search Console Link Report Finally Fixed & Updated

Jun 12, 2026 - 8:16 am
Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Post-Core Update Volatility, Zero Clicks Rising, Apple’s Siri AI & Google SEO Docs

Jun 12, 2026 - 8:01 am
Google Ads

Home Listings Come To Google Local Services Ads

Jun 12, 2026 - 7:51 am
Google Ads

Google Ads Extends Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) To AI Max Timeline

Jun 12, 2026 - 7:41 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

New Google Search Console Tool/Report: Platform Property Tooltips

Jun 12, 2026 - 7:31 am
 
Previous Story: Google: Toolbar PageRank Won't Flow With HTTPS Migration Because It's Dead