Google: Zero Search Results Was A Glitch

Sep 13, 2018 - 8:03 am 0 by

Google Zero Results

Back in March, Google tested showing zero search results with just the answer for specific queries for about ten days. Google was caught testing it again yesterday but Google said it was just a glitch and was not the zero results feature from back in March.

Valentin Pletzer notified me of the test yesterday via Twitter. I should add that Valentin is super amazing at finding Google tests and is very rarely ever wrong. He said Google was testing showing zero results again and this time for the query [storm surge hurricane florence]. He said he was able to reproduce it many times within that period of time and then it stopped working.

He shared a screen shot as well:

Google Zero Result Back

Here is what it looked like with search results below the answer information:

Google Zero Result Other

Last time Google did this, the search community was not happy but back then it was just limited to time, conversions and calculations types of search results.

In any event, Google said this was a glitch and not something they are proactively testing.

Here was the cookie Valentin captured during the test:

He is no longer able to reproduce it - so maybe it was a glitch?

Forum discussion at Twitter.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
- YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: June 20, 2025

Jun 20, 2025 - 10:00 am
Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Search Volatility, AI Mode in Search Console, Audio Overviews and ChatGPT Search Quality

Jun 20, 2025 - 8:01 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google: Larger & Longer Issues Can Take Longer To Reverse In Google Search

Jun 20, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google Troubleshooting On Blocking Content From AI Mode & AI Overviews

Jun 20, 2025 - 7:41 am
Google

Google Video Search Tests Speaker Icon With Language Label

Jun 20, 2025 - 7:31 am
Google

Google Investigating Search Clicks Leading To Translated Results

Jun 20, 2025 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: Google Canada Caught With Paid Link For Non-Profit Contribution