Google Play search update, September 23, 2026
On this day, 48% of the Google Play searches measured in the Philippines moved by ten places or more. The typical keyword moved 9 places, against 0.3 on an ordinary day in the weeks before. Neither Apple nor Google announced anything.
48%
of keywords shaken
Moved 10+ places in one day
9
places, typical move
0.3 in the weeks before
7%
of rankings lost
Ranked the day before, gone after
6%
of rankings gained
Unranked the day before
How far each market moved
The same day, on Google Play, across every market we cover. Each one is measured against what it normally does, so they can be compared with each other: 1x is an ordinary day for that market, and anything from 2x is marked as having moved.
Netherlands18.0x
Germany17.0x- Philippines11.2x
South Korea11.1x
India10.9x
Poland10.7x
Australia10.6x
Japan9.7x
Italy9.6x
United States9.6x
United Kingdom8.5x
Indonesia8.0x
Canada7.8x
Russia7.4x
Turkey7.1x
France3.3x
Mexico2.8x
Spain2.3x
Brazil1.9x
A store-wide update that spares whole markets is usually a staged rollout, which is why Brazil can look untouched on the same day.
We wrote about this one
Google Play Algorithm Update: 3 Waves in 10 Days (September 2026)
Google Play changed its search rankings three times in September 2026, on the 14th, 16th and 23rd. Which markets moved, who got hit, and what to do next.
Read itFrequently asked questions
What happened to Google Play rankings on September 23, 2026?
In the Philippines, 48% of keywords moved by 10 places or more in a single day, about 11.2 times what this market normally does. The typical keyword moved 9 places, against 0.3 on an ordinary day in the weeks before, and 7% of the positions measured fell out of the top 100 entirely.
Did Apple or Google announce this?
No. Neither store announces search algorithm updates. They are only visible by measuring thousands of keyword ranks every day and looking for days that break the pattern, which is what this page does.
Was it just this country?
No. 18 storefronts moved on the same day, including the Philippines, Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, India. Brazil were barely touched, which usually points to a rollout that started in some markets before others.
What should I do after an update like this?
Nothing on day one. If the drop is store-wide, rewriting your metadata changes your indexing for no reason and destroys your ability to read what happened. Wait two or three days, confirm the new level, then decide.
Was your app caught in this?
Applyra tracks your keyword ranks every day on both stores, so the next time the store moves you will know exactly which of your keywords went with it.