Google Kills Off the Default ‘Instant Search’ Feature

In an effort to bring search more inline with mobile devices, Google is killing off the default ‘Instant Search’ feature, which showed search results as you typed them. According to SearchEngineLand, Google has removed the feature from search effective today. The feature was launched back in 2010 under the leadership of Marissa Mayer, who at that time called it a “fundamental shift in search”.

Google instant

With over 50% of all Google searches being on mobile, the company has decided to do away with the feature. Now as you type, you will only see search suggestions and then be able to click on those suggestions to see the results. The search results will not load any result pages without clicking on a search suggestion or clicking enter.

A Google spokesperson gave the following statement to the source:

“We launched Google Instant back in 2010 with the goal to provide users with the information they need as quickly as possible, even as they typed their searches on desktop devices. Since then, many more of our searches happen on mobile, with very different input and interaction and screen constraints. With this in mind, we have decided to remove Google Instant, so we can focus on ways to make Search even faster and more fluid on all devices”.

Google has said that this change will make search “more fluid on all devices”.

P.S. - Like our news? Support the site with a coffee/beer. Or shop with our Amazon link. We use affiliate links when possible--thank you for supporting independent media.