# Phantom update

Category: [Google Updates & Algorithms](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/google-updates-algorithms/) › [Historical updates & events](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/google-updates-algorithms/historical-updates/) · Historical

**Phantom update** is the SEO industry's name for a change in Google's ranking from early May 2015, often called "Phantom 2". The term is historical and not an official Google name.

## What happened in May 2015?

Between roughly May 4 and 11, 2015, many domains lost visibility, with SISTRIX reporting losses of 20 to 60 percent for some. Google did not announce an update. Later, Google reportedly said it had changed how its core ranking algorithm processes quality signals, without giving details. Glenn Gabe, who according to reports named the update, described it as quality related.

## Phantom 3 and Panda

For November 19, 2015, Gabe observed another unconfirmed update that he linked to the May one. His theory is that Google was folding Panda-like quality criteria into the core algorithm. Google itself says Panda became part of its core ranking systems in 2015.

## What applies today?

Google assesses quality through its core ranking systems, and core updates are the current form of such changes. A separate Phantom check does not exist.

## Example

A guide portal with many short how-to articles loses a large part of its visibility within a week in May 2015. Google names no reason, and the timing matches the update.

## At a glance

- **Type:** unofficial name for a ranking change
- **Started:** early May 2015, according to reports
- **Completed:** not documented
- **Confirmed by:** no, according to reports; Google did not use the name
- **Status:** historical

Last checked: October 8, 2026

## Related terms

- [Panda update](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/panda-update/index.md)
- [Google core update](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/google-core-update/index.md)
- [Google algorithm update](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/google-algorithm-update/index.md)
- [Content quality](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/content-quality/index.md)

## Sources

- [A guide to Google Search ranking systems – Google Search Central (Panda part of core systems since 2015)](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ranking-systems-guide)
- [Google Phantom Update, May 2015 – SISTRIX (secondary source)](https://www.sistrix.com/?p=32374)
- [Google's Unconfirmed Algorithm Updates in 2015 – Glenn Gabe (secondary source)](https://www.gsqi.com/marketing-blog/unconfirmed-google-algorithm-updates-2015/)

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Last updated: October 8, 2026
URL: https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/phantom-update/