Technology

Google’s mobile search results are dropping the ‘breadcrumbs’ from URLs

Google is removing the visible URL structured data hierarchy from search results on mobile devices.

Published 4 months ago on Jan 24th 2025, 10:00 am

By Web Desk

Google’s mobile search results are dropping the ‘breadcrumbs’ from URLs

Google is changing the way visible URLs show up on mobile search results worldwide. Search results since 2009 have shown “breadcrumbs” or the hierarchy of a webpage’s URL using “>” after the domain name, but starting today, it will only show the domain on your smartphone or tablet.

Web developers have had some control over how results show up according to Google’s structured data guidelines that also control how info shows up in its snippets and other areas, and the breadcrumbs will still show up in searches from your desktop.

Screenshots of the new URL structure on mobile and desktop.

Example of the new URL result structure on mobile (top) and desktop (bottom).

Image: Google

Google says it’s making this change because “the breadcrumb element isn’t as useful to people who are searching on mobile devices, as it gets cut off on smaller screens.”

It’s certainly true on much smaller screens, like on the discontinued iPhone 13 Mini, which can only show part of the first section of the URL.

search results for best espresso machines, first result on this page is “her world Singapore” and shows the full url then section for Life, and section for Food and Drink. next is Forbes best espresso machines, Last result is Hoons coffee on YouTube.

On desktop: Structured websites show the URL hierarchy where the page exists after the domain name.

Screenshot: The Verge

mobile search for best coffee machines, top showing nymag.com > coffee breadcrumb with top coffee makers, next is tech radar’s best coffee machines but no breadcrumbs after URL.

On mobile: The trail after the URL will start getting suppressed, although some breadcrumbs are still showing up for now. (This is an iPhone 13 Mini screen).

Screenshot: The Verge

But the changes Google is making also affect much larger mobile device screens that would otherwise have no issue displaying the breadcrumbs, which are useful for seeing at a glance what section of a site you’re browsing.