Google has officially released the December 2025 Core Update, confirmed via the Google Search Status Dashboard. The rollout started on December 11, 2025 (9:25 AM PST) and is listed as an active incident impacting Ranking.

This is Google’s third core update of 2025, following earlier core updates in March 2025 and June 2025. Google also notes the rollout may take up to three weeks to complete, so expect ongoing movement in search rankings during this window. 

December 2025 Core Update: Confirmed Timeline

Here is what we know so far from Google’s status reporting and industry coverage:

• Update name: December 2025 core update 
• Start time: December 11, 2025, 09:25 PST
• Status: Active (at the time of reporting) 
• Estimated rollout duration: Up to ~3 weeks 

Google will update the dashboard once the rollout is complete, so it is worth checking it regularly if you are seeing ranking volatility.

What Is A Google Core Update?

A Google core update is a broad change to Google’s ranking systems designed to improve search results overall. Unlike narrower updates that focus on a specific issue (for example, spam), core updates can impact visibility across many industries and content types because Google is reassessing how it evaluates content on the web. 

The key takeaway: rankings can shift even if you did not do anything “wrong”. Your pages may simply be re-evaluated relative to other available content.

Why SEO Rankings May Fluctuate Over The Next Three Weeks

If you notice ranking fluctuations, drops in impressions, or changes in clicks, this core update is a likely driver during the rollout period.

Google’s own guidance also reinforces that:

• You should confirm the update has finished rolling out before making conclusions.
• You should wait at least a week after rollout completion before doing deeper analysis.
• You should compare performance dates carefully (before vs during vs after the update).

2025 Core Update Timeline (Context That Helps Explain Volatility)

SEOs are tracking this as the third major core update this year:

• March 2025 core update: March 13–27 (about 14 days)
  
• June 2025 core update: June 30–July 17 (about 16 days) 
• December 2025 core update: began December 11, rollout may take up to three weeks
  

This matters because it sets expectations: it is normal to see measurable search ranking volatility during rollout, and the “final” outcome often becomes clearer only after completion plus a short stabilization period.

Google’s Documentation Update: Continuous Algorithm Changes Matter Too

Two days before the December 2025 core update, Google updated its core updates documentation to clarify something important: improvements can be reflected without waiting for a major announced core update, because Google is continually making smaller updates as well. 

For teams doing ongoing SEO, this is a helpful reminder: do not treat core updates as the only time rankings can move. Sustainable content upgrades can pay off between major updates too.

What To Do Now: A Practical Monitoring Checklist Inside DM Cockpit

During a Google algorithm update, the goal is to stay calm, collect clean data, and avoid rushed changes. Here is a simple workflow you can run inside DM Cockpit (and your connected analytics stack):

1) Log the rollout dates and annotate your timeline

Record the start date (Dec 11, 2025) and keep a placeholder for the end date once Google confirms completion on the Search Status Dashboard.

2) Track keyword rankings and organic traffic daily

Focus on:

• Your top revenue pages
• Your highest volume keywords
• Queries that historically swing during core updates (especially informational content and comparison pages)

3) Separate “normal volatility” from “sustained losses”

Google’s guidance is to avoid overreacting to small position changes, and to investigate more deeply when drops are large and persistent.

4) Audit pages that lost visibility using people-first signals

If certain pages are clearly impacted, use this moment to strengthen:

• Clarity and completeness of the answer
• First-hand experience and evidence
• Updated facts, examples, and FAQs where relevant
• Internal linking that helps users navigate the topic

Google’s documentation emphasizes helpful, reliable, people-first content as the long-term direction.

Bottom Line

The December 2025 Core Update is now rolling out, and SEO teams should expect ranking fluctuations for up to several weeks. Use this period to monitor, document, and improve content strategically, not to panic-edit pages based on day-to-day swings.

During the rollout, use DM Cockpit to keep a tight pulse on keyword rankings, organic traffic, and page-level winners vs. losers, and avoid making rushed changes based on short-term volatility.

Once Google confirms the rollout is complete, lock in a post-update review inside DM Cockpit to identify what moved, why it likely shifted, and exactly which pages to optimize next. Start a 14 days free trial now!