Google kills off instant search results because it makes no sense on mobile

Almost a lifetime ago, in tech years – Google introduced its Instant Search feature. When Google launched Google Instant Search back in 2010, the company called it a fundamental shift in search that would save searchers time when running searches on Google. Instant Search displayed search results page to the user during the process of typing the actual search phrase the user was interested in.

In best case, it would display the desired results earlier. In worst case, it would throw a number of unrelated search results page at you while you tried to focus on typing your search query. While the feature may have helped slow typing users, it did not really help fast typing users that much.

Google Instant Search is no more. The search engine giant has put the feature to rest, all thanks to the rise of mobile user. Today desktop browsing isn’t quite as popular as it once was, and these days, over 50% of all Google searches are on mobile devices. With mobile usage continuing to rise, Google has decided to remove Instant Search, as it explores new ways to improve search across all devices.

The company has issued the following statement on the matter:

“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.”

From now, when you type your query in the Google search box on a computer, you’ll only see the familiar suggestions popping up – the search results page won’t load under them anymore. You will need to either click on a suggestion or hit Enter for a results page to actually be displayed.