Google appears to be testing the removal of the long-standing “100 results per page” option in Search. For years, users could force 100 results on a single results page using the &num=100 URL parameter, but as of early September 2025, that parameter no longer works. Instead, results are capped at the default setting—usually 10 results per page, sometimes extendable to 20—regardless of the parameter.
This change has caused significant disruption for rank-tracking platforms that relied on pulling large sets of results in one request. Without access to the top 100 at once, many tools are returning errors, incomplete rankings, or data gaps, while others are scrambling to implement workarounds.
SEOs are also noticing side effects in Google Search Console. Impressions, particularly on desktop, appear to have dropped, and average position metrics have shifted. These fluctuations likely stem not from real ranking changes but from differences in how results were being counted and displayed under the old &num=100 setup.
Many rank tracking platforms relied heavily on the &num=100 parameter to capture a broad set of results efficiently. Without it, tools are now forced to issue multiple smaller queries to replicate the same data, which increases workload and slows down reporting. This shift also raises operating costs for tool providers, and in some cases, those costs may be passed along to users.
Another problem is reduced visibility into deeper search results. Some platforms, unable to adjust quickly, are defaulting to showing only the top 10–20 rankings. While this still highlights core performance, it leaves SEOs without insight into long-tail keywords or the broader competitive landscape that was previously visible.
The result is clear: tracking data is less complete, less efficient, and less cost-effective, creating a ripple effect across SEO reporting and analysis.
Search Console has also become less reliable under these changes. Many SEOs report noticeable drops in impressions, especially on desktop, which appear artificially low. This suggests the reporting issue stems from how results beyond the first page are being counted.
Average position metrics are also showing unusual shifts. With fewer results being pulled into the dataset, position values are skewed, making it harder to interpret performance trends with confidence.
In addition, charts in Search Console have become more volatile, with sudden spikes or dips that don’t match real-world ranking changes. This reinforces the idea that the volatility is linked to Google’s test of the search results limit, rather than true performance swings.
Google has not confirmed whether this is a permanent change or just an experiment. However, it fits with the company’s broader trend of simplifying Search results and phasing out features that add complexity without clear value to everyday users. Very few searchers ever changed their settings to display 100 results per page, but for SEOs and rank-tracking providers, it was a critical way to gather comprehensive data.
The first step is to check whether your rank tracker is affected and stay alert for updates from your provider. Some platforms are already limiting results to the top 10 or 20 rankings to keep reporting stable.
Second, be prepared to re-baseline your metrics. Expect fluctuations in impressions and average positions in Search Console, and don’t interpret every change as an actual ranking loss.
Third, review and adjust dashboards or reports that rely on top-100 data. Queries that once pulled 100 results may now return missing or incomplete information.
Finally, with deeper SERP tracking harder to measure, SEOs should place even greater emphasis on optimizing for page-one visibility. Monitoring official Google updates will also be crucial, as the company could roll back this test, confirm it as permanent, or introduce further adjustments.
The disabling of the 100 results per page option and the broken &num=100 parameter are causing real disruption for SEOs. Rank tracking tools are reporting gaps, Search Console metrics are volatile, and long-tail tracking has become less reliable. While Google hasn’t clarified if this is temporary or permanent, the immediate takeaway is clear: focus on what you can measure reliably now and prepare reporting systems for a possible long-term shift.
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