Google’s Lighthouse audit system is getting a major facelift, and SEO professionals aren’t thrilled. The update merges individual metrics into broader “insights,” eliminates several familiar audits like Initial Meaningful Paint, and completely removes PWA testing. Layout shifts, animations, and image optimization metrics are now lumped together. No more cherry-picking specific audits either – it’s all or nothing. This radical overhaul promises smoother workflows, but the change might leave some SEO experts scratching their heads as they dig deeper.
Google’s Lighthouse audit system is getting a major overhaul, and it’s shaking up the SEO world. The changes are sweeping and, frankly, a bit nerve-wracking for SEO professionals who’ve gotten cozy with their current workflow.
Lighthouse is merging familiar audits, tossing others out the window, and realigning itself with Chrome DevTools in what can only be described as a digital spring cleaning gone wild.
The most dramatic shift? Those neat, separate audits we’ve all been using are getting smooshed together into broader “insights.” Layout shifts, non-composited animations, and unsized images? They’re now roommates in a single audit. Image optimization metrics? One big happy family.
Lighthouse’s new consolidated approach means saying goodbye to isolated audits, as multiple metrics now share cozy quarters under broader insight categories.
And here’s the kicker – you can’t cherry-pick which parts of these insights you want to run. It’s all or nothing, folks. The CPU throttling factor has been adjusted to deliver more accurate metric times.
Some old favorites are getting the boot entirely. Initial Meaningful Paint? Gone. No Document Write? See ya later. The new setup is pushing everything into either “Insights” or “Diagnostics” sections, creating a cleaner – if slightly more intimidating – interface.
The whole thing aligns with Chrome DevTools now, which is great for consistency but might leave some SEO specialists scratching their heads. The transition begins with Lighthouse 12.6 offering a toggle between old and new views in May/June 2025.
Security gets an enhancement with new audits that won’t tank your scores, and PWA testing has packed its bags and moved out entirely.
The Performance panel in Chrome DevTools is stepping up its game, automatically flagging issues that matter. Core Web Essentials are taking center stage, because apparently, Google really, really wants us to care about user experience.
For SEO professionals and DIY website owners, this means one thing: adaptation time. Scripts need updating, strategies need tweaking, and everyone needs to get familiar with the new layout – fast.
It’s a breaking change that’s living up to its name, breaking quite a few established workflows in the process. Welcome to the future of web auditing, whether we like it or not.
