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Google Search Console’s Performance report now lets you select more than one device type in a single filter. Here is what changed, why combined device views can hide mobile problems for UK small businesses, and how to check mobile versus desktop properly.
By Web Builder Agency · · 5 min read
What Google has added
Google Search Console’s Performance report already lets you filter by country, search appearance, search type and device. Until recently, the device filter worked one type at a time: desktop, or mobile, or tablet. According to Search Engine Watch (5 November 2026), you can now select multiple device types in one filter and see the combined results in a single view.
That change follows an earlier update that allowed filtering by more than one country at once, covered by Search Engine Journal in October 2026. Google’s own help documentation on Performance advanced filtering also notes that you can filter by multiple devices and countries. The product change is small, but for UK businesses that live on phones it is useful — if you use it carefully.
Why device filters matter for UK small businesses
Most UK small-business websites get a large share of their search visits from phones. People look up a plumber, a clinic, a shop opening time or a local service while they are out. Desktop still matters for longer research and for some B2B enquiries, but mobile is often where the first click happens.
If you only look at “all devices” totals, mobile problems hide inside the average. A page that ranks and converts well on desktop can still frustrate phone users with a slow load, a cramped form or a menu that is hard to tap. Combined figures look fine; the phone journey does not. That is why a multi-select filter is handy for totals, but a separate mobile view remains essential when you decide whether to improve SEO, book a site audit, or plan a website redesign.
How to check mobile versus desktop in Search Console
Open the Performance report for your property. Use the date range you usually trust (many owners look at the last 28 days, then compare with the previous period). Then:
- Start with all devices so you have a baseline for clicks, impressions, average position and click-through rate on your main pages.
- Filter to mobile only and note the same metrics for your homepage, service pages and contact page.
- Filter to desktop only and compare. Look for pages where mobile clicks or CTR are clearly weaker than desktop for the same queries.
- Use multi-select when you want a combined phone-and-tablet view without mixing in desktop — for example if you care about “handheld” traffic as a group. Do not treat that combined view as proof that mobile is healthy on its own.
Also check Search Console’s experience signals and run a free mobile speed check on your key URLs. If pages feel slow on a phone, our guide on why a website can be so slow covers the practical checks to try first.
What a weak mobile view usually means
A weaker mobile report does not automatically mean you need a new website. Often the fix is tighter: compress images, simplify the header, make the enquiry form easier on a small screen, or clarify titles and meta descriptions that win desktop clicks but miss phone users. Local SEO also matters here: many phone searches are “near me” or town-based, so clear service-area pages and accurate business details help.
When the gap is structural — outdated layout, broken journeys, content that is hard to skim on a phone — a redesign or a fresh website design can be the cleaner path. An audit sits in between: it tells you whether you are looking at a few mobile fixes or a deeper rebuild.
Where audits, SEO and redesigns fit
We keep pricing simple for UK businesses. Our whole-site audit costs £99, with a prioritised report within 1 working day. Website builds start from £1,000 and £2,500. Ongoing SEO starts from £500 a month, and website support is £99 a month.
Book the audit when Search Console (or a speed test) shows mobile lagging and you are not sure what to fix first. Choose SEO when the site structure is sound and you want steady gains in search. Choose a redesign when the mobile experience itself is the bottleneck. The new multi-device filter makes that diagnosis easier; it does not replace looking at mobile on its own.
Quick answers
What is the new Search Console device filter?
The Performance report in Google Search Console now lets you select more than one device type in a single filter, so you can combine desktop, mobile and tablet in one view, similar to the earlier multi-country filter.
Should I still check mobile and desktop separately?
Yes. A combined view is useful for totals, but mobile and desktop often behave differently. Check each device on its own for your main money pages, especially if most of your visits come from phones.
When does a slow mobile site need an audit or redesign?
If Search Console or a free speed test shows mobile is clearly weaker than desktop on clicks, rankings or load time, start with a £99 whole-site audit. A redesign is worth considering when the mobile layout, forms or structure are holding the whole site back.
Not sure what’s holding your website back? Get your whole site reviewed for £99, with prioritised fixes within 1 working day. Book a site audit for only £99.
