Official statement
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Google no longer requires AMP pages to appear in Top Stories. However, speed remains a ranking factor through Core Web Vitals and other Page Experience metrics. In practical terms: AMP is no longer mandatory, but having a fast page still is.
What you need to understand
What prompted Google to drop the AMP requirement for Top Stories? <\/h3>
AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) was previously a technical prerequisite<\/strong> for appearing in the mobile Top Stories carousel. This restriction hindered publishers who refused to maintain a parallel version of their content.<\/p> By removing this barrier, Google expands access to Top Stories. But beware — this is not a green light to slow down your pages. Core Web Vitals<\/strong> and overall speed remain active ranking factors.<\/p> Websites that have never adopted AMP can now compete for Top Stories. However, they need to compensate with an exceptional user experience<\/strong>: loading times, visual stability (CLS), interactivity (INP or FID).<\/p> Sites that used AMP due to necessity — not conviction — can abandon this technology, provided their non-AMP version is as fast or faster. Otherwise, visibility gain will be non-existent or even negative.<\/p>What does this really mean for publishers? <\/h3>
What are the remaining criteria to appear in Top Stories? <\/h3>
SEO Expert opinion
Does this statement put an end to the AMP vs non-AMP debate? <\/h3>
Not really. AMP remains a technical solution to ensure minimal loading speed<\/strong>, especially for sites with heavy or poorly optimized tech stacks. Some publishers continue to use it out of practicality.<\/p> However, the trend is clear: Google now favors results over method<\/strong>. If your page loads in 1.5 seconds without AMP, you're eligible. If it loads in 4 seconds with AMP, you remain in the race but with a handicap.<\/p> Let's be honest: Google remains vague about the exact weight<\/strong> of each metric. We know Core Web Vitals matter, but to what extent compared to freshness, relevance, or domain authority? [To be verified]<\/strong><\/p> Real-world observations show that pages with poor CWV can still appear in Top Stories if the content is highly fresh and the domain has strong editorial authority. Speed is a filter, but not the only criterion.<\/p> No. If your AMP version is performing well and you don't have the resources<\/strong> to optimize your standard version to the same level, keep AMP. It's a safety net.<\/p> However, if your non-AMP version is already performing well, maintaining two parallel versions becomes an unnecessary cost. Test, compare metrics, and then decide. There's no rush — Google has never said AMP would become penalizing.<\/p>Are Core Web Vitals really crucial for Top Stories? <\/h3>
Should you disable AMP immediately if you're already using it? <\/h3>
Practical impact and recommendations
What should you do if you aim for Top Stories? <\/h3>
The first step: audit your Core Web Vitals<\/strong> using PageSpeed Insights, Search Console, or a tool like Lighthouse. Identify the pages that have issues, especially those generating traffic from Google News.<\/p> Next, fix technical irritants: unoptimized images, blocking scripts, layout shifting during loading. Prioritize the most strategic pages — there's no need to optimize 10,000 pages if only 200 are generating impressions in Top Stories.<\/p> Don't disable AMP without confirming that your standard version is stable<\/strong>. Compare real loading times (not just in lab), monitor real-world metrics in Search Console for at least 28 days.<\/p> Avoid also falling into the opposite trap: believing that an ultra-fast page devoid of original content will succeed. Google favors pages that combine speed and editorial substance<\/strong>. One without the other isn't enough.<\/p>What mistakes should you avoid during this transition? <\/h3>
How can you check that your site remains competitive for Top Stories? <\/h3>
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Est-ce que les pages AMP sont encore indexées et classées par Google ?
Les Core Web Vitals sont-ils aussi importants pour Top Stories que pour le SEO classique ?
Faut-il désactiver AMP si je l'utilise déjà ?
Un site sans AMP peut-il vraiment concurrencer les gros médias dans Top Stories ?
Quels outils utiliser pour vérifier si mes pages sont éligibles à Top Stories ?
🎥 From the same video 16
Other SEO insights extracted from this same Google Search Central video · published on 09/01/2022
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