--- title: "June 2021 spam update: dates, what changed and what to do" url: https://seomadman.com/updates/june-2021-spam-update section: updates language: en published: 2026-09-26T00:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-09-26T00:00:00.000Z author: Adam Hafez topics: ["Content strategy", "Technical SEO"] --- # June 2021 spam update: dates, what changed and what to do ## The short answer Google's June 2021 spam update ran in two parts, each lasting a single day: 23 June and 28 June 2021. Google confirmed both on X, called it part of its regular work to improve results, and did not say which kinds of spam it targeted. Google said it was global and covered web and image results. ## Key takeaways - Google SearchLiaison announced the spam update on 23 June 2021 and said it would conclude that day. - A second part began on 28 June 2021, and Google said it would also conclude the same day. - Google did not say which types of spam the update targeted or publish impact figures. - Google's Danny Sullivan said it was global and covered web page and image results. - Google's spam detection systems, including SpamBrain, are still in use today. ## What Google changed Google SearchLiaison announced the update on X on 23 June 2021: "As part of our regular work to improve results, we've released a spam update to our systems." It linked to its general material on fighting spam and gave no detail on which spam types the update targeted. Google's confirmation came only on X. Google called it "a spam update" rather than giving it a dated name; June 2021 spam update is the label used here to tell it apart from later spam updates. Google's Danny Sullivan told [Search Engine Roundtable](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-spam-algorithm-update-june-23rd-31649.html) that it was global and "currently covers web page and image results." ## When it rolled out Google said the first part "will conclude today," on 23 June 2021, and that "a second one will follow next week." On 28 June 2021 Google posted that "the second part of our spam update has has begun today, and it will also conclude later today, unless we share otherwise." Google did not post anything further, so 28 June is the last date it stated. Both parts landed inside the page experience update's rollout, which ran from 15 June to 2 September 2021, and between the June and July 2021 core updates. ## What is known about its impact Google published no impact figures and did not describe what the update changed. Treat any percentage you see attributed to it as a third-party estimate. ## What site owners should do Google's spam detection systems, including SpamBrain, are still in use, and its current [spam update guidance](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/spam-updates) says sites that see a change should review its [spam policies](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies). In practice: - Check the site against each spam policy, such as cloaking, doorways and scaled content abuse. - Remove or fix what violates a policy rather than waiting for the next update. - Expect any improvement to take months, as Google's systems learn the site now complies. ## How to check whether it affected you Search Console keeps 16 months of data, so its reports no longer cover June 2021. Use archived analytics exports and compare the days either side of 23 June and 28 June 2021. The [Google Algorithm Updates timeline](/updates) lists the other updates of that summer, so you can rule out overlapping rollouts first. ## Related updates - The [July 2021 link spam update](/updates/july-2021-link-spam-update) was the next spam update. - The [November 2021 spam update](/updates/november-2021-spam-update) was the next general spam update. ## Frequently asked questions ### When did the June 2021 spam update run? In two parts. Google said the first was released on 23 June 2021 and would conclude that day, and that the second began on 28 June 2021 and would also conclude later that day unless it said otherwise. ### What kind of spam did the June 2021 spam update target? Google did not say. Its announcement described it as part of its regular work to improve results and linked to its general material on fighting spam. ### Did the June 2021 spam update affect local results? Google's Danny Sullivan said the update was global and covered web page and image results, as reported by Search Engine Roundtable. Google did not say it covered local results. ### How can a site recover after a spam update? Google's spam update guidance says to review its spam policies. Sites that make changes may improve once its automated systems learn over a period of months that the site complies. ## Sources 1. [As part of our regular work to improve results, we've released a spam update to our systems](https://x.com/searchliaison/status/1407745802798178305) - Google SearchLiaison on X (primary) 2. [This spam update will conclude today. A second one will follow next week](https://x.com/searchliaison/status/1407745993966178306) - Google SearchLiaison on X (primary) 3. [The second part of our spam update has has begun today](https://x.com/searchliaison/status/1409576349715427332) - Google SearchLiaison on X (primary) 4. [Google Search Spam Algorithm Update June 23rd & 28th](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-spam-algorithm-update-june-23rd-31649.html) - Search Engine Roundtable 5. [Google Search Spam Algorithm Update Part Two Released On June 28th](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-spam-update-part-two-31674.html) - Search Engine Roundtable 6. [Spam policies for Google web search](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies) - Google Search Central (primary) 7. [Google Search spam updates and your site](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/spam-updates) - Google Search Central (primary)