Test on Mobile, Not Just Desktop

Test on Mobile, Not Just Desktop

Most reports and tools default to one device, but Google ranks using mobile data, and phones are slower with weaker connections. A page that's green on desktop can be red on mobile. Think of it like test-driving a car only on a smooth road, never the bumpy one your visitors use.

Here's the routine:
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1. In PageSpeed Insights, click the 'Mobile' tab at the top before reading anything.
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2. Compare its three bars against the Desktop tab.
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3. In Chrome DevTools Performance, open the gear icon and set CPU to '4x slowdown.'
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4. Set Network to 'Slow 4G' to mimic a real phone.
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5. Re-record your test under those settings.

The mobile numbers are the ones that affect your search ranking.

Try this: Switch to the Mobile tab right now and note how different the score is.