App Indexing

App indexing was Google's way of bringing app content into search. Firebase App Indexing is no longer recommended for that; App Links are what counts today.

The term is outdated today. It describes a feature Google had planned for apps and that, according to the Firebase documentation, is no longer the recommended route.

Where the term comes from

With app indexing, Google wanted to show content from apps in mobile search. Users were meant to jump from a result straight into the app. The technical side ran through Firebase App Indexing, a service on Google’s developer platform Firebase.

The core idea lives on: a connection between a web address and a place in the app.

What applies today

The Firebase documentation says Firebase App Indexing is no longer the recommended way to show content as suggested results in Google Search. The Google Search app for Android no longer uses locally indexed content. The page names no date for a shutdown.

As replacements, Firebase names App Links for Android and Universal Links for Apple platforms. The page also mentions App Actions, App Search and Android Shortcuts. They serve other purposes, such as voice commands or on-device search.

How it differs from App Links and deep links

A deep link leads to a specific place in an app. It can use a custom scheme, such as myapp://product/123. On Android, this often leads to a selection dialog when several apps could handle it.

App Links are an extension for links to your own website. Android verifies the connection between the app and the domain. According to the Android documentation, the content then opens directly in the app without a selection dialog. App Links work on Android 6 and later on devices with Google services.

This has only an indirect link to search engine optimization. The connection does not change how your page ranks. It changes what happens after the click.

What this means for your website

If your company has an app, make sure every piece of app content has a clean web address. Connect those addresses to the app through App Links or Universal Links. That is a job for development and belongs to technical SEO, because the website remains the foundation.

If your company has no app, you can ignore the topic. You need neither app indexing for rankings nor for reach.

Typical mistakes

The most common mistake is an outdated project. An app still includes the Firebase SDK for App Indexing and relies on it. Check whether the links run through App Links instead.

The second mistake is planning app content with no counterpart on the web. Without a web address, search has nothing to link to. The website carries visibility here too.

Frequently asked questions

Has Firebase App Indexing been shut down?

The documentation does not prove that. Google says it is no longer the recommended way and that the Google Search app for Android no longer uses locally indexed content. The page reviewed names no shutdown date.

What replaces app indexing?

For Android, Google recommends App Links. For Apple devices, it recommends Universal Links. Both connect a web address to an app. Whoever opens your page lands in the app if it is installed.

Does my app have to appear in Google Search for users to find it?

No. What matters is that your website is easy to index. The app connection is an extra feature, not a ranking route of its own.