Have you ever clicked the back button on a website but still couldn’t leave the page? That frustrating experience is known as back button hijacking. Now, Google says it’s taking strict action against sites that use this trick. In a recent developer update, the company announced that websites blocking users from going back normally will face penalties in Google Search rankings starting June 15, 2026. What is back button hijacking? Normally, when you press the back button, you expect to return to the previous page. But some websites interfere with this simple action. Instead of letting you leave, these sites may: This creates confusion and makes users feel forced to stay on the site. Why Google is taking action? Google says user experience should always come first. Back button hijacking breaks how browsers are supposed to work and makes people feel misled. According to Google: Because of the rising number of such cases, Google has now labeled this behavior as a violation of its malicious practices policy. Websites using these tricks could face: When will the new rule start? Google has given website owners time to fix the issue. Enforcement will officially begin on June 15, 2026. This advance notice allows developers to review and correct their sites before penalties apply. What website owners should do now? Google advises site owners to make sure their websites do not interfere with browser navigation. If your site: In some cases, the problem may come from third-party tools, plugins, or ad networks. Site owners are encouraged to check all technical settings and disable any code responsible for this behavior.
