It seems that some Google Search users have been dealing with an annoying bug for a few weeks now. Reports online suggest that every single link in Google search results has decided to adopt a royal purple hue, regardless of whether a user has actually clicked on it before. Naturally, this is confusing users since they are now unable to rely on the distinct color cues to navigate their search history.
Normally, Google search results display unvisited links in a vibrant blue and visited links in purple. This visual distinction helps users quickly identify what they’ve already explored and what’s new. Imagine trying to retrace your steps or find new information when everything looks the same. It can be a real headache.
Reports of this widespread color confusion began surfacing across various online forums. Users on Reddit in the r/google, r/firefox, and r/chrome communities have been sharing their experiences. It’s not just one browser either; people have seen this issue on Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, and even Brave. The problem appears to persist whether users are logged into their Google account or not, and on multiple devices, including desktops and mobile phones.
In my testing, however, I wasn’t able to replicate the problem on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Dia. And other reports online suggest that there are plenty of users out there who aren’t dealing with the bug either. So it’s clear that the bug isn’t affecting everyone, making it even more puzzling.
That said, some users tried the usual troubleshooting steps. They cleared their Browse history, cookies, and cache, hoping to reset things. A few even uninstalled and reinstalled their browsers or apps. For a moment, the links might appear blue, but the purple plague quickly returns on subsequent searches.
One user, expressing their frustration, posted the following on a Google support forum,
Whenever I search anything up all the links I see are purple; even though I have never pressed these links. I was just wondering if there is any solution to this? I already cleared my cache and history about 5 times and still nothing. This is only happening on my computer, any idea what’s going on?
Another frustrated user commented on Reddit,
Please fix, it’s annoying. It’s happening in Firefox, but only when logged in.
While some initially speculated about browser settings, or even something more sinister like malware, the official word is finally in. Google acknowledged the issue in response to complaints on Reddit, stating, “Thanks for flagging this. We’re aware of the issue you’re seeing. We’re currently investigating it and appreciate your patience while we work on identifying the root cause.”
This confirmation is a relief for many who were wondering if they were alone in this purple-tinted search experience. It seems like a legitimate bug on Google’s end. For now, users will have to wait patiently as Google works to diagnose and fix whatever is causing all those links to go purple. Hopefully, the familiar blue will return soon.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1137 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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