Google will start redirecting its country code top-level domains (ccTLD) to Google.com, meaning users accessing domains like google.fr (France) or google.ng (Nigeria) will be redirected to the main site. The change is due to improvements in Google's ability to provide a local experience, which began in 2017 when local results were made available to all users, regardless of the domain used. As a result, ccTLDs are deemed unnecessary, and this transition aims to streamline the user experience on Search.
The rollout will occur gradually over the coming months, and users may need to re-enter some Search preferences. Importantly, while the browser address bar will reflect this change, it will not impact how Search functions or how Google complies with national laws.
