02/13/2026 17:45:37Old HTTP Homepage May Trigger Wrong Site Name in Google
Search appearance is very important for every website owner. When someone looks for your brand on Google, they usually see your site name and a small favicon next to it. These elements help users recognize your website quickly and build trust.
But sometimes Google may show the wrong name or a strange icon, even when everything looks perfect on your main homepage.
Recently, John Mueller from Google explained a surprising reason why this can happen. In one case, the problem came from a hidden version of the homepage that normal visitors never saw.
Let’s understand this in an easy way.
The Strange Situation
The website in the example was running securely on HTTPS. If anyone typed the domain in their browser, the secure version opened correctly. The design, structured data, and favicon were all properly set.
So why did Google show the wrong information?
Because an old HTTP version of the homepage was still live on the server.
This older page was not meant for users. It was just sitting there as a default file. The website owner did not notice it because modern browsers quietly redirect or upgrade people to HTTPS.
However, search engine bots do not always behave the same way as browsers.
Why People Could Not See the Problem
When a person opens a website using a browser like Google Chrome, the browser often forces the connection to HTTPS automatically. Even if you type http, it may jump to the secure version.
Because of this, the HTTP page becomes almost invisible during normal checking.
Everything looks fine to you.
But Googlebot might still access that HTTP address directly. If it finds content there, it can use that page as a reference.
So while you think Google is reading your beautiful, updated homepage, it might actually be reading an old or empty file.
How Google Chooses Site Name and Favicon
Google’s system usually checks the homepage to understand what should be displayed in search results.
It looks at many signals, such as:
structured data
title tags
headings
og site name
and other important hints
If Googlebot reaches the wrong homepage, then all these signals can be wrong too.
Imagine giving directions to your office, but someone reads an old address written years ago. They will reach the wrong place, even if your new address is clearly written elsewhere.
That is what happened here.
What John Mueller Said
Mueller called it a very unusual case. The site owner had done the right work on HTTPS, but the forgotten HTTP page confused Google.
Because Chrome upgrades requests, humans never noticed the extra page. But Googlebot saw it and used it.
As a result, the displayed site name and favicon became incorrect.
How You Can Check Your Own Website
The good news is that this issue is easy to test once you know what to look for.
One way is by using a command-line request with curl. When you run:
curl http://yourdomain.com
You can see the real server response. There is no automatic upgrade. If a default or outdated page appears, you have found the problem.
Another option is to use tools inside Google Search Console.
The URL Inspection feature allows you to run a live test and check what Google actually fetches. This can reveal if the crawler is seeing something different from what you expected.
Many website owners are shocked when they realize Google is not reading the same page they see in their browser.
Why This Is Important
Since 2022, Google has relied more on site names instead of traditional title links in many cases. This change created several challenges for publishers and SEO teams.
Later, Google improved support for subdomains. After that, they fixed issues where internal pages sometimes showed different names compared to the homepage.
Now this new example adds another layer to the puzzle.
The mistake might not be in your structured data at all. Your HTTPS setup could be perfect. Still, a silent HTTP file may damage the final result.
Because people rarely check HTTP today, the problem can stay hidden for months.
Duplicate Homepages Can Create Confusion
Google’s own guidelines mention that both HTTP and HTTPS versions might exist. They recommend keeping information consistent or redirecting properly.
If two homepages show different content, Google must choose which one to trust.
And sometimes, it may choose the one you forgot.
That is why technical housekeeping is extremely important.
The Simple Fix
In most cases, the solution is straightforward.
If the HTTP version is not needed, set a strong redirect to HTTPS at the server level. This ensures that both users and bots land on the same page.
If a default file exists, remove it.
Once Google crawls again and sees only the correct homepage, the site name and favicon usually update.
It might take a little time, but the confusion should disappear.
A Lesson for Website Owners
This story teaches an important lesson. Never assume that what you see in your browser is exactly what search engines see.
Bots may access different URLs, older paths, or technical versions that humans ignore.
Whenever something looks wrong in search results, think beyond the visible surface.
Check direct responses. Test alternate protocols. Use inspection tools.
Small hidden files can create big headaches.
You can also read: New Google Core Update Signals Tighter Rules for Discover Feed Content
Final Thoughts
Getting your brand displayed correctly on Google is essential. A wrong site name or icon can reduce trust and hurt clicks.
Thanks to the insight shared by John Mueller, many website owners now know they should also inspect the HTTP version of their domain, even if they believe everything is secure.
A quick check today can save weeks of confusion later.
If you manage websites for clients, adding this step to your audit process is a smart move. It helps ensure that Google receives the right signals and presents your brand exactly the way you want.