Google in 1998 Easter Egg
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Quick Facts
Return to where Google began with a faithful recreation of the 1998 homepage and search experience.
2013
Active
(Enhanced by elgooG)
Interact with the Easter Egg
The Official Google Version
How It Started
In 2013, to celebrate its 15th birthday, Google launched the nostalgic “Google in 1998” Easter egg. Searching for that phrase flipped the results page to match how it looked in Google’s founding year. For context: google.com was registered on September 15, 1997, and Google Inc. was incorporated on September 4, 1998.
What It Did
The original Easter egg re-created only the 1998 results page: the early Google logo (yes, with the exclamation point), a sparse layout, and links such as “Stanford Search” and “Linux Search.” The simple HTML captured the feel of the early web and nodded to PageRank — the ranking system Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed at Stanford.
Its Impact
It reminded people just how far search had come — from a Stanford research project to a company shaping the internet. Side by side with today’s rich results (images, videos, knowledge panels), those plain blue links made the leap in search tech easy to see.
Why We Enhanced It
Because Google’s egg showed only the results page, you missed the front door. We rebuilt the full 1998 homepage — the place where the story starts — so you can experience visiting Google back then, not just viewing a retro SERP.
The Enhanced Experience
Enhanced vs. Original
Our version goes further by faithfully re-creating the entire 1998 homepage, not just the results. It lives inside an Internet Explorer 4.0–style window for period accuracy, and a pixel-style font completes the late-’90s vibe. Google showed what searching looked like; we show what visiting Google felt like.
The Easter Egg Experience
Click the button above to time travel. You’ll see the 1998 homepage much like early users did: the classic logo (exclamation point included), the simple search box, and links to “Stanford Search,” “Linux Search,” and “About Google.” It’s presented inside a convincing Internet Explorer 4.0 frame for maximum nostalgia. Your queries run through a 1998-style simulation, returning results the way they appeared back then.
How to Play
- Click the button above to begin your journey.
- The 1998 Google homepage opens inside an IE 4.0–style window.
- Check out the original logo, simple search box, and period links.
- Enter a query in the retro interface.
- See late-1990s-style results.
The 1998 homepage leaned into the “portal” look of the era — lots of links — very different from today’s minimalist style. Internet Explorer 4.0 (1997) was the browser many people used and introduced ideas like Active Desktop and Dynamic HTML. Our simulation captures that moment in web history.
Fun fact: The first Google Doodle in August 1998 was a simple stick-figure Burning Man — a clever out-of-office from the founders.
Final Thoughts
This enhanced “Google in 1998” is a small time machine: a period-accurate homepage inside a faithful browser frame, so you get the feel of the web in 1998, not just the look. Peek at the humble beginnings of today’s tech giant, then explore our other digital time capsules.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the “Google in 1998” Easter egg?
This Easter egg lets you try Google much like it looked at launch — vintage logo, simple layout, and the basics Larry Page and Sergey Brin built at Stanford.
Type a query to see results presented the way they were in 1998, guided by their then-new PageRank system. It’s a fun, nostalgic peek at Google’s origins and early web design.
Why did Google create the “Google in 1998” Easter egg?
Google rolled it out in 2013 to celebrate its 15th anniversary.
The throwback highlights the path from a Menlo Park garage startup to a global company. Touches like “Stanford Search,” “Linux Search,” and “Company Info” reflect its academic roots and early focus — a neat little time machine.
How do I use the “Google in 1998” Easter egg?
Use it as you would have in 1998 — type anything and get clean, text-first results.
You can also explore homepage links like Help, About Google, and Monthly Updates. Some links may redirect to modern pages or may no longer work — that’s part of the authentic early-web feel.