Compilation: 15 Hilarious Google Flops

When it comes to tech, Google has been synonymous with innovation, success, and world domination (hello, Android and Chrome!).

But even the mightiest giants trip over their own feet from time to time. While Google’s wins are legendary, its failures are just as fascinating—and in some cases, downright hilarious.

So buckle up, because we’re taking a deep dive into 15 of Google’s most epic flops that show even tech titans aren’t immune to bad ideas, poor timing, and sometimes just plain old bad luck.

1. Google Glass (2013-2015)

Google Glass was supposed to be the future—a wearable computer on your face, complete with augmented reality and the ability to make everyone feel like Tony Stark. Instead, it was more like wearing a giant neon sign that said, “I’m a nerd with $1,500 to spare.” Privacy concerns (hello, creepy face-camera), a lack of practical uses, and an absurd price tag doomed the product. Google eventually pivoted it to niche enterprise uses, but the dream of a world filled with Glassholes never materialized.

2. Google Wave (2009-2010)

Imagine an email service, instant messenger, and collaborative document editor all rolled into one. Now imagine it was so confusing no one knew how to use it. That was Google Wave. It was supposed to revolutionize online communication, but instead, it drowned in its complexity. Even Google employees admitted they didn’t fully understand what it was for. Wave’s failure proved that sometimes, keeping it simple is the way to go.

3. Google+ (2011-2019)

Ah, Google+. The social network that nobody asked for and even fewer people used. It was Google’s attempt to take on Facebook, but with clunky design, forced integration with YouTube, and a general lack of personality, it never gained traction. By the time Google pulled the plug, it had become the butt of jokes and a case study in how not to do social media.

4. Google Buzz (2010-2011)

Before Google+, there was Google Buzz, another ill-fated attempt at social networking. It was awkwardly bolted onto Gmail and immediately sparked privacy concerns by auto-sharing user email contacts with the world. The backlash was swift, and the project buzzed off into oblivion just a year later. Let’s call it the warm-up act for Google’s social media failures.

5. Google Nexus Q (2012)

This spherical media streamer looked like it belonged in a sci-fi movie, but its functionality was…lacking. The Nexus Q was expensive ($299!) and could only play content from Google Play, making it essentially useless compared to cheaper, more versatile competitors. It was quietly shelved before most people even realized it existed.

6. Google Notebook (2006-2012)

Google Notebook was an early attempt at a note-taking app, and while it had its fans, it never caught on in a big way. The interface was clunky, and Evernote was already eating its lunch. Google shut it down in 2012, and today, the concept lives on (kind of) in Google Keep, which is much more polished.

7. Google Answers (2002-2006)

In an era before Wikipedia dominated the web, Google Answers allowed users to pay a small fee to have their questions answered by researchers. Sounds quaint, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, Yahoo! Answers (remember that chaotic gem?) was free and way more popular, even if the answers were hilariously bad. Google Answers couldn’t compete and was quietly retired.

8. Google Video (2005-2009)

Before Google acquired YouTube, it tried its hand at its own video-sharing platform, Google Video. The problem? YouTube was already miles ahead. Google eventually waved the white flag and bought YouTube in 2006, rendering Google Video obsolete. At least they knew when to fold ‘em.

9. Google Health (2008-2012, 2021 reboot)

Google Health aimed to centralize your health records online, which sounds useful in theory. In practice? People weren’t ready to hand over their sensitive medical data to a tech company, and adoption was minimal. Google quietly killed it in 2012 and even tried rebooting it in 2021… only to flop again. Some ideas are just cursed.

10. Project Ara (2013-2016)

The modular phone concept—where users could swap out hardware like Lego bricks—was incredibly cool. But like many cool things, it was too ambitious for its time. Technical challenges, lack of interest from manufacturers, and the realization that most people don’t want to tinker with their phones doomed Project Ara before it even launched.

11. Google Spaces (2016)

Google Spaces was a group chat app designed for sharing links, videos, and ideas. Sounds handy, right? Well, no one used it. With Slack and other messaging platforms already dominating the space, Spaces never found its niche and was shuttered within a year. Another one bites the dust.

12. Google Allo (2016-2018)

If there’s one thing Google loves, it’s launching messaging apps—and shutting them down shortly after. Google Allo was supposed to be the next big thing in chat, complete with AI-powered features. But it failed to stand out in a crowded market and joined the graveyard of Google’s many abandoned messaging services.

13. Google Lively (2008)

Lively was Google’s take on a virtual world, a la Second Life. Unfortunately, it was so bland and uninteresting that nobody wanted to spend time there. Combine that with a lack of compelling features and high system requirements, and Lively lasted just six months before being unceremoniously axed.

14. Google Daydream VR (2016-2019)

Virtual reality seemed like the next big thing, so Google jumped on the bandwagon with Daydream, a VR platform tied to its smartphones. Unfortunately, the hardware was clunky, the content was limited, and VR never became mainstream. By 2019, Daydream was… well, a daydream.

15. Google Stadia (2019-2023)

Cloud gaming is a futuristic idea, and Google Stadia promised to revolutionize gaming by letting you play AAA titles on any device, no console needed. But a weak game library, technical hiccups, and confusing business models left gamers unimpressed. Stadia was officially shut down in 2023, proving that even Google can’t win over the gaming crowd without a strong offering.

Why Does Google Fail (Sometimes)?

Google’s failures often come down to a mix of overestimating the market, underwhelming execution, and a lack of focus. Some ideas, while innovative, arrive before the world is ready for them, leading to products that feel out of place or unnecessary.

Even when the concept is solid, the execution sometimes falls short, leaving users unimpressed or confused. Adding to this is Google’s tendency to spread itself thin by experimenting with countless projects simultaneously, which can result in half-baked products that don’t get the attention they need to thrive.

What We Can Learn

If there’s a silver lining to Google’s flops, it’s that failure is part of the innovation process.

Google’s willingness to experiment—even at the risk of ridicule—is part of what makes it so successful in the long run. For every Google Wave, there’s a Gmail; for every Google+, there’s a Google Maps.

So the next time you’re beating yourself up over a mistake, just remember: even the mighty Google isn’t perfect. And sometimes, failing spectacularly is half the fun.

Simon Sterne

Simon Sterne is a staff writer at WebdesignerDepot. He’s interested in technology, WordPress, and all things UX. In his spare time he enjoys photography.