Google Drops FAQ Rich Results

Google has officially phased out FAQ rich results in Search, marking the end of a feature that has been gradually scaled back over the past few years.

The change follows a quiet update to Google’s documentation confirming that FAQ rich results are no longer shown in Search. It also outlines a staged removal of related tools, including reporting and API support over the coming months.

Key removal timeline confirmed

According to Google’s updated guidance, FAQ rich results stopped appearing in Search from 7 May.

Further changes are scheduled as follows:

In June 2026, Google will remove FAQ search appearance filters, rich result reports, and support from the Rich Results Test tool
In August 2026, support for FAQ rich results will be removed from the Search Console API

While the feature is being retired, Google has confirmed that FAQ structured data can still remain on pages without causing issues. However, it will no longer generate visible enhancements in search listings.

Gradual phase-out over several years

This decision is not entirely new. Google has been reducing the visibility of FAQ rich results since 2023, when it restricted them mainly to a small number of authoritative government and health websites.

At that time, most websites lost access to the feature, alongside changes to other rich result types such as HowTo on mobile.

The latest update appears to complete that process, effectively ending FAQ rich results for all site types, including those that were previously still eligible.

No official explanation from Google

Google has not published a dedicated announcement explaining the reasoning behind the removal.

Instead, the update was added directly to its structured data documentation, stating only the dates and deprecation details.

As a result, many SEO professionals have been left interpreting the change based on previous reductions in FAQ visibility rather than a formal explanation.

What happens to FAQ schema now?

Despite the removal of visible rich results, FAQ structured data is still supported in Schema.org and can remain on websites.

Google has previously stated that unused structured data will not harm search performance. This means sites do not need to urgently remove FAQ markup if it is already in place.

However, it is important to note that it will no longer enhance listings or generate any special search appearance in Google results.

Ongoing debate around SEO and AI search

The timing of the change has attracted attention within the SEO community, particularly as FAQ schema has often been recommended in relation to AI-driven search tools.

Some practitioners have suggested it may help with content interpretation for AI systems, although Google has not linked this deprecation to AI search developments.

At present, there is no indication that FAQ structured data provides any direct benefit in Google Search beyond standard indexing.

What this means going forward

For website owners and SEO teams, the impact is relatively straightforward. FAQ schema can remain in place, but it no longer delivers any visible search enhancements.

The focus is likely to shift away from FAQ rich results towards other structured data types and broader content optimisation strategies.

While the feature has now been fully retired from Search, its role in future AI or machine interpretation of content remains separate and has not been clarified by Google.