Google Is Switching Off FAQ Rich Results: What This Means For Your SEO
If you've received a notice in Google Search Console recently telling you that FAQ rich results are being deprecated, you're not alone. On 7 May 2026, Google officially stopped showing FAQ rich results in search, and the FAQ rich result report in Search Console will be removed entirely in June 2026.
It's the kind of update that can feel alarming if you're not sure what it means. So let me explain what's actually happened, who it affects, and what you should do about it.
What Were FAQ Rich Results?
FAQ rich results were a type of enhanced search result that allowed websites to display a list of questions and answers directly beneath their listing on Google. If you've ever searched for something and seen a website with expandable questions appearing right there on the results page, that was FAQ rich results in action.
To qualify for them, websites needed to add a specific type of structured data markup to their pages, essentially a piece of code that told Google this content was formatted as a FAQ. When Google recognised that markup, it would sometimes reward the page with the expanded FAQ display in search results.
For many businesses and SEO professionals, FAQ rich results were a useful way to take up more space on the search results page and provide quick answers to common questions directly in Google.
Why Has Google Removed Them?
Google hasn't given a detailed public explanation, but this move fits into a broader pattern we've been seeing for a while now. As Google continues to expand AI Overviews and its generative search features, traditional rich result formats are becoming less central to how the search results page is structured.
Google has been streamlining the types of rich results it supports, focusing on those that genuinely improve the search experience for users. FAQ rich results, which could sometimes be used in a way that cluttered the results page without adding real value, appear to have fallen into the category of features that no longer serve a clear purpose in the current direction of search.
Who Does This Affect?
If your website was actively using FAQ structured data markup and appearing with expanded FAQ results in Google Search, you will have already noticed those disappearing since 7 May 2026.
If you're not sure whether your site was using FAQ schema, it's worth checking. A web developer or SEO professional can look at your site's structured data and confirm whether FAQ markup is present.
What Should You Do?
The practical steps here are straightforward.
Check your site for FAQ schema markup If your website has FAQ structured data on any pages, it's now doing nothing in terms of generating rich results in Google Search. It isn't actively harming your rankings, but it's redundant code that serves no purpose. A tidy, well maintained website is always preferable.
Don't panic about your rankings The removal of FAQ rich results does not mean your pages will rank lower. Rich results are an enhancement to how your listing appears, not a ranking factor. Your underlying SEO is not affected by this change.
Reassess how you present FAQs on your website FAQ content itself is still genuinely valuable. Answering the questions your customers commonly ask is great for user experience and can still contribute positively to your SEO and GEO presence. The change simply means that content won't get a special enhanced display in Google Search results anymore.
Keep an eye on Search Console Google will be removing the FAQ rich result report from Search Console in June 2026. Before that happens it's worth taking a final look at any data there if FAQs were a meaningful part of your search strategy.
What This Tells Us About Where Search Is Heading
This update is a reminder that search is changing rapidly and keeping up with those changes matters. Features that were considered best practice a couple of years ago can become redundant quickly as Google evolves.
It's also another signal of the direction Google is heading. As AI generated answers become more prominent in search results, the traditional ways of earning enhanced visibility in Google are shifting. This is exactly why understanding developments like GEO alongside traditional SEO is becoming increasingly important for businesses that want to stay visible online.
The businesses that adapt to these changes quickly will always have an advantage over those that don't notice them until much later.
Not Sure How This Affects Your Website?
At Koprio we keep on top of changes like this so our clients don't have to. If you're unsure whether your website is using FAQ schema, how this update affects your search visibility, or simply want a fresh set of eyes on your SEO, we'd love to help.
We publish practical advice for East Sussex businesses every month. If you would like help putting any of it into practice, we would love to hear from you.
