By Hridoy Ahmed | Last updated: October 2026 | 7 min read
Short answer: FAQ rich results stopped appearing in Google Search on May 7, 2026, so FAQ schema no longer gives you the expandable dropdown in results. FAQPage is still a valid schema.org type, and you can keep it or remove it without affecting your search visibility. A clear, honest FAQ section on the page still helps readers, so keep that.
In this guide
- What changed
- Should you keep FAQ schema?
- Does FAQ schema help AI search?
- How to write a useful FAQ section
- FAQ
What changed
For years, pages with FAQPage markup could show expandable questions and answers under their search listing. Google had already limited this to well-known government and health sites in 2023. Google then added a notice to its FAQ documentation saying that FAQ rich results no longer appear in Google Search, as of May 7, 2026.
Google also said it would remove the FAQ search appearance, the FAQ rich result report and FAQ support in the Rich Results Test in June 2026, and remove FAQ support from the Search Console API in August 2026. If you used those reports, your old FAQ data may no longer be available.
Should you keep FAQ schema?
You do not have to remove it. FAQPage is still valid, and Google has said that unused structured data does not cause problems for Search. Sites can keep or remove it without affecting visibility in Google.
My advice:
- Keep it if the questions and answers are genuine, visible on the page, and the markup matches the visible text.
- Remove or fix it if the markup says something different from the page, or if the questions are stuffed with keywords.
- Do not add it to chase a visual result that no longer exists.
Rank Math and other plugins can add FAQ schema, so check which one outputs it, to avoid duplicates. See my guide to adding schema markup to a WordPress page.
Does FAQ schema help AI search?
Nobody can say for sure. Google’s guide to optimizing for generative AI says structured data is not required for its AI features, and there is no special schema.org markup to add. It still recommends using structured data as part of normal SEO. Other AI tools do not publish how they use markup. See schema markup for AI search: what actually helps.
What does help is the content itself: a clear question, a direct answer and honest detail. That helps people and every tool that reads the page.
How to write a useful FAQ section
- Use real questions. Take them from client emails, calls and Search Console queries.
- Answer in the first sentence. Then add detail if needed.
- Keep it visible. Do not hide answers in places people cannot read.
- Keep it short. Four to six questions are enough for most pages.
- Be honest. If the answer is “it depends” or “no one can guarantee that”, say so.
- Do not repeat the same answers across many pages.
If you want help deciding which structured data is worth keeping on your site, see my AI search optimization service.
Common mistakes
- Removing all FAQ content because the rich result ended
- Keeping FAQ markup that does not match the visible text
- Adding duplicate FAQ schema from two plugins
- Stuffing keywords into questions
- Expecting FAQ schema to create AI citations
FAQ
Is FAQ schema dead?
The rich result is gone in Google Search. The schema type is still valid, and you can keep it if it matches the visible content.
Will removing FAQ schema hurt my rankings?
Google has said that unused structured data does not cause problems, and sites can keep or remove FAQ markup without affecting visibility.
Why did my FAQ impressions drop to zero?
Because FAQ rich results stopped appearing on May 7, 2026, and Google removed related reporting afterwards.
Should I still add FAQs to my pages?
Yes, if they answer real questions. They help readers and make a page more complete.
Not sure which schema your site needs? I can review what your plugins output and clean it up. Work with me on AI search optimization.
About the author: Hridoy Ahmed is an SEO specialist and WordPress security expert based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has 8+ years of experience and works with clients worldwide.