For several years, FAQ sections have been a useful part of website SEO.
Not because they were magic, but because they helped website owners answer real customer questions in a clear, structured way. When marked up with FAQ schema, those questions and answers could also appear as expandable FAQ rich results in Google Search.
That extra visibility made FAQ schema worth adding to many websites.
Now Google has changed the rules.
As of May 2026, Google has confirmed that FAQ rich results are no longer appearing in Search. The related Search Console reporting and Rich Results Test support are also being removed.
So what does that mean if your website already has FAQ schema? And should you still add FAQs to your pages?
The short answer is this:
Keep the FAQs. Stop obsessing over the extra FAQ code.
What has actually changed?
FAQ schema is a form of structured data. It is extra code added to a page to help search engines understand that a piece of content is a question and answer.
Previously, this could help a page appear in Google with expandable FAQ dropdowns underneath the search result.
That was useful because it gave the page more space in search results and often helped answer a searcher’s question before they clicked.
Google has now removed that visible FAQ rich result feature.
This means the old SEO benefit of FAQ schema has largely gone for most standard business websites.
It does not mean FAQs are useless.
It means the reason for using them has shifted.
Should you remove FAQ schema from your website?
In most cases, no.
If FAQ schema is already on your website and it is valid, there is usually no need to rush around removing it. It is unlikely to harm your website.
But if you are spending time, money or development effort manually adding FAQ schema to every page, that effort probably needs reviewing.
For most small and medium-sized businesses, FAQ schema is no longer something I would prioritise as a standalone SEO task.
If your website system adds it automatically and correctly, fine. Leave it alone.
If adding it requires custom coding, extra plugins, developer time or awkward workarounds, it is probably no longer worth the effort.
Are FAQs still good for SEO?
Yes, but for a different reason.
FAQs are still valuable because they help people.
They answer the questions your customers are already asking. They reduce doubt. They make pages easier to scan. They help visitors understand whether your service, product or business is right for them.
That matters.
Good FAQ content can also support long-tail search queries. People often search Google using natural questions, such as:
- “Do I need planning permission for a wood-burning stove?”
- “How much does stairlift rental cost?”
- “What happens when someone dies at home?”
- “Can I get my car through an MOT if the warning light is on?”
If your page answers those questions clearly, the content still has SEO value.
The difference is that the visible FAQ dropdown in Google should no longer be the main goal.
What should businesses do instead?
The focus now needs to be on useful, visible, well-structured content.
That means:
- Keep FAQ sections on important pages
If customers ask the same questions again and again, answer them on the page.
Do not hide useful information in phone calls, PDFs or vague “contact us” statements. Put the answer where people can find it.
- Use real questions as headings
Questions should be written in the way a customer would ask them.
Not:
“Service eligibility considerations”
But:
“Can I rent a stairlift for short-term use?”
Not:
“Cremation provider comparison”
But:
“What is the difference between a local direct cremation and a national provider?”
Plain language wins.
- Answer the question quickly
Start with the direct answer, then add detail if needed.
People do not want to dig through three paragraphs before they find the answer. They are often stressed, busy, cautious or comparing options.
Make it easy.
- Link to useful next steps
A good FAQ should help the visitor move forward.
That might mean linking to a related service page, a guide, a contact form, a booking page or a relevant blog.
FAQs should not be dead ends.
- Use structured data where it still has value
This change does not mean all structured data is pointless.
There are still useful types of schema for many websites, including:
- Local business schema
- Organisation schema
- Article schema
- Product schema
- Breadcrumb schema
- Video schema
- Review-related schema, where appropriate and compliant
The point is not to abandon structured data. The point is to stop spending time on schema that no longer gives a meaningful return.
Were we wrong to use FAQ schema before?
No.
This is an important point.
FAQ schema was worth using when Google rewarded it with visible rich results. It was a practical SEO enhancement.
But SEO is not fixed. Google changes what it supports, what it displays and what it reports.
Good marketing advice has to change when the evidence changes.
What was useful before may become lower priority later. That is not a failure. That is simply how search works
The practical takeaway
Do not panic.
Do not remove useful FAQs.
Do not pay for unnecessary FAQ schema work unless there is a specific reason for it.
Instead, focus on the questions your customers actually ask and answer them properly on the page.
FAQ content still helps visitors. It still supports search intent. It still makes your website more useful.
But the old reason for adding extra FAQ code has largely disappeared.
So the new rule is simple:
Write the answers for people first.
Use structured data where it still has value.
And do not waste time with code that Google has stopped rewarding.
