Google Removes FAQ Rich Results: What Changes for SEO?

Google Removed FAQ Rich Results. Should You Still Keep FAQs?

For years, FAQ schema was one of the easiest ways for SEO teams to earn extra visibility on Google.

A simple FAQ section, marked up with FAQPage structured data, could help a page appear with expandable questions directly in search results. For brands, this meant more SERP space, more visibility, and sometimes better click-through rates.

That has now changed.

Google has confirmed that, as of May 7, 2026, FAQ rich results are no longer appearing in Google Search. Google will also remove the FAQ search appearance, rich result report, and Rich Results Test support in June 2026, with Search Console API support ending in August 2026.

For SEO teams, content marketers, website owners, and brands working with an SEO agency, this update raises one clear question:

If Google removes FAQ rich results, should brands still keep FAQs on their website?

Quick answer: Yes. Google removed the rich-result benefit, not the value of answering user questions. FAQ schema no longer creates expanded Google listings, but FAQ content can still support search intent, user experience, conversions, and AI search visibility.

What Changed After Google Removed FAQ Rich Results

The biggest change is simple: FAQ rich results no longer appear in Google Search.

Users will no longer see the familiar expandable FAQ dropdowns under standard organic listings, even if a page still has valid FAQ schema. Search Engine Journal also reported that Google did not publish a separate blog post explaining the reason behind the removal.

This update was not completely sudden. In 2023, Google had already reduced FAQ rich result visibility and said FAQ rich results would mainly be shown for well-known, authoritative government and health websites.

For SEO teams, the impact is not only visual. It also affects reporting, dashboards, and client communication.

This does not mean every page with FAQs will lose rankings. The update affects the rich result display, not necessarily the organic ranking of the page itself.

Why FAQ Schema No Longer Works the Same Way for SEO

FAQ schema used to be valuable because it could help a page take up more space in search results.

That made it popular across blogs, service pages, product pages, and landing pages. In many cases, brands added FAQs not because users needed them, but because the schema could create a richer-looking result.

That tactic is now outdated.

FAQ schema no longer works as a Google SERP visibility shortcut. It may still be valid structured data, but it will not create FAQ rich results in Google Search.

The old approach was:

“Add FAQ schema to get rich results.”

The new approach should be:

“Add FAQs when they genuinely help users understand, compare, and decide.”

Structured data should support useful content, not compensate for weak content.

Should Brands Still Keep FAQs on Their Website?

Yes, brands should still keep FAQs if they are useful.

Google removing FAQ rich results does not mean users have stopped asking questions. It does not mean FAQ content has no SEO value. And it does not mean every FAQ section should be deleted.

You do not need to remove FAQPage schema unless it is outdated, inaccurate, duplicated, or added only for rich results.

If the markup is accurate, visible on the page, and not spammy, it can stay. If the FAQ content is outdated, thin, duplicated, or written only for schema, it should be cleaned up.

FAQs can still help users by answering questions quickly, reducing confusion, and removing hesitation before a conversion.

For example, a service page can use FAQs to answer:

• How long does the process take?
• What is included in the service?
• How much does it usually cost?
• What results can the client realistically expect?
• What makes this service different?
• What should a buyer know before enquiring?

These questions matter because they reflect real search intent.

The rule is simple: keep FAQs that help the user, not FAQs that only existed for rich results.

How FAQs Can Still Support AI Search and User Intent

FAQs still have a role in AI search optimization, but the role has changed.

FAQ schema does not guarantee visibility in AI-generated answers. There is no confirmed rule that adding FAQ schema will make a brand appear in ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, Copilot, or Perplexity.

But FAQs can still support AI search visibility because they turn user intent into clear question-and-answer content.

That matters because AI search is heavily question-led. Users ask AI tools things like:

• “What should I ask before hiring an SEO agency?”
• “How do I know if a digital marketing agency is reliable?”
• “What is the difference between SEO and AI search optimization?”
• “Should I still use FAQ schema after Google removed FAQ rich results?”

Pages that answer these questions clearly may be easier for both users and AI systems to understand.

A good FAQ section can support AI-led discovery by:

• matching real user questions
• using clear answers
• explaining complex topics simply
• improving topical depth
• supporting long-tail search intent
• making page information easier to interpret

This is where FAQs still matter. Not as a rich result trick, but as part of better content structure.

For an AI SEO agency, the goal is not just to optimize for older SERP features. The goal is to create content that works across traditional search, social search, and AI-led discovery.

What SEO Teams Should Do After the FAQ Rich Results Update

SEO teams do not need to panic, but they do need to update their workflow.

SEO teams should also review their broader structured data strategy. FAQPage markup may no longer produce Google FAQ rich results, but Google still supports other structured data types that can make pages eligible for rich results depending on the content, including Article, Event, Product, Recipe, Review snippet, Organization, and Video markup.

The priority should shift from adding schema everywhere to using the right schema for the right page.

A digital marketing agency or SEO agency should not position FAQ schema as a quick-win visibility tactic anymore. Instead, FAQs should be part of a broader content strategy focused on search intent, helpfulness, and conversion clarity.

Content teams should also rethink how they brief FAQs. Instead of adding generic questions at the end of every blog, they should ask:

• What is the user still confused about?
• What objection might stop them from enquiring?
• What question would they ask before buying?
• What information would help them compare options?
• What answer could improve trust?

This makes FAQs more useful, even without rich results.

What SEO Teams Should Not Do

This update is important, but it should not trigger panic decisions.

SEO teams should avoid these mistakes:

• Do not delete all FAQs just because rich results are gone.
• Do not keep thin FAQs that exist only for keywords.
• Do not promise clients that FAQ schema will improve AI visibility.
• Do not continue reporting FAQ rich results as a KPI after Google removes support.
• Do not ignore CTR changes on pages that previously had FAQ visibility.
• Do not add FAQ schema to every page without checking whether the questions are useful.

The goal is not to remove FAQs. The goal is to make them earn their place on the page.

FAQs Still Matter, But the SEO Role Has Changed

Google has removed FAQ rich results, but it has not removed the value of answering user questions.

FAQs are no longer a reliable way to win extra space in Google Search. They should not be treated as a rich result shortcut or a technical SEO hack.

But useful FAQs still matter.

• They help users understand a topic faster.
• They reduce hesitation before conversion.
• They support search intent.
• They improve content structure.
• They can contribute to AI search optimization when written clearly and naturally.

For brands, this update is a reminder that SEO cannot depend only on SERP features. Google can change how results appear at any time. What remains valuable is content that genuinely answers what users want to know.

The best approach now is not to delete FAQs. It is to make them better.

FAQs

Q1. Are FAQ rich results completely gone from Google Search?

A. Yes. Google has confirmed that FAQ rich results no longer appear in Google Search as of May 7, 2026. This means FAQ schema will no longer create expandable FAQ dropdowns in regular Google search results.

Q2. Should I remove FAQ schema from my website?

A. Not necessarily. If your FAQ schema is accurate and matches visible content on the page, it does not need to be removed immediately. But if the markup is outdated, spammy, duplicated, or added only for rich results, it should be cleaned up.

Q3. Do FAQs still help SEO after Google removed FAQ rich results?

A. Yes, FAQs can still help SEO when they answer real user questions, support search intent, improve page clarity, and reduce conversion friction. They just no longer provide the same visual rich result benefit in Google Search.

Q4. Can FAQs help with AI search visibility?

A. Yes, they can support AI search visibility when written clearly. FAQs use a question-and-answer format, which can help explain topics in a way that matches how users ask questions in AI search tools. But FAQ schema does not guarantee AI visibility.

How Verve Media Helps Brands Adapt to Search Changes

At Verve Media, we see this update as a shift from old SEO shortcuts to smarter content strategy.

FAQ rich results may be gone, but user questions are not. People still search, compare, hesitate, and look for clear answers before making decisions. That is why FAQs still have a role in modern SEO, especially when they are built around real search intent and AI search visibility.

At Verve Media, we help brands turn search updates like this into smarter content strategies. From technical SEO and structured data audits to AI search optimization and intent-led content, we build SEO strategies that are ready for where search is going next.

As a digital marketing agency, SEO agency, and AI SEO agency, Verve Media helps brands move beyond outdated tactics and build content that works for users, search engines, and AI-led discovery.

Written by Dilshad, Senior Content Writer at Verve Media

Dilshad builds content strategies that are not just written for algorithms, but for how people actually search, compare, trust, and choose brands online