Google to end FAQ rich results support over spam concerns

Image credit: Abondance

Google will cease support for FAQ rich results in its search engine on May 7, 2026, a move expected to alter search engine optimization strategies for webmasters worldwide amid concerns over content proliferation and spam.

The decision marks a complete withdrawal of the feature, which previously allowed frequently asked questions and their answers to appear directly within Google‘s search results.

Google Search Console will discontinue reporting on FAQ structured data in June 2026, according to a company statement. Furthermore, API support for the feature will be removed in August 2026.

Webmasters are not obligated to remove existing FAQ schema code from their sites, as other search engines, including Bing, may continue to utilize this structured data, industry experts said.

The company’s decision follows a period where many content creators advocated for FAQ schema as essential for search engine visibility, leading to a surge in its implementation across various websites.

SEO specialist Lily Ray indicated that the widespread adoption of FAQ schema, sometimes without clear relevance or quality, likely contributed to Google’s decision to phase out the feature.

This is not the first time Google has restricted the display of FAQ rich results. The company previously limited their appearance to high-authority websites, a policy that became particularly noticeable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The full discontinuation signals a broader shift in how Google aims to present information in its search results, potentially prioritizing different forms of structured data or direct answers.

For webmasters, the change necessitates a re-evaluation of content strategies that relied on FAQ rich results for increased visibility and click-through rates.

While the immediate impact on search rankings is yet to be fully observed, the removal eliminates a direct avenue for displaying detailed information within the search engine results pages.

Source: Abondance