---
title: "Retired rich results: HowTo, FAQPage, and other removed features"
slug: "retired-rich-results"
category: "seo"
tags: ["seo", "schema-org", "json-ld", "rich-results", "faq-schema", "howto-schema"]
status: "stable"
last_updated: 2026-09-27
summary: "Which Google rich results are retired (HowTo, FAQ, sitelinks search box, the June 2025 phase-out), when each went, and how to keep HowTo and FAQPage markup valid without expecting a SERP feature."
related: ["[[seo/schema-markup-deep]]", "[[seo/structured-data]]", "[[cheatsheets/schema-org-types]]", "[[seo/serp-features]]", "[[seo/structured-data-for-ai-crawlers]]", "[[howto/add-jsonld-to-static-site]]"]
---

## Overview

Google has removed several rich results since 2023, yet tutorials still recommend the markup that used to trigger them. This page lists what is gone, when it went, and what to do with markup that no longer earns a feature. The short version: leftover markup is harmless, new markup built for a retired feature is wasted effort, and any markup must still match the visible page. For the types that still earn rich results, see [[seo/schema-markup-deep]]; for the baseline set every page ships, see [[seo/structured-data]].

## Check the retirement list before chasing a rich result

Confirm a feature still exists before building markup for it. Google has retired several rich results since 2023:

- `HowTo` rich results: removed in 2023.
- FAQ rich results: limited to government and health sites in 2023, then discontinued for all sites in May 2026.
- Sitelinks search box: retired in November 2024; `WebSite` plus `SearchAction` no longer produces a SERP feature.
- June 2025 phase-out: Course Info, Claim Review, Estimated Salary, Learning Video, Special Announcement, and Vehicle Listing.

Google says leftover structured data for retired features causes no problems, so there is no need to strip it. Just do not expect a SERP feature from it.

## HowTo: valid markup, but no rich result

`HowTo` no longer earns a rich result. Google restricted HowTo rich results to desktop on 2023-08-08 and removed them entirely later in September 2023; as of 2026 HowTo produces no rich result on any device. The markup remains valid schema.org and can still help other consumers parse the steps, but it earns no SERP feature. Do not add `HowTo` expecting step-by-step results in search.

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "HowTo",
  "name": "Install Postgres on Ubuntu 24.04",
  "totalTime": "PT10M",
  "supply": [{ "@type": "HowToSupply", "name": "Ubuntu 24.04 server" }],
  "tool": [{ "@type": "HowToTool", "name": "apt" }],
  "step": [
    { "@type": "HowToStep", "name": "Update apt", "text": "Run sudo apt update." },
    { "@type": "HowToStep", "name": "Install Postgres", "text": "Run sudo apt install postgresql-16." }
  ]
}
```

- Every step has a `name` and a `text`. Add `image` for visual steps.
- `totalTime` uses ISO 8601 duration format: `PT10M` is ten minutes, `PT1H30M` is 90 minutes.
- Apply only when the page is a real procedural guide. Marking up a generic article as `HowTo` is misleading markup.

## FAQPage: valid markup, but no rich result

`FAQPage` no longer earns FAQ accordions in search. Google discontinued FAQ rich results for all sites in May 2026, after limiting them to government and health sites in 2023. No site gets the rich result now. The markup is still valid schema.org and harmless, so ship it on genuine Q&A pages if other consumers use it, not to win a SERP feature.

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What is Postgres?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Postgres is an open-source relational database."
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

- The page must visibly contain the same questions and answers. Markup for hidden content violates Google's structured data guidelines.
- Each question has exactly one accepted answer. Multiple `acceptedAnswer` entries are invalid.
- Answers contain real information, not "contact us for details." Promotional answers disqualify the markup.

## Decide what to do with existing retired markup

Leave accurate retired markup in place; remove markup that misdescribes the page.

- Keep `HowTo` or `FAQPage` on pages that genuinely are procedures or Q&A. Other consumers, including AI crawlers, can still parse it. See [[seo/structured-data-for-ai-crawlers]].
- Remove it from pages where it was added only to chase the old SERP feature, such as FAQ blocks bolted onto product pages. Markup that the visible content does not back is still a guideline violation, even for a retired feature.
- Do not count retired types in rich result audits. The Rich Results Test no longer reports them, so validate their syntax with the Schema.org Validator instead.

## Related

- [[seo/schema-markup-deep]]
- [[seo/structured-data]]
- [[cheatsheets/schema-org-types]]
- [[seo/serp-features]]
- [[seo/structured-data-for-ai-crawlers]]
- [[howto/add-jsonld-to-static-site]]