FAQ Rich Results in 2025: What Still Works After Google's Updates

FAQ rich results still exist in 2025, but Google dramatically limited who can get them starting in August 2023. Only "well-known, authoritative government and health websites" now regularly see FAQ rich results in search. For most websites, FAQ schema markup no longer triggers the expandable Q&A dropdowns in search results—but that doesn't mean you should stop using it. Here's what changed, who can still benefit, and why FAQ schema remains valuable even without the visual rich results.

The State of FAQ Rich Results in 2025

FAQ rich results used to be one of the most accessible ways to stand out in Google search. Any website with valid FAQ schema could potentially show expandable questions and answers directly in search results. Those days are over.

Google's August 2023 update fundamentally changed who gets FAQ rich results. The change wasn't about the validity of your schema—it was about site authority. Even perfectly implemented FAQ schema markup no longer guarantees (or even suggests) you'll get the visual treatment in search results.

Timeline: Google's FAQ Rich Results Changes

2019: The Golden Era Begins

Google launched FAQ and How-To rich results for all eligible sites. Any website with properly implemented FAQ schema could see their questions appear as expandable dropdowns in search results. The SEO community embraced this feature heavily.

2019-2023: Peak Adoption

FAQ schema became standard practice. Websites added FAQ sections to product pages, service pages, and blog posts specifically to trigger rich results. Click-through rates for pages with FAQ rich results were measurably higher than standard listings.

August 2023: The Major Update

Google announced it would only show FAQ rich results for "well-known, authoritative government and health websites." How-To rich results were removed entirely from search. The change rolled out globally within weeks, and most websites saw their FAQ rich results disappear.

2024-2025: The New Normal

FAQ rich results remain rare. Government sites (CDC, IRS, state agencies) and major health organizations (Mayo Clinic, WebMD) still see them. Most commercial and informational sites do not. Google has not indicated plans to expand eligibility again.

What Changed with FAQ Rich Results?

Before: Who Could Get Them

• Any website with valid FAQ schema markup
• E-commerce sites on product pages
• Service businesses on landing pages
• Blogs and content sites
• Small businesses and startups
• Enterprise sites equally with small sites

After: New Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a "well-known, authoritative" site as determined by Google
• Government websites (.gov domains)
• Established health and medical organizations
• Major news publishers (occasionally)
• Most commercial sites no longer eligible regardless of schema quality

"Authoritative Sites" Explained

Google hasn't published specific criteria for what makes a site "authoritative" for FAQ rich results. Based on observations, it appears to include:

• Government entities and their official information portals
• Medical institutions with established credibility (hospitals, medical schools, health agencies)
• High domain authority alone is not sufficient—many DA 80+ sites don't qualify
• The focus is specifically on health and government topics, not general authority

Do FAQ Rich Results Still Work?

Current Data and Observations

Yes, FAQ rich results still appear in search—just not for most sites. Based on monitoring search results throughout 2024 and into 2025:

• Government sites consistently show FAQ rich results for relevant queries
• Health-related queries from authoritative medical sources show FAQ dropdowns
• Commercial sites rarely if ever see FAQ rich results, even with valid schema
• The visual appearance of FAQ rich results hasn't changed for eligible sites

Which Sites Still Get Them

Examples of sites that continue to show FAQ rich results:

• CDC.gov for health-related FAQs
• IRS.gov for tax questions
• State government websites for local regulations
• Mayo Clinic for medical conditions
• WHO for global health topics
• NHS (UK) for healthcare information

Industry-Specific Observations

• E-commerce: No FAQ rich results observed for product FAQs
• SaaS: No FAQ rich results even for major platforms
• Local businesses: No FAQ rich results in local pack or organic
• News/media: Very rare FAQ rich results, even for major publishers
• Finance: Limited FAQ rich results, mostly from government financial agencies

Who Can Still Get FAQ Rich Results?

Government and Health Sites

The primary beneficiaries of FAQ rich results in 2025 are:

• Federal government agencies and their official websites
• State and local government sites
• Public health organizations
• Medical institutions and healthcare providers with established authority
• Educational institutions (.edu) for health-related content

Well-Known Authoritative Sites

Beyond government and health, some sites with exceptional authority may occasionally see FAQ rich results. However, this is inconsistent and unpredictable. Being a "well-known brand" alone doesn't guarantee eligibility.

What Defines "Authoritative"

Google's criteria appear to focus on:

• Official status (government affiliation)
• Recognized expertise in health/medical fields
• Established credibility over years, not months
• E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
• Topic relevance (authority must match the content area)

Should You Still Use FAQ Schema?

Yes. Despite the limited rich results eligibility, FAQ schema markup remains valuable for several reasons that go beyond the visual search enhancements.

Benefits Beyond Rich Results

• Structured content signals: Schema helps search engines understand your content structure even without displaying rich results
• Future-proofing: If Google ever expands rich results eligibility, your schema will already be in place
• Other search engines: Bing and other search engines may handle FAQ schema differently
• Content organization: Implementing schema often improves how you structure your actual content

Voice Search Optimization

Voice assistants continue to use structured data to answer questions. FAQ schema helps voice search understand and extract your Q&A content, even when Google's main search doesn't show rich results. As voice search grows, this becomes increasingly relevant.

AI and LLM Considerations

Large language models (including Google's AI systems) may use structured data as signals when processing web content. Well-structured FAQ content with schema markup provides clear question-answer pairs that are easier for AI systems to parse and potentially cite in AI-generated responses. Learn more about how AI Overviews impact FAQ pages.

Future-Proofing Your Content

Google has changed rich results eligibility before and may do so again. Sites that maintain valid FAQ schema will be immediately eligible if criteria expand. Removing schema and then re-adding it later means starting from scratch. The cost of keeping schema in place is minimal.

Alternative Ways to Get Search Visibility for FAQs

Featured Snippets

Featured snippets remain available to any site. Structure your FAQ content to answer questions directly and concisely. Position 0 (the featured snippet box) can be more valuable than FAQ rich results since it appears above all other organic results.

People Also Ask

Google's "People Also Ask" boxes pull answers from various sources. Well-structured FAQ content can appear in these expandable question boxes. Unlike FAQ rich results, PAA boxes are available to all sites based on content relevance.

Knowledge Panels

For branded queries, knowledge panels may include FAQ-style information pulled from your site. Ensure your brand's commonly asked questions are clearly answered on your official pages.

FAQ Strategy Recommendations for 2025

• Keep implementing FAQ schema: The cost is low and benefits extend beyond rich results
• Focus on content quality: Great FAQ content helps users and can rank well regardless of rich results. See our complete FAQ SEO guide
• Optimize for featured snippets: Structure answers to capture position 0
• Target People Also Ask: Research PAA questions and answer them directly in your content
• Consider voice search: Write clear, spoken-word-friendly answers
• Monitor for changes: Google may adjust rich results policies in the future

What to Expect Next from Google

Google hasn't signaled any plans to expand FAQ rich results back to all sites. The 2023 change was framed as a long-term shift toward showing rich results only from highly trusted sources for certain content types.

What might happen:

• Status quo: FAQ rich results remain limited to government and health sites indefinitely
• Gradual expansion: Google slowly adds categories or site types that qualify
• New formats: Different FAQ presentation styles that don't use current rich results
• AI integration: FAQ content surfaces in AI Overviews or other AI-driven features

The safest approach is to maintain valid FAQ schema while not depending on rich results for traffic. Focus on creating genuinely helpful FAQ content that serves users regardless of how Google chooses to display it.