GlossarySEO
Does HowTo schema still work?
Also called: HowTo structured data, how-to rich results, HowTo markup
Definition
HowTo schema is structured data for step-by-step instructions. Google stopped showing HowTo rich results in 2023, so the markup no longer produces a special result in Google Search.
HowTo schema, explained
HowTo markup described a task as a series of HowToStep items, with optional tools, supplies, time and images. For a few years, Google could show these steps directly in results. In August 2023, Google announced changes to HowTo and FAQ rich results: HowTo rich results were deprecated, first on desktop and then no longer shown on mobile either, and FAQ rich results were limited to well-known, authoritative government and health sites. Google's documentation updates show FAQ rich results were then removed from Search entirely from May 7, 2026.
So if you're writing new content, HowTo markup won't earn a rich result in Google. The type still exists in Schema.org, and other systems may read it, but it's no longer a Google Search feature. Google's announcement noted that Search Console's related reports would be removed.
What still works for instructional content is the content itself. Write the steps as a real ordered list in HTML, with a heading that matches the question, like "How to submit a sitemap in Search Console". Clear, numbered steps are easy for Google to show in a featured snippet and easy for AI assistants to quote. Add Article markup for authorship and dates, VideoObject if there's a video, and BreadcrumbList for structure.
Leaving old HowTo markup on the page is generally harmless. Just don't spend time maintaining it or building new markup for a feature that no longer shows.
Why it matters for founders
Plenty of older SEO checklists and plugins still push HowTo markup. Knowing it's retired in Google saves you effort for things that still work.
Example
Your tutorial template still outputs HowTo JSON-LD. You stop adding it to new posts, make sure every tutorial uses a proper <ol> for steps, and keep Article and Breadcrumb markup.
Common mistakes
- Adding HowTo markup to new pages for Google rich results.
- Relying on markup instead of real HTML lists for steps.
- Assuming FAQ rich results still show. Google stopped showing them in May 2026.
- Using an outdated checklist without checking Google's current gallery.
Sources
- Google Search Central Blog: Changes to HowTo and FAQ rich results (Aug 2023)
- Google Search Central: Latest Google Search documentation updates
Checked
Related terms
- Rich resultsRich results are search listings with extra visual features beyond the title, URL and snippet, like review stars, prices, breadcrumbs or video thumbnails. Most depend on structured data.
- FAQ schemaFAQ schema is FAQPage structured data that marks up a list of questions and answers on a page. Google no longer shows FAQ rich results in Search, but the markup remains valid schema.org.
- Featured snippetA featured snippet is a Google result where the descriptive snippet appears first, above the link, to answer a query directly. Google picks it automatically; there's no markup that makes a page one.
- Structured data (JSON-LD)Structured data is machine-readable information about a page, usually written as JSON-LD using the schema.org vocabulary. It helps search engines understand what a page is about and can make it eligible for rich results.