Google Search Console Schema Errors Explained

📋 Quick Reference

Got a schema error in Google Search Console? Jump to your error type:

• Unparsable structured data
• Missing required field
• Invalid value
• Content mismatch
• Either X or Y must be provided

You check Google Search Console, click on "Enhancements," and there it is—a red error bar screaming at you. "57 pages with errors." Your heart sinks. What did you break?

I've debugged thousands of these. The good news? Most schema errors fall into just 5 categories, and once you understand what Google's actually complaining about, they're straightforward to fix.

Let me walk you through each error type with real examples and exact fixes.

Error #1: "Unparsable Structured Data"

This is Google's way of saying "Your JSON is broken." Somewhere in your schema, there's a syntax error that prevents Google from even reading it.

What Google sees:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "Wireless Headphones",
  "price": "2999", // ← Extra comma here
}
// ← Missing closing bracket

Common Causes:

Trailing comma after last property (super common!)
Missing comma between properties
Unclosed brackets or braces
Quotes inside quotes without escaping
Special characters breaking the JSON

How to Fix:

Copy your entire schema block from page source
Paste into our JSON-LD Checker
It will highlight the EXACT line with the syntax error
Fix that line (usually add/remove a comma or bracket)
Validate again until it's clean

Real Example from Last Week:

Client in Delhi had "unparsable" error on 200+ product pages. The issue? Their product descriptions contained quotes, and those quotes weren't escaped in the JSON:

❌ Wrong:
"description": "Premium "wireless" headphones"

✅ Fixed:
"description": "Premium \"wireless\" headphones"

One global find-replace in their database fixed all 200 pages.

Error #2: "Missing Required Field: [field name]"

Google's telling you that your schema is missing a mandatory field. Without it, your schema isn't valid for rich results.

Error Message	What to Add	Example
Missing: image	Add image URL	`"image": "https://..."`
Missing: name	Add product/article name	`"name": "Product Name"`
Missing: priceValidUntil	Add expiry date	`"priceValidUntil": "2026-12-31"`
Missing: author	Add author info	`"author": {"@type": "Person", "name": "..."}`

⚠️ Important Distinction:

Required = Must have for rich results. Google won't show them without it.
Recommended = Optional but encouraged. You'll see warnings, not errors.

Error #3: "Invalid Value for Field: [field name]"

The field exists, but the value you put in it is wrong—wrong format, wrong type, or doesn't match what Google expects.

Invalid: Price with Currency Symbol

❌ Wrong:

"price": "₹2,999"

✅ Correct:

"price": "2999"

Invalid: Date Format

❌ Wrong:

"datePublished": "Jan 15, 2026"

✅ Correct:

"datePublished": "2026-01-15"

Invalid: Rating Out of Range

❌ Wrong:

"ratingValue": "6"

(if bestRating is 5)

✅ Correct:

"ratingValue": "4.5"

Invalid: URL Not a URL

❌ Wrong:

"url": "click here"

✅ Correct:

"url": "https://example.com/product"

Error #4: "Content Mismatch" or "Not Visible to Users"

This one's sneaky. Your schema is technically valid, but the information in it doesn't match what people see on your page. Google hates this because it's misleading.

Common Mismatch Scenarios:

→

Price: Schema says ₹1,999 but page shows ₹2,499 (sale ended, forgot to update)

→

Availability: Schema says "InStock" but page says "Out of Stock"

→

Review count: Schema says 100 reviews but page only shows 47

→

Hidden content: Adding info to schema that users can't see on the page

The Fix:

Your schema must be a 1:1 representation of visible content. If users can't see it, don't put it in schema.

Dynamic schema that updates with page content (best)
Manual audit: Compare schema to live page, fix discrepancies
Remove anything from schema that's not visible to users

Error #5: "Either X or Y Must Be Provided"

Google needs one of two fields, but you provided neither. Common with offers and availability.

Example:

"Either 'offers' or 'review' must be provided for Product schema"

Translation: Google needs to see either pricing info OR reviews. You need at least one.

// Option 1: Add offers
"offers": {
  "@type": "Offer",
  "price": "2999",
  "priceCurrency": "INR"
}

// OR Option 2: Add reviews
"aggregateRating": {
  "@type": "AggregateRating",
  "ratingValue": "4.5",
  "reviewCount": "120"
}

How to Find Errors in Google Search Console

Step-by-Step Navigation:

Log into Google Search Console
Select your property (website)
Left sidebar → Click "Enhancements"
Click on the specific enhancement type (Products, Articles, FAQs, etc.)
You'll see: Valid, Valid with warnings, Errors
Click the error bar → See affected pages and specific errors
Click a sample page → See exact error details

After Fixing: Request Validation

Fixed your errors? Great! Now tell Google to check again:

In the error report, click "Validate Fix"

Google starts rechecking your pages (takes days, not hours)

You'll get status updates: "Started," "Passed," or "Failed"

If passed, errors disappear. If failed, check the error details again

⏰ Timeline:

Validation takes 1-3 weeks on average. Don't panic if it's not instant. Google recrawls, reprocesses, and verifies—it's a queue system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "unparsable structured data" mean in Google Search Console?

Unparsable structured data means Google can't read your schema markup because of a syntax error. Common causes: missing comma, extra comma at the end, unclosed brackets, quotes inside quotes without escaping. Fix by validating your JSON-LD in a validator to find the exact syntax error.

How do I fix "missing required field" errors?

Add the missing field to your schema. For example, if it says "Missing required field: image", add an image property with a valid URL to your schema markup. Check Google's documentation for each schema type to see which fields are required vs recommended.

Why does Google say "invalid value" for my schema?

Invalid value means the data type or format is wrong. Examples: using text where a number is expected, wrong date format (use YYYY-MM-DD), invalid URL format, or value doesn't match the expected options. Check the specific field mentioned in the error and correct its format.

Will fixing schema errors improve my rankings?

Schema errors don't directly affect rankings, but fixing them enables rich results which CAN improve click-through rates. More clicks = better engagement signals = potential ranking boost. Think of it as an indirect benefit.

How often should I check Google Search Console for schema errors?

Check weekly if you update content regularly, or monthly for static sites. Also check immediately after: installing new plugins, updating themes, migrating your site, or adding new schema types. Set up email alerts in GSC to get notified of new errors.

Remember

Schema errors look scary, but they're usually simple fixes. Most fall into these 5 categories. Fix them methodically: identify the error type, understand what Google wants, make the change, validate, and request revalidation. Within 2-3 weeks, you'll see those errors disappear.

Validate Your Schema →Troubleshoot Rich Results →

Google Search Console Schema Errors Explained (and How to Fix Them)

Error #1: "Unparsable Structured Data"

Real Example from Last Week:

Error #2: "Missing Required Field: [field name]"

Error #3: "Invalid Value for Field: [field name]"

Error #4: "Content Mismatch" or "Not Visible to Users"

Common Mismatch Scenarios:

Error #5: "Either X or Y Must Be Provided"

How to Find Errors in Google Search Console

Step-by-Step Navigation:

After Fixing: Request Validation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "unparsable structured data" mean in Google Search Console?

How do I fix "missing required field" errors?

Why does Google say "invalid value" for my schema?

Will fixing schema errors improve my rankings?

How often should I check Google Search Console for schema errors?

Remember