SchemaValidatorSchemaValidator

Schema Markup Disappeared From Google? Here's How to Get It Back

Last Updated: January 31, 2026 • 7 min read

🚨 Emergency Checklist

Rich results were showing, now they're gone? Check these FIRST:

  1. View page source → Is your schema still there?
  2. Google Search Console → Any manual actions?
  3. Enhancements section → New errors appeared?
  4. Did you update plugins/theme in the last 2 weeks?
  5. Check Schema Validator → Still valid?

Three weeks ago, everything was perfect. Your products showed star ratings. Your recipes had the beautiful image cards. Your articles appeared with publication dates and author info. You were getting clicks from rich results.

Then one day, you check—and it's all gone. Just regular blue links. Like your schema never existed.

This happens more than you think. I've helped recover hundreds of these cases. Let's figure out what happened to yours and get those rich results back.

Reason #1: Plugin or Theme Update Broke Your Schema

This is the #1 culprit. You (or WordPress auto-updates) updated a plugin, and poof—schema gone.

Common Update Problems:

  • •SEO plugin update changed how schema is generated
  • •WooCommerce update removed its built-in Product schema
  • •Theme update disabled schema output by default
  • •New plugin conflict with existing schema generator

How to Diagnose:

  1. Check WordPress Dashboard → Updates → View version history
  2. Note what updated around the time rich results disappeared
  3. View page source of a page that lost rich results
  4. Search for "application/ld+json" → Is schema still there?
  5. If missing: The update removed it
  6. If still there but different: The update changed it

The Fix:

Option 1: Check plugin settings. Many updates add new schema toggles that default to OFF. Turn them back ON.

Option 2: Rollback the plugin to previous version (use WP Rollback plugin), restore schema, then update gradually.

Option 3: Contact plugin support with before/after examples. They might have a quick fix or setting change.

Reason #2: Google Algorithm Update Changed Eligibility

Sometimes Google updates what qualifies for rich results. What worked last month might not work today.

Recent Examples:

March 2024:

Google restricted FAQ rich results to authoritative sites only. Many lost overnight.

Aug 2023:

HowTo schema requirements tightened. Sites with vague steps lost rich results.

Nov 2022:

Product review requirements changed. Thin affiliate pages lost star ratings.

How to Tell If It's an Algorithm Update:

  • Multiple pages lost rich results on the same date
  • Your schema validates perfectly but still doesn't show
  • No errors in Google Search Console
  • Other sites in your niche lost the same rich result type
  • Google announced a search update around that time

What to Do:

If Google changed the rules, you need to adapt:

  1. Read Google's updated guidelines for that schema type
  2. Improve content quality (more detailed, more helpful)
  3. Add missing elements (better images, more reviews, detailed steps)
  4. Build site authority (get backlinks, improve E-E-A-T signals)
  5. Wait—sometimes eligibility returns as Google tweaks algorithms

Reason #3: Manual Action or Penalty

Google might have manually reviewed your schema and decided it violated guidelines.

Check for Manual Actions:

  1. Go to Google Search Console
  2. Security & Manual Actions → Manual Actions
  3. Look for "Structured data issue" or "Spammy structured markup"
  4. Read the specific violation listed

Recovery Steps:

  1. Fix the violation (remove fake reviews, match schema to content, etc.)
  2. Document your changes
  3. Request reconsideration in GSC
  4. Wait 2-4 weeks for Google to review
  5. If approved, rich results return gradually

Reason #4: Site Migration Issues

Changed domains, moved to HTTPS, or restructured URLs? Schema might be broken.

HTTP to HTTPS Migration

Old schema had http:// URLs. New site is https://. Google sees mismatches and disables rich results.

Fix: Update all schema URLs to https://

Domain Change

Moved from oldsite.com to newsite.com but schema still references old domain.

Fix: Global find-replace oldsite.com → newsite.com in all schema

URL Structure Change

Changed /product/shoes to /shop/shoes. Schema URLs don't match new structure.

Fix: Update schema to match new URL patterns

Reason #5: Cache Serving Old Version (False Alarm!)

Sometimes schema is fine, but cache is serving the old version without it.

Clear ALL Caches:

  • WordPress cache plugin (WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache)
  • Server cache (hosting control panel)
  • CDN cache (Cloudflare, Fastly)
  • Google's cache (request fresh indexing in GSC)

Then wait 24-48 hours before checking again.

Recovery Action Plan

Follow This Order:

Day 1:

Diagnose the problem. Check GSC, view source, compare to backups.

Day 2:

Fix the root cause. Restore schema, fix errors, update URLs, etc.

Day 3:

Validate with Schema Validator. Ensure no errors.

Day 4:

Clear all caches. Request reindexing in GSC for affected pages.

Week 2-4:

Monitor GSC. Rich results should start returning gradually.

Prevention: Stop It From Happening Again

  • ✓Disable auto-updates for schema-related plugins. Update manually after testing.
  • ✓Backup before updates. Keep a staging site to test updates first.
  • ✓Monitor weekly. Set calendar reminder to check GSC Enhancements section.
  • ✓Enable GSC email alerts. Get notified immediately when errors appear.
  • ✓Document your schema setup. Know which plugin generates what.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my rich results suddenly disappear?

Common reasons: Google algorithm update changed eligibility, plugin/theme update broke your schema, manual action penalty, content policy violation, site migration issues, or Google simply stopped showing rich results for your query type. Check Google Search Console for errors and manual actions first.

Can I get my rich results back after they disappear?

Yes, usually! First identify why they disappeared (check GSC errors, recent site changes, algorithm updates). Fix the root cause, request reindexing in Google Search Console, and wait 2-4 weeks. Most disappearances are fixable unless caused by permanent policy violations.

How do I know if a Google update caused my schema to stop working?

Check Google Search Central blog for recent updates, search SEO news sites for reports of widespread rich results changes, and look in your Google Search Console for the exact date when impressions/clicks dropped. If many sites lost the same rich result type on the same date, it's likely an algorithm update.

How long does it take to recover lost rich results?

After fixing the issue, expect 2-4 weeks for rich results to return. Google needs to recrawl your pages, reprocess the schema, and verify it meets current guidelines. Request reindexing to potentially speed this up, but patience is key.

Don't Panic

Lost rich results feel catastrophic, but they're almost always recoverable. Work through the diagnostic checklist systematically, fix what's broken, and give Google time to re-evaluate your pages. In most cases, rich results return within a month.

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