SchemaValidatorSchemaValidator

How to Test If Your Schema Markup Is Actually Working

Last Updated: January 31, 2026 • 6 min read

🎯 The 5-Step Test

Follow these 5 tests in order to verify your schema is working:

  1. Source Code Check → Schema exists on page?
  2. Schema Validator → Valid syntax?
  3. Google Rich Results Test → Eligible for rich results?
  4. Google Search Console → Indexed with schema?
  5. Live Search Test → Actually showing in results?

You added schema markup. Your developer said "it's done." Or you installed a plugin that promised automatic schema.

But how do you actually know it's working? How do you verify Google can read it? When will you see those rich results everyone talks about?

Let me show you exactly how to test your schema—from basic presence checks to confirming it's generating rich results in live search.

Test #1: View Page Source (Is Schema Even There?)

First, confirm schema actually exists on your page. Sounds obvious, but this catches SO many issues.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Open your page in Chrome or Firefox
  2. Right-click anywhere → "View Page Source" (or Ctrl+U / Cmd+Option+U)
  3. Press Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac) to search
  4. Search for: application/ld+json
  5. If found → Schema exists! Proceed to Test #2
  6. If NOT found → Schema isn't on the page. Fix implementation first.

Common "Not Found" Reasons:

  • Plugin is installed but disabled or not configured
  • Schema loads via JavaScript (won't show in initial source—use Inspect Element instead)
  • Cache serving old version without schema (clear all caches)
  • Conditional logic hiding schema on certain pages
  • Theme conflict preventing schema output

What Schema Looks Like in Source:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "Wireless Headphones",
  ...
}
</script>

Look for this pattern. The type="application/ld+json" part is the key identifier.

Test #2: Schema Validator (Syntax Errors?)

Schema exists, great! Now check if it's correctly formatted and valid.

How to Use Schema Validator:

  1. Go to SchemaValidator.org
  2. Enter your page URL
  3. Click "Validate Schema"
  4. Review results:
    • ✅ No errors = Schema is valid
    • ❌ Errors listed = Fix each one
    • ⚠️ Warnings = Optional but recommended fixes

Most Common Errors:

Error:

Missing required field

Fix: Add the missing property (name, image, price, etc.)

Error:

Invalid URL format

Fix: Ensure URLs are absolute (https://example.com not /page)

Error:

Invalid date format

Fix: Use ISO 8601 (2026-01-31 or 2026-01-31T12:00:00Z)

Test #3: Google Rich Results Test (Eligible?)

Your schema is valid, but will Google actually show rich results for it? This test answers that.

Using Google Rich Results Test:

  1. Go to: search.google.com/test/rich-results
  2. Enter your page URL
  3. Click "Test URL"
  4. Wait for results (takes 10-30 seconds)
  5. Review:
    • "Page is eligible for rich results" → Perfect! ✅
    • "No rich results detected" → Schema present but not eligible ⚠️
    • Errors listed → Fix these for eligibility ❌

Important Distinction:

Valid ≠ Eligible

Schema can be perfectly valid (no syntax errors) but still not eligible for rich results if:

  • Content quality is too low
  • Page lacks sufficient information
  • Google's algorithm decides your page doesn't qualify
  • Schema type isn't supported for rich results (some aren't)

Test #4: Google Search Console (Indexed?)

Now check if Google has actually crawled and indexed your schema.

GSC Monitoring Steps:

  1. Go to Google Search Console → Enhancements

    Look for your schema type (Products, Articles, Events, etc.)

  2. Check "Valid items" count

    Shows how many pages Google indexed with valid schema

  3. Review "Errors" and "Warnings"

    Fix any issues listed here

  4. Request Indexing for new pages

    URL Inspection → Request Indexing (speeds up discovery)

Timeline Expectations:

Day 1:

Add schema, request indexing in GSC

Day 2-7:

Google crawls page, detects schema, validates it

Week 2-4:

Schema appears in GSC Enhancements, rich results may start showing

Week 4+:

Full rich results display (if eligible)

Test #5: Live Google Search (Actually Showing?)

The ultimate test: Are rich results actually appearing in search results?

How to Check Live Search:

  1. Open Google in an incognito/private window (removes personalization)
  2. Search for your exact page title or branded query
  3. Look for enhanced features:
    • Star ratings (Product/Recipe/Review schema)
    • Price and availability (Product schema)
    • Event date/location (Event schema)
    • Recipe image, time, calories (Recipe schema)
    • FAQ accordions (FAQ schema)
    • Breadcrumbs in URL (Breadcrumb schema)
  4. Try generic searches (harder to rank with rich results)
  5. Check different locations (results vary by region)

Why Rich Results Might Not Show (Even With Valid Schema):

  • Google shows rich results selectively—not for every query
  • Your page might not rank high enough (rich results favor top results)
  • Competitors have stronger signals for that query
  • Your schema type is less commonly displayed (e.g., HowTo)
  • Recent algorithm update changed eligibility
  • Your site lacks sufficient authority/trust signals

Complete Testing Checklist

Run Through All 5 Tests:

If any test fails, fix that issue before proceeding to the next test.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my schema markup is working?

Use 5 tests: 1) View page source and search for 'application/ld+json' to confirm schema exists, 2) Test with Schema Validator for errors, 3) Use Google Rich Results Test to check eligibility, 4) Monitor Google Search Console Enhancements section for indexed pages with schema, 5) Do live Google search for your content to see if rich results appear.

What's the difference between 'valid' and 'eligible' schema?

Valid = your schema has no syntax errors and follows schema.org structure. Eligible = Google might show rich results for it. Schema can be valid but not eligible if content quality is low, your site lacks authority, or Google's algorithm decides not to display rich results for that query.

How long before schema starts working after implementation?

After adding schema: 1) Request indexing in Google Search Console immediately, 2) Schema typically detected within 24-48 hours, 3) Rich results may appear in 1-4 weeks depending on crawl frequency and Google's evaluation. Monitor GSC Enhancements section for status updates.

Can schema be working but not showing rich results?

Yes! Schema can be perfectly valid and indexed by Google, but Google decides when/where to display rich results based on query intent, competition, content quality, and site authority. Valid schema doesn't guarantee rich results display.

Testing is Ongoing

Don't just test once and forget. Schema can break with plugin updates, theme changes, or Google algorithm updates.

Set a monthly reminder to run through these 5 tests. Catch issues early before they impact your search visibility.

Test Your Schema Now →Rich Results Not Showing? →