HowTo Schema

HowTo schema is structured data, using the schema.org HowTo type, that describes step-by-step instructions on a page, including the steps, tools, materials and time needed. Google used it to show HowTo rich results, but it removed that feature in 2023, so the markup no longer changes how pages look in Google.

Written by Paul Hoda, SEO consultant since 2005. Last updated 8 November 2026.

How HowTo schema works

HowTo is a type of schema markup, usually added as JSON-LD. A typical block includes:

  • A name for the task, such as how to bleed a radiator.
  • A list of HowToStep items, each with text and optionally an image.
  • Optional tool, supply, totalTime and estimatedCost properties.

The steps described in the markup should match the instructions visible on the page.

What happened to HowTo rich results

For several years Google could display HowTo pages as rich results, with steps shown directly in search. In 2023 Google announced it was reducing them, first removing them on mobile and then on desktop as well. HowTo rich results are no longer shown in Google Search. The same announcement limited FAQ results, covered in FAQ schema.

Should you still use it?

There is no Google rich result to gain, so HowTo markup is optional. It does no harm when accurate, and schema.org remains a shared vocabulary that other search engines and tools can read. However, it is not a priority. Time is usually better spent on the instructions themselves.

If your site already has HowTo markup, there is no need to rush to remove it. Google has said that structured data it does not use for a rich result simply has no visible effect. Just make sure it stays accurate when you update the steps, and avoid adding it to new templates purely in the hope of a search feature returning. If Google ever reintroduces a feature, its documentation will say so.

How to structure how-to content for search today

Good how-to content is easy for people, search engines and AI tools to follow:

  1. Put a short summary of the task and the result at the top.
  2. List what you need before the steps begin.
  3. Use a numbered HTML list for steps, with one action per step.
  4. Use clear header tags for each stage of longer guides.
  5. Add images or a short video where a step is hard to describe.
  6. Cover common problems and safety warnings near the relevant step.

Well-structured steps can still appear as list-style featured snippets and are easy for AI systems to summarise, with or without markup.

Common mistakes

  • Adding HowTo markup and expecting rich results to appear.
  • Marking up steps that are not visible on the page.
  • Using HowTo schema on recipes, which have their own Recipe type.
  • Writing vague steps that combine several actions in one.

Key Takeaways

  • HowTo schema describes step-by-step instructions in machine-readable form.
  • Google removed HowTo rich results in 2023, on mobile and then desktop.
  • The markup is optional now and does no harm when accurate.
  • Clear numbered steps in visible HTML matter more than the schema.
  • Well-structured guides can still win list featured snippets and AI summaries.

Related Terms

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