expires

expires · Recommended

Appears in

VideoObject

What is it?

expires is the date and time after which a video will no longer be available. It signals to search engines that the content has a limited shelf life, so they can remove it from results after the expiration date. Most videos do not expire and should not include this field.

Why this matters for AEO

When a user asks about a live event replay or a limited-time webinar recording, AI engines check expires to determine whether the video is still accessible. A video past its expiration date gets deprioritized or excluded from AI-generated answers. This prevents AI assistants from recommending videos that lead to dead pages or "content unavailable" messages.

What the specs say

Schema.org: Date or DateTime. Date the content expires and is no longer useful or available. For example a VideoObject or NewsArticle whose availability or relevance is time-limited. schema.org/expires

Google: Recommended. "If applicable, the date and time after which the video will no longer be available, in ISO 8601 format. Don't supply this if video does not expire." Google Video Structured Data

How to find your value

• Live event replays — The date the replay will be taken down (check event terms)
• Limited-time promotions — Campaign end date
• Subscription content — License expiration date
• Seasonal content — End of the relevant season or period
• Evergreen content — Do not set expires for content that stays available indefinitely

Format and code

Expected type: Date (YYYY-MM-DD) or DateTime (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ)

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoObject",
  "name": "2024 Product Launch Keynote",
  "uploadDate": "2024-09-15T10:00:00Z",
  "expires": "2025-03-15T23:59:59Z",
  "thumbnailUrl": "https://example.com/images/keynote-thumb.jpg",
  "description": "Replay of the 2024 annual product launch event"
}

Date only:

{
  "expires": "2025-03-15"
}

Do not include this field if the video does not expire. Google explicitly warns against adding expires to evergreen video content.

Webflow implementation

Static pages

In Page Settings > Custom Code > Head Code, add expires to the VideoObject JSON-LD only for time-limited videos. Remove the field (or the entire VideoObject block) once the video is taken down.

CMS template pages

Add an optional Date field to your CMS collection for expiration. Only populate it for videos with a known end date. Use conditional logic or leave it blank for evergreen content:

"expires": "{{wf {"path":"video-expiration-date","type":"PlainText"} }}"

If the CMS field is empty, remove the expires property from the JSON-LD entirely to avoid outputting an empty value.

In Schema HQ

The expires field is output only when a date is set. It omits the field entirely for videos without an expiration date, following Google's guidance. It also flags videos past their expiration date so you can unpublish or update the markup.

Real examples

No live brand examples were found using expires in VideoObject markup. This is expected because most video content does not expire. The field is primarily used for event replays, limited-time promotions, and licensed content with defined availability windows.

An

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoObject",
  "name": "Q1 2025 Webinar: Schema Markup Best Practices",
  "uploadDate": "2025-01-20T14:00:00Z",
  "expires": "2025-04-20T23:59:59Z",
  "thumbnailUrl": "https://cdn.example.com/webinar-thumb.jpg",
  "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/abc123",
  "description": "Recording available for 90 days after the live event"
}

Related fields

• uploadDate · When the video was first published
• datePublished · General publish date for creative works
• thumbnailUrl · Preview image for the video
• duration · Length of the video
• name · Video title

FAQ

Should I add expires to all my videos?

No. Google says "don't supply this if video does not expire." Only use it for content with a known end date, such as event replays, limited-time promotions, or licensed content. Adding a far-future expiration date to evergreen content provides no benefit.

What happens after the expires date passes?

Google may remove the video from search results after the expiration date. If the video is still available, remove or update the expires value to prevent it from being delisted.

Can I use expires on non-video content?

Yes. Schema.org defines expires on CreativeWork, which includes NewsArticle, ClaimReview, and Certification in addition to VideoObject. The same ISO 8601 format applies.