Datetime property "uploadDate" is missing a timezone -- GSC video error

"Can someone help me figure out how to fix this issue with my WordPress website? I've read that including the time is necessary, but I'm not sure how to do it. Do I need to install a plugin?"

The “uploadDate” property in your Google Search Console (GSC) video error message is missing a timezone. This is a common issue and can be resolved by ensuring your WordPress website is set up to include the timezone in the date information.

Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix this:

  1. Check your WordPress Settings:

    • Navigate to Settings > General within your WordPress dashboard.
    • Verify that the Timezone setting is correctly configured to match your website’s location.
    • Save changes to ensure the timezone is updated.
  2. Inspect your Video Embed Code:

    • Locate the HTML code embedding your video.
    • Ensure that the “uploadDate” attribute is properly formatted to include the timezone information.
    • For example, instead of using “2023-10-26”, use “2023-10-26T14:00:00-05:00” (where “-05:00” represents the timezone offset).
  3. Consider a Plugin:

    • If you’re unable to directly modify the video embed code, a plugin can assist in automatically adding timezone information.
    • Popular plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math SEO often provide options for customizing date formatting, which may include timezone settings.
  4. Refresh your GSC Data:

    • After making any changes, submit your website for re-indexing in GSC.
    • This allows Google to crawl and re-evaluate your video metadata, including the corrected “uploadDate” property.

By following these steps, you can address the “uploadDate” missing timezone error and improve the indexing of your videos within Google Search.