Seeing unwanted search results about yourself on Google can be frustrating. If you need to delete Google search results that contain outdated content, personal information, or damaging news, it’s possible to remove or suppress them.
This guide explains how to remove Google search results using available tools, contacting website owners, and leveraging SEO strategies.
Identify Where Your Information Appears
Before taking action, find out exactly where your information is showing up. Search engines store and display a lot of data, often from various sources. To determine the extent of the issue, try searching your name and associated details in multiple ways:
- “[Your Name]”
- “[Your Name] + address/phone number”
- “[Your Name] site:[website.com]” (For specific websites)
Remove Personal Information with Google’s ‘Results About You’ Tool
Google’s ‘Results About You’ tool is designed to help users request the removal of sensitive personal details, such as home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, that appear in search results.
This tool is particularly useful for those concerned about privacy and security risks, such as identity theft or unwanted personal exposure.
- Home addresses
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
How to Use It
- Go to Google’s ‘Results About You’ Page (Click here)
- Click “Get Started”
- Enter Your Information to see if Google has indexed it
- Click the Three Dots next to a result
- Select ‘Remove Result’ and follow the instructions
- Track Your Requests in the dashboard
Limitations
- Only removes results from Google, not from the original website.
- Approval is not guaranteed. Google reviews each request individually.
- Mainly available in the U.S. and in English.
Remove Outdated Content Using Google’s Tool
Sometimes, Google search results display outdated information even after the original content has been updated or deleted.
The Remove Outdated Content tool allows users to request Google to update or remove results that no longer reflect the actual content of a page.
Steps to Request Removal:
- Go to Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool (Click here)
- Click ‘New Request’
- Enter the URL of the outdated page
- Submit the request
- Wait for Google to process it (usually within 24-48 hours)
When to Use This Tool
- A page about you was deleted but still shows up in search.
- The page was updated, but old information remains in search results.
- A broken link is still appearing in search.
This tool is useful if a website has removed personal details, but Google’s index still displays the old version.
Contact the Website Owner for Content Removal
How to Find and Contact the Website Owner
- Check the Website: Look for a “Contact” or “About” page.
- Use WHOIS Lookup: Search for the domain owner at who.is.
- Search Social Media: Some site owners can be contacted through LinkedIn or Twitter.
How to Request Removal (Example Email)
Subject: Request for Content Removal
Hello [Website Owner’s Name],
I recently found a page on your website that includes my personal information. The URL is: [Insert Link]. I would appreciate it if you could remove this content, as it impacts my privacy. Please let me know if you need any further details.
Thank you for your time.
[Your Name]
What to Do If They Refuse
- Ask them to add a “noindex” tag so the page won’t appear in Google.
- If the content violates privacy laws, you may have legal options.
Request Legal Removal from Google
What You Can Request to Remove
- Revenge porn or explicit content shared without consent
- Financial, medical, or national ID information (like Social Security numbers)
- Copyrighted content
How to Submit a Legal Removal Request
- Go to Google’s Content Removal Request Page (Click here)
- Select the Type of Content you want removed
- Fill Out the Form with evidence and legal justification
- Submit and Wait for Review (response time varies)
Use SEO to Suppress Negative Search Results
If removal isn’t an option, another effective approach is to combine reputation management strategies with SEO suppression—pushing negative search results down by ranking positive content higher.
How to Push Down Negative Results:
- Create a Personal Website: Buy a domain with your name (e.g., JohnDoe.com) and post professional content.
- Update Social Media Profiles: Google prioritizes active LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook pages.
- Publish Articles & Blogs: Write articles on sites like Medium or post guest blogs on reputable websites.
- Use YouTube: Videos rank well. Creating content with your name helps suppress bad results.
Example
Monitor Your Online Reputation
Even after removing negative search results, keeping track of your online presence is crucial. Regular monitoring helps prevent unwanted content from resurfacing.
Best Tools for Monitoring
- Google Alerts (Set up here) – Get notified when your name appears online.
- Brand24 – Helps scan search results for negative content.
- Reputation Management Services – Companies like Erase.com or Guaranteed Removals offer content removal and SEO suppression services.
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Key Takeaways
- Use Google’s ‘Results About You’ tool to remove personal details like your phone number or address.
- Contact the website owner directly to request removal or de-indexing.
- Use Google’s legal removal request for privacy violations or unauthorized explicit content.
- Suppress unwanted results with SEO by creating high-ranking positive content.
- Monitor your online presence regularly with Google Alerts and other tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove my name from Google search results?
Yes, but only in certain cases. You can request removal if your name appears alongside sensitive personal information (e.g., phone number, home address) using Google’s ‘Results About You’ tool.
If the content is outdated or removed from a website but still appears in search, use Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool. If the content remains live on a website, you must contact the site owner directly.
What kind of content can be removed from Google search results?
- Personal information (home address, phone number) via the ‘Results About You’ tool
- Outdated or deleted pages via the Remove Outdated Content tool
- Legally sensitive content such as revenge porn, financial data, or explicit images without consent via Google’s legal removal request
- Copyright-infringing material
What if the content I want to delete from Google isn’t eligible for removal?
If Google won’t remove the result and the website owner refuses, you can use SEO suppression to push negative content down in search rankings. This involves creating positive content (e.g., personal website, social media updates, blogs, and videos) to rank higher and displace unwanted results.
How long does it take to remove something from search results?
- Google’s ‘Results About You’ requests: Days to weeks (varies by request)
- Outdated content removal: Typically 24-48 hours
- Legal removal requests: Depends on Google’s review process (weeks or longer)
- SEO suppression: Can take months to be fully effective
How much does it cost to remove content from Google?
- Google’s tools are free, including ‘Results About You’ and the Remove Outdated Content tool.
- Hiring reputation management services (like Erase.com or Guaranteed Removals) can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the complexity of suppression or removal efforts.
- Lawyers may charge legal fees if court orders are required for removal.
Can a lawyer help delete Google search results?
Yes, if your case involves defamation, privacy violations, or court-sealed records, a lawyer can help request removal legally. Some cases require court orders to force a website to take down content before Google will remove it. However, for general online reputation concerns, or if there is potential for backlash and further negative exposure if you initiate a legal action, SEO suppression may be a more practical solution.
