Google Removal Request: Delete Info from Search (2026)

Why your personal information appears in Google Search

Google does not create profiles about you, it indexes pages that already exist on other websites. When your name, address, or phone number appears in Google Search results, the source is almost always a data broker page (Whitepages, Spokeo, Radaris, etc.) that Google has indexed. To permanently remove your information from Google Search, you must: (1) remove the source page from the data broker, and (2) then ask Google to de-index the now-removed page. Google's tools alone cannot remove information from websites that still have it live.

Google's three personal information removal tools

Step-by-step: How to remove your information from Google Search

1. Step 1: Remove the source page first. Go to the data broker site (Whitepages, Spokeo, etc.) that hosts the page showing your information. Complete their opt-out process. Wait for confirmation that the page has been taken down. Only then proceed to Google, requesting removal of a page that still exists will be rejected.
2. Step 2: Use "Results About You" for contact information. Go to myaccount.google.com/data-and-privacy and navigate to "Results about you." Sign in with any Google account. Submit a removal request for search results that show your phone number, home address, or email address. Google reviews these within a few days.

   💡 Tip: Google's "Results About You" also lets you set up monitoring alerts, you will receive a notification when new search results containing your personal info appear.

3. Step 3: Use "Remove Outdated Content" for de-indexed source pages. If the broker page has been removed (returns a 404 error) but Google still shows it in results, go to search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content. Paste the exact URL of the removed broker page and submit. Google will re-crawl and de-index it within days.
4. Step 4: Submit a Personal Information Removal Request for sensitive content. If results show your SSN, financial account numbers, medical records, or non-consensual intimate images, use the direct removal request at support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/3111061. These categories qualify for priority review.
5. Step 5: EU residents, invoke Right to be Forgotten. European residents can request removal of links to information about them under GDPR's Right to be Forgotten. Use the same form at support.google.com/legal/troubleshooter/1114905. Google evaluates these on a case-by-case basis weighing the right to privacy against public interest.

How long Google removal takes

Important: Google de-indexing is not permanent

If the source broker page comes back online (because the broker re-imports your data), Google will re-index it. This is why broker opt-out must be done first and repeated periodically. Google de-indexing is a downstream fix, not a root-cause solution.