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How to Remove Your Data from SpokeoStep-by-Step Guide 2026

A major people-search engine that aggregates social media, public records, and contact data. This guide covers the exact steps to remove your personal information, what documents they may request, and what to do if the removal fails.

Updated: Feb 18, 2026~10 min readFree to opt out

What is Spokeo?

Spokeo is a people-search website founded in 2006 that aggregates personal information from hundreds of sources including social media profiles, public records, and commercial data providers. Unlike traditional white-pages directories, Spokeo also links your social media accounts to your real identity, creating a more comprehensive profile that includes photos, usernames, and online activity.

Data Spokeo collects about you

  • Full name and age
  • Current and past addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • Email addresses
  • Social media profiles and usernames
  • Photos
  • Relatives and associates
  • Property and financial records
  • Criminal records

Why Your Data Appears on Spokeo

Spokeo collects data from a wide range of sources. Your profile was likely created by combining information from public records (voter registration, property records, court filings) with data scraped from social media platforms and purchased from other data brokers. Spokeo is particularly aggressive at linking social media usernames to real identities, which is why your profile may include photos and online accounts you did not expect.

Where Spokeo gets your data

  • Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter)
  • Voter registration records
  • Property and deed records
  • Court records
  • Phone directories
  • Third-party data broker purchases
  • Email marketing lists

Step-by-Step: How to Remove Your Data from Spokeo

The opt-out process is free. Estimated time: 2–3 days for removal to take effect after completing these steps.

1

Search for your profile on Spokeo

Go to spokeo.com and search for your name. You can also search by phone number or email address. Spokeo may return multiple results , look for the listing that contains your current address or phone number.

💡Use a private/incognito browser window to avoid personalized results.
2

Copy your profile URL

Click on your profile to open the full listing. Copy the complete URL from your browser's address bar. It will look something like: https://www.spokeo.com/John-Smith/Washington/Seattle/123456789.

3

Go to the Spokeo opt-out page

Navigate to spokeo.com/optout. This is Spokeo's official removal page. Paste the profile URL you copied into the field labeled "Enter the URL of the Spokeo listing you'd like to opt out."

4

Enter your email address

Spokeo will ask for your email address to send a confirmation link. Use a real email address you have access to , the removal will not be processed without email verification.

💡You do not need to create a Spokeo account to opt out. The email is only used for this one-time verification.
5

Complete the CAPTCHA and submit

Complete the CAPTCHA challenge and click "Opt Out." Spokeo will send a confirmation email to the address you provided.

6

Click the confirmation link in your email

Open the email from Spokeo and click the confirmation link. This is required to complete the removal. Without clicking this link, your request will not be processed.

7

Verify removal after 48 hours

Wait 48 hours, then search for your name on Spokeo in a private browser. If your profile is still visible, check your email to ensure you clicked the confirmation link correctly.

Direct opt-out link: https://www.spokeo.com/optout

How Long Does Spokeo Removal Take?

24 hours
Best case
2–3 days
Typical
7 days
Worst case
Note: Spokeo processes most removals within 48 hours of email confirmation. However, Google may continue to show a cached version of your Spokeo profile for up to 2 weeks. You can request de-indexing via Google's "Remove Outdated Content" tool at search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content.

What Documents Spokeo May Request

No government ID required

  • Email address (for confirmation link)
  • Profile URL (to identify your specific listing)

⚠️ Safety note on ID uploads

Spokeo does not require a government ID for standard opt-out requests. The process only requires your email address for verification. If Spokeo ever asks for an ID via email, treat this with caution , their standard process does not require it.

What to Do If Spokeo Removal Fails

If the standard opt-out process does not work, follow these escalation steps in order:

1
First attempt

If you did not receive the confirmation email, check your spam folder. If it is not there, try the opt-out process again with a different email address. Gmail and Outlook addresses tend to work most reliably.

2
Second attempt

If your profile reappears after removal, re-submit the opt-out request. Spokeo periodically refreshes its database from public record sources. You may need to repeat this process every 3–6 months.

3
Escalate to regulators

If the opt-out page is not working or Spokeo is unresponsive, email privacy@spokeo.com with the subject line "CCPA Deletion Request" and include your full name, the URL of your profile, and your state of residence.

Legal context: California residents can invoke their CCPA rights to demand deletion within 45 days. Spokeo is legally obligated to comply. If they do not, you can file a complaint with the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) at cppa.ca.gov.

Alternative Options

🔧 Manual removal (free)

The manual opt-out above is free and works well for Spokeo. The main limitation is that it only removes your data from Spokeo , not from the 200+ other data brokers that may have your information. Each broker requires a separate opt-out.

Automated removal (OfflistMe)

OfflistMe covers Spokeo and 200+ other brokers with a single one-time payment. Rather than finding each broker's opt-out page yourself, OfflistMe surfaces the correct opt-out link or privacy email and pre-generates a properly worded removal request. You send it directly from your own inbox , the same outcome as doing it manually, but without the hours of research.

Learn more about OfflistMe →

Frequently Asked Questions

Don't stop at Spokeo

Your data is on 200+ brokers, not just Spokeo. OfflistMe covers all of them with a single one-time payment , no subscription, no account needed.