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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
Complete the CAPTCHA and submit
Complete the CAPTCHA challenge and click "Opt Out." Spokeo will send a confirmation email to the address you provided.
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.
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.
How Long Does Spokeo Removal Take?
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:
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.
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.
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.
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 300+ other data brokers that may have your information. Each broker requires a separate opt-out.
⚡ Automated removal (OfflistMe)
OfflistMe covers Spokeo and 300+ 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.
Generate the Spokeo opt-out email →Frequently Asked Questions
Know the laws behind this request
Every deletion request you send to Spokeo cites specific statutes. These explainers show what each law covers, what the broker must do, and how enforcement works.
Official registry entries for Spokeo
Under state data-broker laws, Spokeo must publicly register and disclose opt-out contact info. These are the official filings.
Don't stop at Spokeo
Your data is on 300+ brokers, not just Spokeo. OfflistMe covers all of them with a single one-time payment , no subscription, no account needed.