Guides · 01 September 2026 · 8 min read

How to Remove Personal Information From Google

A step-by-step guide to removing your personal information from Google search using its removal tools and by contacting the sites that host the data.

Google is a search engine, not a database of your details. It indexes pages that other sites publish. So there are two separate jobs: removing a result from Google, and removing the underlying page from the site that hosts it. You often need to do both, because a page that still exists can be re-indexed later.

This guide covers Google's own removal tools and the steps to reach the sites behind the results. It works for names, addresses, phone numbers and similar personal data.

Start by finding what Google shows about you

Search your own name in a few forms: full name, name plus city, name plus old address, and your phone number. Do this in a private or incognito window so past searches do not skew the results. Open each result that contains your information and note the website address. You will need those to decide which tool applies.

Expect two broad types of source. People-search and data-broker sites publish profiles built from many feeds. Ordinary sites, forums, old accounts and directories publish information for other reasons. The removal path differs for each.

Use Google's tool to remove personal information from results

Google has a request process for results that expose certain personal information, such as contact details or content that could be used to identify or harm you. This removes the result from Google search. It does not delete the page itself.

1. Open Google's Results about you help pages and its removal request tool for personal information.
2. Sign in with a Google account. This lets you track the status of each request.
3. Choose the reason that matches your case, for example that a result shows your contact details or personal identifying information.
4. Paste the exact web address of the result you want removed. Add the search terms that bring it up if the tool asks for them.
5. Submit a separate request for each result. One request usually covers one page.
6. Wait for Google to review it. You may be asked for more detail. Google will tell you whether the request is approved, and whether it applies to all searches or only to searches for your name.

Google decides these case by case. It may decline results it considers to be of public interest. If a request is refused, read the reason it gives, since it sometimes points to a different tool or a narrower request that would succeed.

Remove the underlying page, not just the result

Removing a result from Google is only half the job. The page still exists. If it stays online, it can reappear in search later, and people can still reach it through a direct link or a different search engine. To deal with the source, contact the site.

For people-search and data-broker sites

These sites almost always have an opt-out process. It is often linked in the site footer under a heading like privacy, opt-out or do not sell my information.

1. Open the profile page that appeared in your search and copy its address.
2. Find the opt-out or privacy link on that same site.
3. Follow their process. Most ask you to paste the profile address, confirm it is you, and verify by email or a code.
4. Keep the confirmation. Note the date, since you may need to chase it if the page does not come down.

If you are in California, you can also send a deletion demand under the CCPA. The site must honour a valid request from a resident. Look for the privacy contact on the site and state clearly that you are exercising your right to deletion.

For ordinary sites you do not control

Find the site's contact or privacy page and ask the owner to remove the specific information. Be precise about which page and which details. Some will comply, some will not, and you have no automatic right to removal unless a law applies to that data.

For pages you do control

Old accounts, forum posts and profiles you can still log into are the easiest. Edit or delete the content directly. Once the page is gone or changed, you can ask Google to refresh its copy.

Refresh outdated results after a page changes

When a page has been deleted or edited but Google still shows the old version, use Google's Remove Outdated Content tool. This asks Google to update or drop a result that no longer matches the live page. It only works once the underlying page has actually changed or been removed.

1. Open the Remove Outdated Content tool and sign in.
2. Paste the address of the page or image that is out of date.
3. Confirm what changed, for example that the page now returns an error or no longer shows your information.
4. Submit and check back for the outcome.

What cannot be removed

Some information is public by law. Court filings, property and land records, corporate registrations and voter roll entries are matters of public record. Google may index the official sources or copies of them, and you cannot have those deleted. In some cases you can request that a specific result be de-indexed, but the record itself remains public.

Be honest about how long this lasts

Removal is not permanent. Data brokers rebuild their profiles from upstream feeds, public records and marketing lists. A profile you clear today can reappear within a few months when the site refreshes its data from those sources. Removing a Google result does not stop the source site from republishing the same information under a new address.

Treat this as maintenance, not a one-off. Search yourself every few months, keep a list of the sites you have dealt with, and repeat the opt-out when profiles return. Save your confirmation emails so you can point to earlier requests.

Doing it faster

Working through this by hand takes real time, because the same information sits on dozens of sites and each has its own process. Vanish is a Mac app that scans for the brokers publishing your details and sends CCPA deletion demands on your behalf, then re-checks as listings come back. It is one way to handle the repetition, but everything above can be done manually and for free.

Start with the Google removal tool for the results that expose your contact details, then work down your list of source sites one at a time. The order matters less than being thorough and keeping records.

Common questions

Does removing a result from Google delete the information?

No. Google's tools remove or hide the result in Google search. The page still exists on the site that hosts it, and it can be found through a direct link or another search engine. To remove the actual data you have to contact the source site.

How long does Google take to review a removal request?

Google reviews requests case by case and does not publish a fixed timeline. It will tell you whether the request is approved, refused, or needs more detail. If refused, read the reason it gives, since it may point you to a different tool or a narrower request.

Will the information come back after I remove it?

Often yes. Data brokers rebuild profiles from public records and marketing feeds, so listings typically reappear within a few months. Search yourself periodically and repeat the opt-out when profiles return.

Can I remove public records like court or property data from Google?

No. Court filings, property records, corporate registrations and voter rolls are public by law and cannot be deleted. You may be able to de-index a specific result in some cases, but the official record stays public.

What do I do if a site ignores my opt-out request?

Keep the confirmation and follow up in writing. If you live in California, send a CCPA deletion demand to the site's privacy contact and state that you are exercising your right to deletion. Note dates so you can escalate if needed.