How to remove your personal info from Google?

In short, to remove your data from Google:

1. Remove your data from source sites.
2. Remove your data using Google’s tools.
3. Remove yourself from other Google services.

The whole process is summarized by this image:

If you want to remove an image of yourself from Google, follow this guide instead.

The whole process is summarised by this image:

Let’s look at each step in detail.

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Google doesn’t store any content, it only displays what’s published on other websites.

That means—if your personal data comes in the Google search, it must be published on some (source) site.

In this section we’re going to show you what type of websites are most likely to publish your personal data and how to remove it.

And that is:

• Data brokers
• Social media
• Online accounts
• Other websites

A) Remove your personal data from data brokers sites

Data brokers collect your personal information and sell it to companies, organisations, or even individuals to make money.

If you see your personal data on Google, a big part of it comes from data brokers. You can stop this by getting your information removed from the data brokers’ lists. 

Here’s how to do it.

Opt out manually 

Some brokers make your information publicly available on people search sites.

Try checking Whitepages, Intelius, or Truthfinder—chances are, your data is listed there.

Here’s what to do:

1. Search for yourself on the major people search sites (see this list).
2. Once you find your profile, look for the opt-out form, usually at the bottom of the page.
3. Follow the steps to remove your information.
4. Repeat this for each data broker that has your details.

For more guidance, check out our opt-out guide, covering over 80 data brokers.

With hundreds of brokers out there, opting out manually can be overwhelming. But there’s a quicker solution.

Opt out with Incogni

Sign up for Incogni and opt out of 100+ data brokers with just a few clicks.

Here’s how:

1. Visit Incogni.
2. Pick the plan that fits your needs.
3. Provide the necessary info to help us locate your profile.
4. Have the first batch of over 100 removal requests sent right away.

Incogni offers ongoing protection—we don’t just remove your data; we also make sure it doesn’t get added back. 

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B) Remove social media or set it to private

Removing personal content from social media is crucial to protect your privacy and digital identity. If not addressed, this information can be used by data brokers or malicious individuals, leading to privacy breaches or identity theft.

You have two options:

1. Delete your social media accounts. 

This will soon remove your profiles from Google and other search engines.

Or—

2. Set them to “private,” if you’re not ready to delete your profiles yet.

You can also use pseudonyms instead of your real name and remove any personal details like your birth date or contact info.

Dedicated guides to making social media (more) private:

• How to make Facebook private
• How to make Twitter private
• How to make Pinterest private
• How to make Venmo private
• How to make TikTok private
• How to make Instagram private
• How to make Linkedin private

C) Delete any online accounts you don’t use anymore

It’s easy to forget about accounts we no longer use, but these sites may display your data. To protect your privacy, make sure you delete any accounts you don’t use anymore, including:

• Social media
• Old forums
• E-commerce sites
• Emails
• Job boards
• Gaming accounts
• Informational sites
• Blogs

D) Remove your personal information from other websites

If Google results display your personal information published on other websites (ones you don’t control), you’ll have to contact the webmaster or site owner to request its deletion.

Once the content is deleted from the original site, it will also disappear from Google.

Here’s what to do:

1. Collect links, screenshots, or any proof that your personal information is on the site.
2. Find the webmaster or site owner’s contact details—this could be an email address, contact form, or another means of contact.
3. Send a message explaining that you didn’t authorize the posting of your data and kindly request its removal.

Here’s a template you can use to reach out and request the removal of your personal information:

Hi [Website Owner], I noticed that my [personal data] is posted on your website at [insert URL or location of the listing]. I didn’t give permission for this information to be shared, so I’m asking if you could please remove it as soon as possible.Thanks for taking care of this! Best,[Your Name]

By following the steps in Section 1, you should significantly reduce the amount of your personal information available on Google. 

However, if you choose not to follow those steps or find them ineffective, Google offers additional options to help you.

Here’s what you can do:

• Use the “removal request” tool.
• Request removal directly from Google’s Search Engine Results Page.
• If you’re in the US, take advantage of the new “results about you” dashboard.
• If you’re in the EU, you can utilize your right to be forgotten.

Important: You can only remove Personally Identifiable Information (PII), that is:

• Contact information (address, phone, email)
• Handwritten signature or ID document images
• Government ID numbers (e.g., SSN, Tax ID)
• Personal records (e.g., medical)
• Bank or credit card numbers
• Confidential login details
• Other personal details

What you can’t remove from Google search:

• Publicly available information
• Information posted by others
• Legal and government documents
• Protected speech and artistic expression
• Information with public interest

A) Remove personal information from Google with the removal tool

If you find your personal information on Google, you can copy the URL and request that Google remove it from search results using their removal tool. 

Keep in mind that this won’t remove the content from the original website.

Here’s a quick overview of the process:

1. Search for your personal information and gather all the URLs.
2. Go to Google’s removal tool.
3. Follow the instructions provided by Google.
4. Wait for Google to review your request. If it’s approved, your information should be removed shortly.

Need more instructions?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the removal tool (with pictures)

1. Run an advanced Google search

Start by typing your name in quotation marks in the Google search bar. 

Go through the results and take note of anything you want to have removed. Don’t forget to check any past names or nicknames you might have used.

Next, review older Google results by checking the “cache.” 

On the same results page, click on “tools” and select a time range. Update your list with any new findings.

You’ll need the URLs and screenshots of the websites for the next step.

2. Navigate to the Google removal tool page. Scroll down halfway and click on “start removal request.”

3. Click on the edit icon to the right of “what do you want to do?”.

4. Select “remove information you see in Google Search.”

5. Select where you found the information that you want to be removed.

6. Click on the edit icon to the right of “the information I want removed is:”.

7. Select “in Google’s search results and on a website.”

8. Indicate whether you’ve contacted the site’s owner.

9. Under “have you contacted the site’s website owner?”, select “no, I prefer not to.”

10. Choose what content you want to remove.

11. Under “I want to remove”, select “personal info, like ID numbers and private documents.”

12. Choose the personal information you want to remove from Google Search. A list of types of personal information will appear. 

13. Choose the personal information you want to remove from Google Search.

TIP: Include only personal information you’ve actually found in the Google Search results, you’ll be asked for URLs and screenshots in the next step.

14. Fill in the URLs and screenshots of the websites on which your personal data appears and submit the removal request form.

15. Check the box that says “yes, the offending content is live on the website” and continue filling out the rest of the removal request form.

16. Check if you pasted: 

• URLs
• search terms
• screenshots.

17. If everything is alright, check the declaration at the bottom of the form and click “submit.”

B) Remove personal information straight from the result page

Alternatively, you can request the removal of your information directly from the results page. Here’s a quick overview of how to do it:

1. Search for your personal information on Google.
2. Click the three dots next to the results that contain your data.
3. Select “remove result” from the menu.
4. Follow the instructions provided by Google.

Need more instructions?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to remove data from the result page (with pictures)

1. Run an advanced Google search.

Begin by typing your name with quotation marks in the Google search bar. Look through the results and make note of anything you’d like to have removed. 

Check your past names and nicknames, too.

Next, review past Google results that display your personal contact info.

2. Click the three dots next to the results that contain your data.

3. Click the “remove result” button. Another menu will appear.

4.Click the arrow next to “it shows my personal contact info”

5. The next two screens explain the process. Click “continue” each time.

6. Click “continue” to confirm your email address or “switch account” to use a different one.

7. Enter your info and what you want to remove.

Enter your name and select the type of contact info you would like removed from the drop down menu. 

Fill out the exact contact information you want removed and click “continue.”

8. Click “send” to send your request.

9. Select the reason for the removal request

If your contact info is shown with the intention of harming you, you can select this reason from the list. 

10. Click “start removal request”

You will be taken to a new page explaining how to remove PII or doxxing content. Click “start removal request.”

11. Describe your request.

You will be asked to describe your request. Select one of the reasons from the list, select your country of residence, and click “next.”

12. Select one of the reasons from the list, select your country of residence, and click “next.”

13. Answer additional questions regarding your request. Click “next.”

14. Fill in your contact information.

15. Add details about the content containing personal information, including the URLs and screenshots.

Once you’ve finished pasting in your URLs, typing in your search terms, and uploading representative screenshots, check the declaration at the bottom of the form and click “submit.”

C) Remove info using the “Results about you” dashboard (US only)

In 2022, Google launched a tool called “Results about you” to help users find search results with their personal information. 

With the August 2023 update, users can now submit removal requests and track new information about themselves. 

However, this tool is currently only available in the US as a beta version, so others will need to wait for the next update. 

Here’s how it works:

1. Access the “results about you” tool.
2. Set up your account following instructions provided.
3. Review the results containing your information.
4. Request removal.

Need more instructions?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the “results about you” dashboard (with pictures)

1. Access the “results about you” tool.

To access the tool, you can either tap on the account photo in the top right corner and select “results about you” or go to goo.gle/resultsaboutyou.

Image credits: Google.

2. Select “get started.”

Image credits: Google

3. A new window will open. Click “next”.

4. Fill in your personal details and click on “continue.” 

5. Select how you’d like to be notified about the results (email or push notification).

6. On the following screen, you will see information about what happens next. Click “next“.

7. Click “I’m done.”

8. Wait until Google comes back with results (it takes around 2-4 hours).

You can track the information collected in the “Results about you” dashboard. You can also change the personal information you provided for the search by clicking “settings.”

9. Send a removal request

Once Google comes back with results, you will see them in your “Results about you” dashboard. 

To submit removal requests, click on the three dots next to the result in question and follow these steps:

1. Select why you want to remove the result and click “continue.”
2. Enter your contact information. Click “continue.”
3. Read the note on how removal works and click “send.”

You can now track the progress of each of these requests in the “Results about you” dashboard.

D) Leverage your right to be forgotten (EU only)

The “right to be forgotten” was introduced in the EU to let people ask for specific search results that show their personal information to be removed. 

Each request is reviewed manually by a professional, with the decision based on several factors, none of which are absolute. 

These factors include:

• Your role in public life
• The source of the information
• How old and relevant the content is
• The effect on Google’s users
• Whether the information is true or false
• How private or sensitive the content is

Here’s how you can use the “right to be forgotten:”

1. Navigate to the personal data removal request form.
2. Fill in all the boxes according to the instructions.
3. Submit the form and wait for the decision.

Need more instructions?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the “right to be forgotten” (with pictures)

1. Navigate to the personal data removal request form.
2. Select the “country whose law applies” from the drop-down menu.
3. Fill in your full legal name and email address.
4. Select whether you are acting on your own behalf or someone else’s.
5. If it’s someone else’s, state your legal relationship with this person.
6. Check the box “yes, there are previously filled requests” if this is not the first request you are submitting.
7. Identify which information you want to remove and where it’s located.
   • Enter the URL of the content containing the personal information you want removed.
   • Explain the reasons for removal. 
   • TIP: Follow the suggested prompts: “This page is about me because [state the reason],” and “This page should be removed because [explain why].”
   • If you want information removed from multiple places, click “add new group.”
   • Enter the name which, when used as a search query, produces the results you would like to delist. If there is more than one name, put a forward slash (“/”) between them.
8. Scroll down to acknowledge the three statements and sign the request.
   • Check all three boxes with legal statements.
9. Add the date and write your full name and surname as a signature.
10. Send in the form by clicking “submit.” 

Your personal information isn’t just found in Google Search results. It can also show up in places like Google Maps, Google Images, or through location tracking.

If you want to fully remove your presence from Google, make sure to turn off these features too.

A) Remove your images from search results

Removing an image from Google involves a different process. You have two options:

• Contact the website owner hosting the image and ask them to remove it.

Or—

• If that doesn’t work, go to the “remove an image from Google” page and fill out a request form.

For more instructions, check out our detailed guide on how to remove images from Google.

B) Blur images on Google Maps

If you own a property, you can blur it on Google Maps. 

Here’s how:

1. Search for your address on Google Maps.
2. Open the 360° image.
3. Click “report a problem” in the bottom-right corner.
4. Fill out and submit the form.

C) Turn off tracking, location, and YouTube history

It’s no surprise that Google collects a lot of data about you and your activities. The good news is, you can turn off some of these features.

Here’s how:

1. Visit the Google activity controls page.
2. Delete any stored data and disable tracking for web and app activity, location history, YouTube history, and ad settings.
3. Turn off or set auto-delete for your “web and app activity” so that new data gets automatically erased over time.

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D) Get notified when a new result about you appears on Google search

If you followed our steps, you’ve likely cleaned Google from traces of your data.

But it won’t prevent it from reappearing there. However, you can monitor Google for your data.

In other words—

You can get notified whenever a new result about you appears in Google search results. 

To create an alert, just go to Google Alerts and follow the instructions there.

Need more instructions?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set Google alerts (with pictures)

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set Google alerts (with pictures)

1. Navigate to https://www.google.com/alerts
2. Enter your name and surname in brackets in the search box
3. If you have a Google account, click your name under “me on the web.”
4. Click “show options.”
5. Select how often you’d like to receive alerts and where you’d like to receive them.
6. Click “create alert.”

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