As one of the most popular search engines in the world, it’s a given that Google contains a lot of information — but sometimes it can contain too much of your information, like our phone number, email and more.
For years, scrubbing highly sensitive information — like your Social Security number, credit card details, or embarrassing old photos — from Google’s search results felt like an impossible, frustrating task. Fortunately, the process is now simpler than ever.
Remove Your Personal Data Via Google’s Results About You Tool
In a blog post about giving users more control, Google says that its Results About You tool has been significantly updated to work even better at finding your contact information online and allowing you to request its removal from search results.
In this article, we’ll show you step by step how to request that your personal information be removed from Google in two ways:
Google’s Results About You Tool
Google’s Content Removal Process
Note: We’ll cover the first-time setup of the Results About You tool, which will allow you to access the page moving forward to control what information Google shows about you. If you’ve used the tool before and don’t need to go over the tool setup, scroll down to Step #4.
To access the Results About You tool from your Google account, log on at goo.gle/resultsaboutyou on the web.
2. Add Your Personal Contact Information
Once you tap the blue “Get Started” button, Google will ask you to add your personal contact information.
Google says it uses the contact information you provide to make sure it matches the information on a result’s web page. “It’s not shared or used to personalize your experience across other Google products,” it says.
On the online form, you’ll need to provide:
Your full name, as well as any maiden name or nickname you want included
Your address
Phone number
Email address
At the bottom of the form, you’ll need to click a box that confirms that the information you entered belongs to you. Then click Continue.
3. Opt In for Notifications
You’ll also have the option to receive notifications either via email or by Google alerts. When I went through the steps, I chose to be notified via email.
4. Allow Google To Check Search Results
From there, Google looks to see if your personal information can be found. “We’ll check for search results that show your info and let you know if anything comes up,” it says on the prompts.
Google says it usually takes a few hours to run through the whole process.
Once Google finds information about you, it will show a blue “Results to review” and “Reviewed” toggle button. Once you click on one or the other, it will show you either new results that have popped up in Google search or — if this isn’t your first time using the tool — information that you’ve reviewed before.
If it shows that Google found information online about you, that’s when you can request to remove results that you see on Google Search, by selecting “Remove result” from the menu icon next to any result that includes your contact information.
In my case, it showed that my email address was out there on the web and that “this info might be valuable to the public.”
In addition to contact information, Google also lets you request to remove webpages, articles and some images of yourself from their search results. You can do this via Google’s content removal process.
Google’s Content Removal Process: How It Works
According to Google, the first step you should take is to contact the owner of the website where your personal content is found. Then, you can request that the website remove your information. Of course, that’s not always easy (or even possible) to do.
If you’re unsuccessful in trying to contact the specific website, you can start Google’s removal process. You’ll need to select whether you want to:
Remove information you see in a Google search.
Remove information you see in Google search and on a website (With this option, you’ll need to confirm whether or not you’ve reached out to the website owner).
1. Select the Type of Content You Want To Remove
You’ll need to choose one of the following options that best describes the content you want to be removed:
Address, phone number, and/or e-mail address
Confidential government identification (ID) numbers (for example, Social Security or Tax ID number, Resident Registration or Resident Identity Card number)
Bank account or credit card number
Images of a handwritten signature or an ID doc
Highly personal, restricted, and official records (for example, medical records)
Confidential login credentials
With each item that you select, you’ll need to corroborate the information by partially revealing it.
For example, if you select “bank account,” you’ll be asked to provide the last four digits of your bank account number. If you select “confidential government identification,” you’ll need to give the last four characters of your government ID and the country where it was issued.
Google will also ask you whether the information about you online was shared with malicious intent, a practice known as doxxing, which means someone has targeted you for online harassment. You’ll have to click yes or no.
Then you’ll be asked for your country of residence and contact email address.
Note that Google says these steps are only to remove live search results. If the content is a cached page that may no longer exist but is still appearing in Google search results, you’ll need to follow the steps to remove outdated content.
2. Enter the URL of the Pages That Show the Content
Next, you’ll need to copy and paste the URL(s) of the pages that have the content you want removed. You may have to enter any of the following links:
Webpage URL
Photo URL
Google search results page URL
Google also provides resource articles on how to find the URL of a page or image.
3. Upload a Screenshot
Google also recommends that you take a screenshot of the webpage. Depending on the type of information or imagery you’re asking to be removed, uploading it may be required.
4. List the Query Terms
You can add the terms that you used to pull up the search results in question.
As an option, you can also list any additional context that might help your request. After that, hit Submit.
After you’ve completed the process, you’ll get a confirmation email.
What Types of Information Can You Remove From Google?
Google says it will typically remove personally identifiable information, including Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, images of handwritten signatures, medical records and confidential login information.
The tech company evaluates each request to remove personal information on a case-by-case basis. After evaluation, Google may:
Remove the URL(s) from search queries.
Remove the URL(s) from search queries that include your name.
Deny your request altogether.
How Long Does It Take Google To Remove Content?
There’s no hard and fast answer here. For outdated URLs, Google says processing can take a few days, but in general, Google doesn’t give a specific time period for how long the content removal process takes.
Although to many people, Google is synonymous with the internet, it’s just one search engine.
When it comes to pictures, here’s what Google says: “Most images that show up in Google search results are from websites that aren’t owned by Google, so we are unable to remove these images from the web.”
Final Thoughts
People have various reasons for wanting their personal information removed from Google.
“Let’s say at one time you were in a relationship, and you and your partner decided it would be cool to take some pictures,” money expert Clark Howard says. “There’s the revenge thing where they post the pictures because you broke up and they’re mad at you and all that. And that can be so embarrassing. And it can cost you a job and reputational harm.”
In other cases, the person may have had a civil or criminal case that was expunged or they were exonerated, and the search results of the incident may be hurting their chances of employment. In other cases, people who have been doxxed may want their personal information erased from Google search results.
No matter your reasons, the good news is that Google has made it easier than ever to have your sensitive information removed from its search results.
NOTE: Clark Howard recently shared this information on a morning show.