If something about you shows up on Google that you want gone, your first instinct might be to contact the site that posted it. But what if that doesn’t work? Or what if the content is outdated, inaccurate, or clearly violates a policy?
That’s where the Google content removal tools come in. It doesn’t remove the content from the internet, but it can help get certain links taken out of Google’s search results. And in some cases, that’s more than enough to make it disappear from public view.
Let’s break down how it works, what it can remove, and what to do if your case doesn’t qualify.
Note from the author: Some of the links to forms in this may redirect to the Google legal and search troubleshooters, if you need to access a form that is redirecting you can copy the link as well.
What is the Google Content Removal Tool?
The phrase “Google Content Removal Tool” is a bit misleading. There isn’t just one tool. Instead, Google offers several different forms and processes to address specific types of content. These include everything from removing outdated links to requesting takedowns for legal reasons.
Each tool is built for a different kind of problem. Choosing the right one depends on what you’re trying to remove, and why.
Here are the main tools and what they’re used for:
- Personal Content Removal Form
This is for sensitive personal info like your phone number, home address, government ID, or explicit photos. If it poses a risk to your safety or privacy, start here.
Submit a request - Results About You
This is a newer tool that helps you monitor and remove personally identifiable information (PII) from search results. It includes alerts when new results show your phone, email, or address.
Access the tool - Outdated Content Tool
If a page has been updated or deleted but still shows up in search results with old content or a dead link, this tool lets you request a refresh.
Request an update - Legal Removal Requests
Used when content violates the law or your legal rights, like defamation, harassment, or privacy violations. It includes options to submit court orders.
Report a legal issue - DMCA Takedown Form
For copyright infringement. If someone has published your content without permission, like blog posts, photos, or videos, this is the tool to use.
Submit a copyright complaint - Court Order Submission
If you’ve already obtained a court order requiring content removal, you can submit it directly to Google through this form.
Submit your court order - Spam and Malware Reporting
This isn’t for personal data, but if a website is spreading phishing, scams, or malware, report it here. It helps Google protect users and may lead to de-ranking or removal.
Report harmful content - Legal Other Form
A catch-all form for legal removal requests that don’t fit neatly into the other categories.
Use this form
Not all of these will apply to every situation. But understanding the purpose of each tool can help you take faster, more effective action, whether you’re removing a mugshot, a news article, or your phone number from a blog post.
| Tool Name | Best For | Link to Form |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Content Removal | Removing personal data like phone numbers or home addresses | Submit Request |
| Results About You | Monitoring and removing new search results showing your info | Access Tool |
| Outdated Content Tool | Clearing cached content or deleted pages still showing in search | Request Update |
| Legal Removal Request | Removing defamatory, harassing, or unlawful content | Report Issue |
| DMCA Takedown | Removing stolen content that violates copyright | Submit DMCA |
| Court Order Submission | Submitting a judge-approved order to remove content | Send Court Order |
| Spam & Malware Report | Flagging phishing, scams, or malicious sites | Report Page |
| Legal Other Form | Other legal removals not covered by standard forms | Use This Form |
For a deeper dive into all your options for removing Google search results, check out our complete guide on How to Delete Google Search Results.
1. Personal Content and Product Policies
Google’s Personal Content Policies define what qualifies for removal under their terms. This includes:
- Explicit or involuntary fake pornography
- Financial or medical records
- Home addresses and contact information
- Government-issued ID numbers
- Deepfakes or digitally altered images of you
- Images of minors without consent
Google also allows removal of content that poses a significant risk of identity theft, fraud, or doxxing. You can request removal using their Personal Content Removal Form. This is usually reviewed within a few days, but sometimes takes longer.
What to expect:
- Google won’t remove the content from the source
- The URL may be removed from search results for your name or image
- You’ll get an email decision, and you can appeal if denied
Check out our full guide for using the personal content removal form
2. Google’s “Results About You” Tool
This is the easiest tool Google has rolled out for everyday users.
Results About You is a dashboard that shows if your name, address, phone number, or email appears in search results. You can flag unwanted results directly in the tool and track progress.
It’s available to signed-in users in the U.S. and some other countries. You’ll be notified if the request is accepted or rejected.
What it’s good for:
- Fast removals of doxxing or unwanted personal info
- Bulk tracking and monitoring
- Simple user interface
Check out our full guide for using Google’s Results About You tool
3. Outdated Content Tool
Sometimes, the content is already gone from a page, but the old info still shows up in search.
That’s where the Outdated Content Tool comes in. You can use it to request that Google clears cached versions or snippets that no longer reflect the live page. This is probably the form that we get the most questions about and use most frequently in our content removal work for clients.
It’s useful if:
- Your name or photo was deleted from a site, but Google still shows it
- The site was updated, but the search result preview hasn’t caught up
Google typically processes these requests within a few days.
Check out our full guide for using Google’s Outdated Content tool
4. Legal Removal Requests
For legal issues outside of copyright like defamation, court orders, or harassment, Google provides a Legal Request Form.
Depending on your issue, you may be redirected to a number of different forms such as:
- Court Order Submission
- Counter notice
- Content that circumvents a technological protection measure
- Counterfeit Goods
- Legal Other
You’ll need to explain:
- Why the content violates the law in your country
- What harm it’s causing
- Provide relevant documentation
Google uses local law to decide what to remove. Some links may only disappear for users in specific countries.
Check out our full guide for how to submit a legal removal request to Google
5. DMCA (Copyright) Removals
If someone has posted your original content, like a blog post, video, or image, without your permission, you can file a DMCA takedown.
This form is for copyright infringement only. You must be the rights holder or acting on behalf of one. It requires detailed info including:
- Your contact details
- A list of infringing URLs
- A statement under penalty of perjury
If approved, the result is removed from Google Search worldwide. The page will still exist, but the visibility is greatly reduced.
Another important note with DMCA removals is that all removals are recorded in the Lumen database and a notification may appear in searches where the content otherwise would have appeared.
You should also be aware of fair use laws and make sure to understand the difference in someone just copying or stealing your content and someone using it in a transformative way.
Check out our full guide for how to submit a DMCA copyright removal request to Google
6. Submit a Court Order to Google
If a judge has already ruled in your favor, for example, requiring a website to take something down, you can send that court order directly to Google for enforcement.
You’ll need to submit a signed copy of the court order and clearly explain what links you want removed. The content may be removed entirely or restricted by region depending on the legal basis and jurisdiction.
Check out our full guide for how to submit a court order to Google for content removal
7. Report Spam, Phishing, or Malware
For low-quality or harmful pages, like spammy mugshot directories or scam sites, use Google’s Search Quality Feedback Form.
You can flag:
While this doesn’t guarantee removal, it does help reduce visibility in search. Over time, enough reports can lead to Google demoting or deindexing bad actors.
Check out our full guide for how to report spam, phishing, or malware to Google
8. Report a Legal Removal Issue (Legal Other)
Google’s Legal Other form is a fallback option if your legal issue doesn’t fit into one of Google’s predefined categories. It’s used for complex or unusual situations where something is harmful, unlawful, or violates your rights but isn’t covered elsewhere.
You’ll be asked to:
- Explain how the content violates the law
- Describe the harm it’s causing
- Attach supporting documentation (legal letters, ID, screenshots, etc.)
It’s often slower and more case-by-case than other options, but it’s a valid path when no other tool fits.
Check out our full guide for how to use Google’s legal other form to remove harmful content
How to Improve Your Chances of Removal
Not every request gets approved. To improve your odds:
- Submit clear documentation (court orders, screenshots, URLs)
- Be professional and factual in your message
- Stick to policies — emotional appeals don’t work
- Follow up if there’s no response in 10–14 days
What If Google Won’t Remove It?
Even if Google denies your request, you still have options.
Suppress it
You can bury harmful results by publishing new content. Profiles on sites like LinkedIn, Medium, or Crunchbase can outrank negative content with the right SEO strategy.
Contact the website
If the issue is not against Google’s policies but violates the site’s own terms, contact them directly. Some platforms will remove content if it’s outdated or misleading.
Work with a reputation management service
For difficult cases, like mugshots, defamatory blogs, or revenge sites, professional online reputation management help may be worth considering. We can escalate requests, suppress harmful links, and in some cases pursue legal options for you.
Google’s content removal tools aren’t magic, but they’re powerful when used correctly. Whether you’re dealing with old forum posts, scraped images, or legal documents, there’s often a form that applies.
If the content violates Google’s guidelines or the law, use the appropriate form and submit strong documentation. If it doesn’t, shift to a suppression strategy or professional service.
The worst thing you can do is nothing.
