How to Remove Your Personal Info from Google Search Results

Finding your home address, phone number, or email listed openly in Google search results is unsettling. Fortunately, Google has streamlined the process of scrubbing this data with its “Results about you” tool. This dashboard allows you to request the removal of search results containing your personal contact information and sets up alerts for when new information appears.

Understanding the "Results about you" Tool

For years, removing personal information from Google required navigating complex legal help forms or proving immediate harm. In late 2022, Google rolled out the “Results about you” dashboard to make this process accessible to everyone.

This tool focuses specifically on Personally Identifiable Information (PII). It is designed to help you remove search results that contain:

  • Your personal phone number
  • Your home address
  • Your personal email address

It is important to note what this tool does not cover. It generally does not remove links to government records, official business filings, or news articles. It is strictly for personal contact data that might expose you to doxxing or unwanted contact.

Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up the Dashboard

You can access this tool through the Google app on your mobile device or via a web browser. The mobile app offers the most seamless experience for initial setup.

Using the Google App (Android and iOS)

  1. Open the App: Launch the standard Google app on your smartphone. Ensure you are signed into your primary Google Account.
  2. Access Profile: Tap your profile picture located in the top right corner of the screen.
  3. Select the Tool: Look for the menu option labeled “Results about you.”
  4. Start the Scan: If this is your first time, you will see a “Get started” button. Google will ask you to confirm your name and provide the specific address, phone number, or email you want to monitor.
  5. Review Matches: Google will run a scan. If it finds search results containing your contact info, they will appear in a list labeled “Results to review.”
  6. Request Removal: Tap the three dots next to a result and select “Request removal.”

Using a Web Browser

If you prefer using a desktop computer, you can navigate to the “Results about you” page through your Google Account settings:

  1. Go to myactivity.google.com/results-about-you.
  2. Follow the prompts to verify your information.
  3. Once the scan is complete, you can view pending requests and approved removals under the “All requests” tab.

Monitoring Your Status

After you submit a removal request, it does not disappear instantly. The request enters a review queue. You can check the status of your requests within the same dashboard under the “Your requests” tab.

You will typically see one of three statuses:

  • Approved: The search result has been removed. It will no longer appear when people search for your name.
  • In Progress: Google is currently evaluating the request. This usually takes between a few hours and a few days.
  • Denied: Google declined the request.

Why Requests Get Denied

If your request is denied, Google will provide a reason. Common reasons include:

  • Public Record: The information is hosted on a government site (like a county clerk or court website). Google will not censor official public records.
  • Professional Info: The content is deemed business-related rather than personal.
  • Content Missing: The page no longer contains the information you are reporting.

Beyond Contact Info: Removing Sensitive Content

The “Results about you” tool handles standard contact info. However, you may need to remove more dangerous content, such as financial data or explicit images. This requires a different, more formal process.

For these situations, you must use Google’s Legal Removal Request forms. Google prioritizes the removal of:

  • Non-consensual explicit imagery (NCII).
  • Select financial information (like credit card numbers or bank account images).
  • Handwritten signatures.
  • Medical records.
  • “Doxxing” content where there is a clear threat of harm.

To handle these, search for “Google Search Help: Remove select personally identifiable info” and fill out the detailed form. You will need to provide URLs and screenshots of the offending content.

The Limitation: Google vs. The Source Site

There is a critical distinction you must understand. Google is a directory, not the internet.

When you use the “Results about you” tool, you are removing the entry from Google’s index. This means people cannot find that page by Googling your name or phone number. However, the webpage itself still exists.

If your address is listed on a data broker site like Whitepages, Spokeo, or Radaris, removing the Google result stops casual searchers. However, anyone who goes directly to Spokeo.com and searches for you will still find your data.

Dealing with Data Brokers

To fully delete your digital footprint, you must request removal from the source sites. You have two options:

  1. Manual Opt-Out: You can visit the privacy policy pages of sites like Whitepages, BeenVerified, and Intelius to file individual opt-out requests. This is free but time-consuming, as there are dozens of these brokers.
  2. Automated Services: You can pay a service to continually scan and delete your info from these databases.
    • DeleteMe: One of the oldest services in this space. They charge approximately $129 per year for one person. They provide quarterly reports on which brokers they have successfully scrubbed.
    • Incogni: Created by the VPN company Surfshark, Incogni is a cheaper alternative often priced around $77 per year. It automates data removal requests under GDPR and CCPA laws.
    • Optery: Offers a free tier that scans the web and shows you where your info is exposed, with paid tiers for removal.

Configuring Alerts for Future Safety

The internet is dynamic. Even after you clean up your search results, your information may reappear if a data broker scrapes a new public record.

To stay ahead, ensure you have Push Notifications enabled in the “Results about you” tool.

  1. Open the tool in the Google App.
  2. Go to Settings (gear icon).
  3. Turn on “New result notifications.”

Google will now passively monitor the web for your specific phone number, address, or email. If it detects a new match in Search, you will receive a notification on your phone, allowing you to request removal immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this tool work for businesses? No. This tool is intended for individual consumers. If you try to remove a business listing or professional contact information, the request will likely be denied.

How long does it take for Google to approve a removal? While Google does not give a guaranteed timeline, most straightforward requests for phone numbers and addresses are processed within 24 to 48 hours.

If I remove a result, will it come back? It is possible. If a different website publishes your information, it creates a new search result. This is why enabling notifications is vital; it alerts you so you can repeat the removal process for the new link.

Is the “Results about you” tool free? Yes. Google provides this feature completely free of charge to all Google Account holders. You do not need a Google One subscription to use it.