A step-by-step guide to removing personal information from Google Search with the "Results about you" tool. Plus why deleting from Google isn't the whole job.
Can you actually remove your information from Google?
You can, but only partly. Google offers tools to remove results that show your personal contact information (like your home address, phone number, or email) and to remove outdated or harmful content from Search. What Google can't do is delete the information from the website that published it. If a data broker lists your address, Google can stop showing that page in results, but the broker still has, and will continue to sell your data.
So think of this as two jobs: hide it from Google (fast, below), and remove it at the source (the deeper step most people miss).
How to remove your info with Google's "Results about you" tool
Google's "Results about you" tool is the fastest path for personal contact information. Here's the process:
Go to Google's "Results about you" tool
Enter the personal information you want Google to watch for such as your name, phone number, home address, and email.
Google scans Search and shows you results that contain that information.
Request removal on any result you want taken down. Google reviews it against its removal policies.
Track the status of each request in the tool and get notified when new results appear.
This is designed specifically for contact information that could be used to identify or reach you, so it's the right tool for addresses, phone numbers, and emails.
How to request removal of a specific result
For content that isn't covered by the tool above like an outdated page, or a result with sensitive information, use Google's content removal request in Search Help:
Open Google's "Remove information from Google" / content removal request form (in Google Search Help).
Choose the reason: e.g. content you want removed for legal or safety reasons.
Paste the URL(s) and the exact search terms that surface the result.
Submit and monitor. Google evaluates the request and notifies you of the outcome.
One thing to know though: Google isn't the source
When your address or phone number shows up in Google, it's almost always because a data broker published it. What's a data broker? That's a company that compiles and sells personal profiles.
Removing the Google result is like hiding one signpost while the warehouse behind it keeps printing more. Search for yourself a month later and the same information often reappears through a different broker's page.
To actually reduce your exposure, you have to go to the source:
Identify the data brokers listing you (Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, Radaris, and dozens more).
Submit an opt-out / removal request to each one. Unfortunately, each has its own process, and many make it deliberately tedious.
Repeat periodically, because brokers routinely re-list people as they acquire new data.
This is doable by hand, but there are hundreds of brokers and they re-list over time. Which is why automated data removal services exist.
Why this matters for your security
Reducing your public footprint isn't just about privacy, it's a real step toward preventing identity theft and scams. The less of your personal information is publicly for sale, the fewer building blocks a criminal has to impersonate you or craft a convincing scam call.
That's why data removal is built into EverGuard: it automatically sends opt-out requests to data broker sites on your behalf and keeps monitoring so your information doesn't quietly reappear, alongside identity, credit, and dark web monitoring in one dashboard. You can see what's included here. Removing yourself from Google is a great start; removing yourself from the source is what keeps you off the market.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove my personal information from Google for free? Use Google's free "Results about you" tool (in your Google Account). Enter your name, address, phone, and email; Google scans Search and lets you request removal of results that contain that information, then tracks each request.
Does removing information from Google delete it from the internet? No. Google only controls its own search results. Removing a result hides it from Google, but the website that published the information still has it. To remove it fully, you must opt out at the source which is usually a data broker site.
Why does my information keep coming back on Google? Because data brokers continually re-list people as they acquire new records. Removing a single Google result doesn't stop the source from republishing your data, so it often reappears through a different page unless you opt out at the broker level.
How long does it take Google to remove personal information? It varies by request type. Google reviews each removal against its policies and notifies you of the outcome; some requests are actioned quickly, while others require additional review. You can track status inside the "Results about you" tool.
Is removing my info from Google enough to prevent identity theft? It helps but isn't sufficient on its own. It reduces what's publicly visible, but the underlying data and other exposures (breaches, the dark web) remain. Pair it with data broker removal and identity monitoring for meaningful protection.
This article is for general informational purposes and isn't legal advice.
