How to Remove Personal Info from Google Search Results in 2025

Cybercriminals are constantly on the lookout for personally identifiable information (PII), which they can exploit to commit fraud, steal identities, or cause harm. One of the easiest places for them to find it is through Google search. While Google can’t erase the data from the web itself, it can help you remove your personal info from its search results. Here’s how to take control of what shows up about you online.

1. Find Out If Your Info Is on Google

Before you can request removal, you need to know if your personal data is actually showing up in Google search results. Google offers a tool called “Results About You” to help with this.

Log into your Google account and go to the Results About You page. There, you can enter details like your email, phone number, and address. Once submitted, Google will monitor its search index for any matches and alert you if your info appears in search results—via email or app notification.

You can also check the Results About You dashboard at any time to review what’s been flagged and request removal of anything sensitive.

2. Use the New Quick Removal Option

In 2025, Google introduced a more user-friendly way to flag content directly from search results. When browsing on mobile or desktop, just click the three-dot menu next to any search result. Then, select “Remove result.”

You’ll be prompted to explain why you’re requesting the removal. Options include:

Display of personal information (PII)
Illegal or sensitive content
Outdated data

If Google approves the removal, you’ll receive a notification confirming the change.

3. File a Manual Removal Request

For more serious cases—such as leaked bank details or unauthorized use of your image—Google offers a detailed manual request form.

Eligible content includes:

Government-issued ID numbers
Bank and credit card information
Passwords and login credentials
Medical or health records
Personal signatures
Deepfake or explicit images tied to your identity
Doxxing attempts (where your info is shared to cause harm)

You don’t always need to prove the harm caused, but supplying more context increases the chances of success.

You can begin the process through Google’s Search Help Center, which guides you through what can be removed and links directly to the proper submission form.

4. If You Own the Website

If the content appears on a website you control, you can prevent Google from indexing it by using tools like:

robots.txt to block crawlers
noindex meta tags
Password protection on private pages

Even after removing the content, cached versions might still show in search. In that case, use Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool to request updates to the search index.

5. What About Images?

To get rid of old or unwanted images from Google Images:

Go to images.google.com
Right-click the image and select “Copy image address”
Submit the link through Google’s outdated content removal form

You’ll get a confirmation email once your request is submitted. If you don’t, resubmit it. Google will evaluate your request and follow up with next steps.

6. Legal Issues and Harmful Content

If you find illegal material—such as copyright violations, harassment, or child sexual abuse material (CSAM)—Google provides a separate form under its “Report Content for Legal Reasons” page. There’s even an instructional video to guide you through the process.

7. What About Other Search Engines?

Unfortunately, most alternative search engines offer limited or no tools for removing personal data.

DuckDuckGo: You can try emailing [email protected], but don’t expect a reply.
Bing (Microsoft): Offers a Page Removal Tool, but mainly for webmasters dealing with outdated pages.
Yahoo: Offers little to no support for PII removals.

8. Know the Limits of Removal

Remember, removing your info from Google doesn’t delete it from the internet. It only makes it harder to find via search. If the source site still hosts the content, the data remains accessible to anyone with a direct link.

To truly erase your online footprint, you’d need to contact the site owner—or go nuclear and wipe your digital presence altogether.

9. Consider a Data Removal Service

If managing this on your own feels overwhelming, you could use third-party services like DeleteMe or Incogni, which reach out to data brokers on your behalf. These services charge subscription fees, but they can save time and track reappearances of your information.

Final Thought: You Can Minimize, But Not Erase Everything

As long as you’re online—using social media, shopping, subscribing, or browsing—your data is out there. Google and other platforms may offer tools to hide some of it, but complete invisibility is nearly impossible without cutting all ties to the digital world.

Still, taking these steps can significantly reduce your exposure and protect your privacy.