Want more privacy? Here’s how to remove your phone number, email, physical address, and other data from Google’s search results.
Every bad actor wants personally identifiable information (PII). If they get their hands on your PII, they can use it to swindle, impersonate, or even endanger you on the internet—and in the real world. One of the prime places to find PII is on Google, and while Google can’t stop that info from appearing on other websites, you can try to remove PII from the search giant’s results. We’ll show you how. Learn When Personal Info Appears in a Google Search
This first step is important since you can’t tell Google to delete your info if the site isn’t even finding and displaying it. Google has an option to notify you when that happens.
The spot to visit is called the Results About You activity page, and you have to be logged into Google for it to work. Follow the prompts on the screen as Google asks you for your physical addresses, emails, and phone numbers. Tell Google how you want to be notified (email or push notification via the Google app). Then wait.
After a few hours, you should get a report from Google on what’s turning up that’s yours PII-wise. You can also return to the Results About You page to check. There, you can tick off the boxes next to any result you want to make sure is removed from search. The status of your request will also be displayed (eventually). Remove Search Results
New in 2025 is the ability to request immediate removal of items you see in Google search results on a mobile or desktop browser. If you don’t like the result, click the three-dot menu next to the listing and tap the Remove result button. You then have to specify why you want it removed: it shows PPI, it’s illegal content (like copyright-infringing material or child abuse), or it’s outdated and needs a refresh.
If Google makes a change based on your request, you’ll get a notice. Submit a Manual Request to Delete
Google will let you manually request to remove other things that you may find harmful. That includes:
National/government ID numbers
Bank account information
Credit card numbers
Personal signatures
Login info and credentials
Medical records
„Irrelevant pornography“ (that is, explicit material somehow tied to your name)
Login credentials
Deepfake porn you may appear in against your will
You can request this without even proving that the data floating out there is a problem (with some exceptions).
