Finding unwanted results when searching for your own name is common. It may involve old posts, images, forum entries, or other information that is no longer relevant. The possibility of removing search results from Google depends entirely on where the information is published and what type of content it concerns.
Common reasons for wanting to remove search results for your name
The reasons vary, but some recurring ones include:
- Content published without consent
- Old posts or comments that have lost their context
- Images or profiles from social media
- Information linked to previous work roles
Why does my name appear in Google search results?
When your name appears on Google, it is because it is mentioned on a website that has been indexed by the search engine. This may be something you have published yourself, but more often it involves content posted by others, such as articles, forum posts, or websites with publicly accessible content. If you want to remove search results for your name from search engines, it is crucial to understand this, since Google essentially only displays information that is already published elsewhere. As long as the content remains online, Google can continue to show it in its search results.
Can I remove myself completely from Google?
No, not entirely. If you appear in public contexts such as company registers, news articles, or open platforms, some information about you will continue to be searchable. For most people, the goal is therefore to limit and control what information is shown, rather than to become completely invisible.
Is it possible to remove search results from Google?
Yes. Although it is not possible to remove all information about yourself from Google, it is often possible to remove or influence individual search results. There are essentially three concrete actions that can be taken:
- Ask the website to remove or change the content
This is always the first option.
You contact the person responsible for the website (editor, owner, or via a contact form) and explain why the content should be removed or corrected. If the page is completely removed or made inaccessible (for example, returning a 404 error or being password-protected), Google will automatically remove the result from its index over time.
- Submit a removal request to Google
If the content is not removed, you can turn directly to Google via their search result removal request form. There you must specify:
- The exact web address (URL)
- What the content contains
- Why it is inappropriate (for example, personal data, sensitive information, or defamation)
Google will then make an assessment. As a rule, they only remove search results in specific cases, not content that is merely “negative.”
- Publish and promote other content
If removal is not possible, you can work on publishing new, relevant, and positive content under the same name (for example, a personal website, profiles, or articles). This helps push unwanted results further down in Google’s search results over time.
What actually works
The most effective approach is usually to have the content removed from the original website. When a page is removed or made inaccessible, Google updates its index over time and the search result will gradually disappear. In some cases, Google may remove a search result even if the page itself still exists, for example if the information concerns personal circumstances or is particularly sensitive. In such situations, the option to be “forgotten” by Google may be relevant.
