When a page can't be taken down, it can still come out of Google.
When content can't be deleted at the source, we go to Google directly: removal requests, DMCA filings, and legal demands to get the URL out of search results.
Researched: October 2026
Quick overview
- Google's Removals tool and a DMCA request are both free, and you can submit them yourself.
- The Removals tool only hides a URL temporarily, for about six months, unless the source is also fixed with a noindex tag or the page coming down.
- A DMCA request applies only when there is a copyright basis.
- Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines have separate processes, so clearing Google doesn't change what they show.
- If a request is denied or the URL keeps returning, we match it to the category Google will act on and work with the site or its host.
Our approach
Free tools first, a permanent fix when it's not enough
Google's Removals tool and, where it applies, a DMCA request are both free and self-serve. The Removals tool can hide a URL from search within a day or two, but without a permanent fix at the source, like a noindex tag or the page coming down, the hide is temporary and the URL can resurface once the tool's window lapses.
If a direct submission is denied, doesn't clearly qualify, or the URL keeps reappearing, we match it to the removal category Google will act on and work with the site or its host for a permanent fix.
What actually decides whether a request goes through
Which category you file under matters as much as the content itself. The Removals tool in Search Console is meant for your own site or genuinely outdated content, while a DMCA or legal removal covers copyright and other legal violations.
Requests involving clear copyright ownership, personal sensitive data, or explicit images posted without consent run against fairly strict, mostly automated Google policies, and tend to move through with little friction when filed correctly.
When a request stalls or is denied, it is most often because the submitted URL doesn't match what Google has indexed for that page. The other common cause is the wrong tool, such as a DMCA filed with no copyright basis.
Google's own support guidance backs up the first cause, telling people whose requests fail to double-check they have the actual result URL, not just the page where they found the content.
Not sure if a specific URL even qualifies for removal? Our free removal assessment tool gives you a quick read before you submit anything to Google.
Dealing with more than one URL, or not sure if this is the only place your name shows up? A free reputation scan can map out what else needs handling before you go through this process again.
What we do
Google Search Console removal
We submit temporary removal requests for outdated or sensitive content, then pursue a permanent fix at the source.
DMCA copyright takedowns
If your content or images are published without permission, we file DMCA requests with the site and with Google.
Bing & Yahoo de-indexing
We file separate requests with Bing and Yahoo, since Google's decision doesn't carry over.
Legal content removal
When content is defamatory or illegal, we escalate with formal legal demand letters.
Outdated content removal
Google's outdated content tool used to remove cached versions of pages that have been updated or deleted at source.
AI index removal
Where AI tools that browse the web offer a removal channel, we use it. Coverage is more limited than with traditional search.
What we don't do
We won't file a DMCA claim for content that isn't ours to claim, or misrepresent a request so it looks like it qualifies. False claims can carry legal liability.
We don't call a Removals tool submission a permanent fix. If the URL needs to stay gone, we tell you when a change at the source is needed too.
Common questions
Does removing a URL from Google delete it from the website itself?
No. De-indexing removes a page from Google's search results — the page can still exist at the source unless it's also taken down there. For content we can't get removed at the source, de-indexing is how we stop it from showing up in a name search.
If a URL is de-indexed from Google, is it gone from Bing too?
No. Bing runs a separate index with its own reporting process. Microsoft's support guidance says: "Reporting a concern will not necessarily result in removal of a URL from search results," and points people back to the site that published the content. Clearing Google doesn't change what Bing or any other search engine shows.
What's the difference between de-indexing and a DMCA takedown?
De-indexing hides a URL from Google's search results. A DMCA takedown is a copyright claim that can get the content removed at the source entirely (or force Google to drop it from the index as a result) — it only applies when there's a copyright basis, such as unauthorized use of your photos or writing.
Does this cover search engines besides Google?
Yes. Bing and Yahoo have their own removal tools, and we file requests with those separately, since de-indexing on Google doesn't apply anywhere else.
Can you de-index something from AI tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity?
We can request removal from AI tools that browse the live web, since they generally reflect what's currently indexed and crawlable. Coverage is more limited and less predictable than traditional search de-indexing, since these tools don't have a standardized removal process yet.
Do I pay if the URL isn't removed?
Our removal services are no-removal, no-fee: you're invoiced only once we achieve the removal defined in your Service Agreement. Search suppression is billed for the work performed.
Related
Dealing with a negative news article? See News & Article Removal, including guides for Law360 and Courthouse News Service. For case filings, see Court Record Removal. If a URL stays indexed, search suppression moves it off page one.
Start today
Have a URL you need gone?
Send us the link. We'll reply within 24 hours with which channel we think fits.
We pair Google's removal categories with a permanent fix at the source whenever one is needed.
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