If you’ve ever Googled your own name and found your home address, phone number, or other personal details surfacing in results, you’re not alone. Google introduced a tool called “Results About You” specifically to help people request the removal of certain personal information from Search. It sounds like a simple fix — but the reality is considerably more complicated.
This guide breaks down exactly how the tool works, what it can and cannot do, and when you need a more comprehensive strategy to protect your online reputation.
What Is Google’s “Results About You” Feature?
“Results About You” is a feature within your Google Account that allows you to monitor when your personal contact information appears in Google Search and submit removal requests directly to Google. It was rolled out more broadly starting in 2022 and has been refined since.
The tool is specifically designed to help individuals find and request removal of what Google classifies as personally identifiable information (PII) — things like your home address, phone number, and email address — when that information appears in Google Search results pointing to third-party websites.
It’s important to understand what the tool is from the outset: it is a request system, not a deletion system. When you submit a request, Google reviews it against its removal policies. If approved, the specific URL containing your information is removed from Google’s index — meaning it won’t appear in Search results — but the information itself remains on the original website unless you also contact that site directly.
Step-by-Step: How to Use the Tool in 2025
Using “Results About You” requires a Google Account. Here’s how to access and use it:
Step 1: Access the Tool Go to myaccount.google.com and navigate to “Data & Privacy,” then scroll to “History settings.” Alternatively, search “Results About You” directly in Google Search while signed in, and a panel will appear at the top of your results.
Step 2: Set Up Monitoring You can enter your personal details — name, address, phone number, and email — so Google can proactively alert you when this information appears in new search results. You’ll receive notifications when matches are found.
Step 3: Review Results The tool shows you URLs where your information appears. You can review each result and decide whether to submit a removal request.
Step 4: Submit a Removal Request For each result you want removed, click “Request removal.” Google will ask you to confirm which type of personal information is exposed and verify the details. You then submit the request for review.
Step 5: Track Your Request After submitting, you can monitor the status of each request within the tool. Statuses include “In review,” “Approved,” or “Not approved.”
The entire process is designed to be user-friendly, but the approval step is where most people hit a wall.
What Types of Content Google Will and Won’t Remove
Google’s removal policies are specific. Not everything that feels invasive qualifies under their guidelines. According to Google’s official support documentation, the following types of personal information may be eligible for removal from Search results:
Content Google may remove:
- Home address, physical address, or precise location
- Personal phone numbers
- Personal email addresses
- Login credentials (usernames and passwords)
- Credit card or bank account numbers
- Images of handwritten signatures
- Images of ID documents (such as a passport or driver’s license)
- Medical records
- Certain legal records in applicable regions
- Doxxing content — pages created with the explicit intent to harm you
Content Google generally will not remove from Search:
- News articles about you, even if unflattering
- Public records that are legitimately in the public interest
- Content you’ve voluntarily shared online
- Business information (if you operate a business)
- Court records where you were a party and the case is a matter of public record
- Reviews of businesses you own or work for
- Social media posts you’ve made publicly
- Mugshot, arrest record and domestic battery
- Content on sites that are publicly indexed and do not contain the specific qualifying PII types above
The distinction Google draws is between content that poses a privacy risk and content that is simply negative or embarrassing. The tool addresses the former, not the latter.
Why Google Denies Most Removal Requests (Real Reasons)
Many people submit requests through “Results About You” only to receive a “Not approved” status and no further explanation. There are several genuine reasons this happens.
The information is considered “publicly available.” Google’s policies acknowledge that some personal information — such as addresses listed in public property records — exists in the public domain and may not qualify for removal even if you’d prefer it weren’t searchable. Google weighs privacy interests against the public’s legitimate interest in accessing certain types of information.
The page serves a legitimate public purpose. If your name and contact information appears in a context Google deems newsworthy, professionally relevant, or in the public interest, the request will typically be denied. For example, if you are a licensed contractor and your business address appears on a state licensing board website, Google is unlikely to remove it.
The content doesn’t meet the specific qualifying categories. Google’s removal criteria are narrower than many people expect. If your information doesn’t fall neatly into one of their defined categories — home address, phone number, ID documents, etc. — the request won’t be approved, even if the content feels like an invasion of privacy.
The request involves content that’s already indexed on many pages. Approving a single URL removal doesn’t prevent the same information from appearing on dozens of other indexed pages. Google may also decline if the information is so widely distributed that removal would be largely ineffective.
The requester is a public figure. If Google determines that you are a public figure — a politician, executive, public-facing professional, or anyone who has voluntarily entered public life — the threshold for removal is much higher. Public figures have reduced privacy expectations for information related to their public roles.
What Happens After You Submit a Request — Timelines and Outcomes
Once submitted, Google reviews requests manually, which means there’s no instant result. According to Google’s support documentation, reviews can take several days or longer depending on volume.
There are three possible outcomes. First, the request is approved: the URL is removed from Google Search results. This doesn’t delete the content from the web — it only de-indexes the specific page from Google’s search results. The page may still be accessible if someone visits the site directly or uses another search engine.
Second, the request is denied: Google determines the content doesn’t meet their removal criteria. You’ll see a “Not approved” status, and the content remains in Search.
Third, the request may be partially approved: in some cases Google removes the content from appearing in certain types of searches (such as when someone searches your exact name) while leaving it accessible through other queries.
After a removal is approved, the content typically disappears from search results within days to a few weeks, though timing can vary based on how frequently Google recrawls the page.
One practical note: even approved removals can be reversed. If the underlying page changes — for example, if the data broker updates their listing — Google may reindex the content and you may need to submit a new request.
Types of Negative Content the Tool Cannot Touch
This is where the gap between what the tool promises and what users actually need becomes most apparent. The vast majority of reputation-damaging content online falls entirely outside the scope of “Results About You.”
Negative news articles and media coverage are among the most impactful types of content for reputation damage, and they are explicitly not covered by Google’s removal tool. An article from a local newspaper, a piece in a trade publication, or a blog post detailing a legal dispute, professional controversy, or past mistake cannot be removed through this feature.
Mugshot websites present a particularly frustrating problem. Many of these sites publish arrest records (which are public) paired with personal photos. Even if the arrest led to no conviction, Google’s removal policies do not categorically remove this content. Some U.S. states have laws restricting these sites, but enforcement is inconsistent.
Negative reviews on platforms like Yelp, Google Business, or Glassdoor are not covered. Even reviews that are factually inaccurate or defamatory require a separate legal or platform-specific process to challenge.
Social media content — whether your own past posts or content others have posted about you — requires working directly with the platform in question. Google can only de-index what it finds; it cannot remove content from Facebook, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), or TikTok.
Forum posts and comment threads — particularly on high-traffic platforms like Reddit — are frequently indexed, highly visible, and outside the scope of the removal tool unless they contain qualifying PII.
Outdated but still-indexed professional information, such as old company profiles, press releases, or directory listings that misrepresent your current status, also fall outside what this tool addresses.
When You Need Professional Help Beyond Google’s Tool
Google’s “Results About You” feature is genuinely useful for a narrow set of privacy concerns — specifically, removing qualifying personal contact information from search results. For anything beyond that scope, a different approach is required.
You may need professional assistance when the content damaging your reputation involves news coverage, reviews, forum discussions, or any material that doesn’t qualify under Google’s removal policies. Professional online reputation management (ORM) employs a fundamentally different set of strategies: creating and optimizing new, positive content to push negative results lower in search rankings; working directly with websites and publishers to request voluntary removal or amendments; pursuing legal avenues where content is demonstrably false or defamatory; and building a long-term digital presence that reflects the narrative you want associated with your name.
The “Results About You” tool operates reactively — it can remove specific indexed pages that contain qualifying information. ORM operates proactively and comprehensively, addressing the full landscape of what appears when someone searches your name or your business.
If you’re dealing with any of the following, Google’s tool alone will not be sufficient: a negative news article on the first page of search results; a pattern of fake or malicious reviews; exposure from a past legal matter that’s publicly documented; aggressive doxxing campaigns beyond simple address listings; or reputational damage to a business or professional brand.
How ReputaForge Can Help You With This
ReputaForge specializes in the cases where Google’s own tools reach their limits. We work with individuals and businesses facing reputation challenges that require more than a removal request — situations involving negative press, persistent data broker listings across dozens of sites, damaging review patterns, or complex legal and professional histories that appear prominently in search.
Our approach combines technical SEO strategy, content development, publisher outreach, and legal referral coordination where appropriate. Rather than relying on a single tool with a narrow scope, we build a customized strategy based on exactly what’s appearing in your search results and what your goals are.
If you’ve already used “Results About You” and found it didn’t solve your problem — or if the content affecting your reputation isn’t the type Google will touch — a consultation with our team can clarify what’s actually possible and what a realistic remediation plan looks like.
We don’t make promises about guaranteed removals, because no honest ORM provider can. What we can offer is a clear-eyed assessment of your situation and a structured approach to improving what people find when they search for you.
FAQs
Question1: Does “Results About You” remove content from the internet? No. It only removes URLs from appearing in Google Search results. The content remains on the original website and may still be accessible via direct URL or other search engines.
Question2: Can I use this tool to remove a negative news article? No. News articles, even unflattering ones, are not covered by Google’s removal policies unless they contain specific qualifying personal information such as your home address or ID documents in a context that constitutes a privacy violation.
Question3: How long does a Google removal request take? Google does not publish a fixed timeline, but the review process generally takes several days to a few weeks. You can monitor the status of each request in the “Results About You” dashboard.
Question4: What happens if my removal request is denied? Google will show a “Not approved” status. The content remains in search results. You can appeal the decision through the same interface, but approval is not guaranteed. If the content falls outside Google’s removal criteria, you’ll need to pursue other approaches — either contacting the source website directly or working with an ORM professional.
Question5: Does the tool work on all Google Search results? The tool is limited to personal contact information appearing on third-party websites. It does not apply to your own published content, business information, or content on Google’s own platforms (like Google Maps reviews), which have their own separate reporting mechanisms.
Question6: Will my information come back after it’s been removed? It can. If the original website updates or republishes the information, Google may reindex it. The “Results About You” monitoring feature is designed to alert you when this happens so you can submit a new request.
Question7: Can I remove information about someone else using this tool? The tool is designed for you to manage your own information. Google has separate processes for reporting privacy violations on behalf of others, such as a minor or a vulnerable person.
Question8: Is “Results About You” available everywhere?
The tool is available in most regions, though specific features and removal criteria may vary depending on local privacy laws. Google’s removals related to the “Right to Be Forgotten” under European GDPR, for example, operate under a separate framework.
If you’re navigating a situation where Google’s tool hasn’t provided the results you need, ReputaForge offers free initial consultations to help you understand your options. What appears in search results about you matters — and in many cases, more can be done than most people realize.
