How To DeIndex a Page From Google: A Detailed Guide

Google is currently considered as significant as God among netizens of the world.

We rely on this search engine for every trivial or substantial doubt or information we seek. However, when Google gets too good at its job, it can mean trouble for many individuals. It is known that everything we are searching for or browsing through gets stored as data by Google.

Online privacy has become a concern for many as unauthorized personal data, images, videos, etc., are showing up on Google.

Due to this reason, we now have the option to de-index a page to remove content online from Google search. This article is a guide on how to de-index Google articles.

What is De-indexing on Google?

First things first, what is de-indexing Google? Businesses are constantly worried that their pages will get indexed, which means they might get associated with fake news or comments that can damage their image online.

De Indexing Google refers to removing a URL already indexed and listed in search results.

After Google approves the request for de-indexing and removes the content from its index, it will refer to the link as de-indexed.

Google excels at everything it does, including indexing. As a result, it frequently displays certain pages or articles in searches where they are supposed to appear elsewhere.

For example, a business's 'thank you' page might appear in the search result due to indexing. Companies often design so that one action points the viewers toward the next. In the beginning, viewing the 'thank you page can prevent the website from marketing and making sales.

What is the solution? Google has come up with a process to de-index Google pages.

De-indexing entails the removal of an already indexed URL from the listed search results. For this, you must request de-indexing, and only when the request is accepted is the content removed. Where does this data go, then?

It does not disappear. It merely gets pushed back to what we know as the Dark Web. Here, only those who possess the URL can access the webpage.

How to de-index information on Google?

There are four easy ways to de-index Google information.

Delete content you own

One of the easiest ways to eliminate unnecessary data that got indexed is by removing or deleting content from your page. An example of this is the sample page that most businesses have, which is an irrelevant, low-grade web page that need to be ranked on Google. Hence, you remove such a page. Once you remove negative search results from Google, it will show the message ‘404 Not Found Page'.

Mark the page as Noindex.

No-index is another effective way to de-index Google pages. No-index is useful when there are meaningless pages, and you do not want them to be indexed, but they are still of some value for your website. An example of this is the 'Thank You' page. You can use a no-index meta tag to inform Google that you do not want that page indexed, and Google shall abide.

<meta name="robots" content="noindex">

Using the no-index meta tag requires some coding and professional knowledge of web page development. Indeed, as a business, you will have experts responsible for such a thing.

Issue duplicate content

Duplicate content is when a single piece of content is on various parts of the internet and can be accessed using multiple URLs. Content is usually duplicated without your knowledge and can prove detrimental. However, once you find out the location of the duplicate content, you can de-index it. 

URL Removal Tool

One can use an URL removal tool to de-index Google web pages. While this is effective, it must be your last resort. Using this tool will hide your data for some time and is a temporary solution. Nevertheless, this method can be advantageous during emergencies like data leakage, security issues, etc.

Using this tool, you can hide the page within a day. You can access the Google removal tool, and the steps are easy to follow.

How to check if the URL has been de-indexed?

You have de-indexed the web pages and want to confirm your success. How can you check if the URL has been de-indexed? There are two primary ways of doing this:

Check-in Google manually

The easiest way to check whether a web page has been de-indexed is to manually check on Google by typing site:yoursite.com. You will get a list of the indexed pages and can check if a particular page is on the list.

Check in the Google Search Console

The second way is to check in the Google Search Console. Search for the URL in the upper menu and verify if it appears under indexed pages. If Google has indexed the page, you will receive the message "URL is on Google." Conversely, if the page has been de-indexed, the message displayed will be "URL is not on Google."

Frequently Asked Questions about DeIndexing

How do I remove my name from Google search for free?

Free removal is a question that concerns most people in the present times. The internet has created a situation where data is everywhere, and anybody can use or misuse it. The most sure-shot way to remove your name from the internet is to delete all your social media accounts or create one with a fake username and all irrelevant information. Copyright laws can protect you to a certain extent.

Why should businesses de-index meaningless pages?

The simple answer is to prevent traffic from pausing on the page. Customers viewing a page follow specific directions on the page to navigate it. However, the company's reputation can suffer if Google indexes empty web pages and show those in the search list.

Summing Up

Data is the most valuable possession of individuals, private companies, and the government. It gives power to the one who possesses it. De-indexing is a method individuals and businesses use alike to remove web pages that might have become indexed. 

The best way to achieve a successful de-index on Google is to hire a professional online reputation management service. We can help!