Outdated Google search results can be frustrating, and many are unaware that a tool exists to help remove content that is outdated or has been deleted, which includes the following:
- A page has been deleted or removed but still shows in Google search
- A page has been modified, but Google is still showing outdated info
- An image has been removed, but still appears in Google’s Images results
Google’s Outdated Content Tool may be used for Google snippets (or meta descriptions), images, personal information, or otherwise content that has already been deleted or removed.
Note: This tool only works for pages or images that have already been modified or removed from the web, and using this tool for purposes outside of this may violate Google’s Guidelines.
How to Request Removal of Outdated Content
There are 2 options to request the removal of outdated content. If you own the domain, use option #2 below.
Option #1: No Domain Ownership
If you do not own the domain, (such as removed Reddit content for policy violations), follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the tool: https://search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content
Step 2: Select the most appropriate option (this must be first option)
Note: Only the first option can be used, and selecting the other three will result in other proposed solutions.
Step 3: Enter the webpage or image URL
Step 4: Once the URL has been entered, validate that it’s correct and then Submit the request.
Once you’ve submitted a request, Google will show a status regarding the request. This will show whether the request has been approved or denied, along with reason (if denied).
If your request is approved:
- For URLs that have changed, Google will remove the outdated snippet (and update it)
- The result will be refreshed or removed from Google Search / Images results
- For deleted URLs, the entire result will be removed
Possible statuses are as follows:
- Pending: Request is still being reviewed
- Approved: Google has removed or refreshed the result as requested
- Denied: This generally means the content still exists, was already deleted, or the tool was not used properly
- Expired: Request was approved but time since the request has exceeded 180 days
- Cancelled: A site owner canceled the request
Option #2: Domain Ownership (GSC Method)
To remove or request an update for webpage on a domain that you own, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the tool: https://search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content
Step 2: Select the second option
Step 3: Determine the best option to use in Google Search Console
From here, you can either choose to select the Temporary Removals option, OR use Google’s URL inspection tool. The URL inspection is generally recommended and is detailed below.
Enter the URL of the content needing updated or refreshed here…
Once the URL has been entered, you’ll be able to submit a new indexation request.
This can be used to force Google to re-crawl the webpage after a page has been changed or modified. By viewing the Page indexing tab, you can view when the page was last crawled as seen below.
Next Steps After The Removal Request
Once the content has been reporting using the appropriate method, be sure to check on the status. Generally, Google will process the update within 24-72 hours depending on their request volume. If unsuccessful, you may consider help with content removal from a trusted provider.
