How to Remove Your Info From People Search Sites (2026)

You can remove your personal information from most people search sites for free by submitting an opt-out request on each site. The process takes 5 to 15 minutes per site, and removals usually go through within 24 to 72 hours. The catch: your data can reappear after a few months, so you need to check back.

• Cost: free on every major people search site
• Time per site: 5 to 15 minutes
• Removal speed: 24 to 72 hours on most sites
• Re-listing risk: data can come back every 3 to 6 months
• Sites to check: at least 10 major ones listed below

How do you remove yourself from people search sites?

Every people search site has an opt-out page, though they don't make it easy to find. The steps are similar across all of them:

1. Search for yourself. Go to the site and look up your name, phone number or address. Find the listing that matches you. If you have a common name, add your city or state to narrow results. Some sites list multiple profiles, so check each one.
2. Open the opt-out page. Look for a link labeled "opt out," "do not sell my info" or "remove my listing." It's usually buried in the footer or privacy policy. Some sites hide it behind multiple clicks. If you can't find it, try searching "[site name] opt out" in Google, which often surfaces the direct link.
3. Verify your identity. Most sites send a confirmation email or text. Click the link to prove you're the person in the listing. Check your spam folder if the email doesn't arrive within 10 minutes. Some sites like Radaris require a phone call instead of an email.
4. Submit and save proof. Screenshot or save the confirmation page. You'll need it if the listing comes back. Store screenshots in a dedicated folder so you can reference them during quarterly re-checks.

The opt-out process is similar on most people search sites.

Which people search sites have your information?

Your data is likely on more sites than you think. Here are the major ones to check, with direct links to their opt-out pages:

Each site has a different opt-out process. Some let you paste a profile URL. Others require an email or phone number. A few make you call a phone number or send a written request. The table above covers the most popular sites, but there are dozens of smaller ones like MyLife, PeekYou, Pipl and ZabaSearch that may also list your data.

Step-by-step removal for some of the biggest sites: how to remove yourself from Whitepages. For Spokeo, see the opt-out section in our Spokeo review.

How do you remove personal info from Google?

Google is not a people search site, but it indexes them. Two ways to get your info out of Google results:

1. Remove it at the source. When you opt out of a people search site, Google drops that page from results within a few weeks once it re-crawls the site.
2. Request removal directly from Google. Google's "Results about you" tool (available through your Google account) lets you request removal of results that show your phone number, email or home address. Google reviews each request and removes qualifying results, usually within days. You can also use their content removal request form for specific URLs.

Removing your name from Google search results doesn't delete the underlying data. The source site still has your information until you opt out there too.

One thing to note: Google's "Results about you" tool only works for results that show your personal contact information. It won't remove news articles, social media profiles or court records. For those, you need to contact the source site directly or use Google's broader content removal request form.

How long does it take for your info to be removed?

Most people search sites process opt-out requests within 24 to 72 hours. Some specifics:

• Whitepages and FastPeopleSearch: usually within 24 hours
• Spokeo and BeenVerified: 24 to 48 hours
• Radaris: can take up to 72 hours or more
• Google search results: days to weeks after the source page is removed or updated

If your listing hasn't been removed after 72 hours, try submitting the request again. Some sites require you to click a second confirmation email that's easy to miss in your spam folder.

Keep in mind that removal from a people search site and removal from Google search results are two separate things. Even after a site processes your opt-out, Google may still show a cached version of your listing for several weeks until it re-crawls the page. You can speed this up by requesting removal through Google Search Console or the "Results about you" tool.

Key numbers: how many sites, how fast they remove, and how often data returns.

Can removed information come back?

Yes, and it usually does. People search sites pull data from public records, data brokers and other aggregators on a rolling basis. When a site re-imports its data, your listing can reappear even after a successful opt-out.

How quickly data comes back depends on the site. Some re-list within 3 months, others take 6 months or longer. There's no way to prevent it permanently on most sites because new data imports overwrite your opt-out.

This is the main reason paid removal services exist. Companies like DeleteMe and Kanary submit opt-out requests on your behalf and repeat them every few months. Whether that's worth the cost depends on how much your privacy matters to you and how many sites list your data.

Some people find that their data comes back faster on certain sites. Spokeo and Radaris are known for re-listing within 2 to 3 months, while Whitepages and FastPeopleSearch tend to stay clean for closer to 6 months. Keeping a spreadsheet of when you submitted each opt-out helps you plan your re-check schedule.

How do you stop your info from appearing again?

You can't fully prevent re-listing, but you can reduce how much data is available about you:

• Set calendar reminders. Check each site every 3 months and re-submit opt-outs as needed.
• Freeze your credit. This stops new accounts from being opened in your name and limits some data broker activity. The FTC explains the process in their credit freeze guide.
• Use a PO Box or virtual address. Keep your real home address out of new records.
• Limit what you share online. Social media profiles, public voter records and property filings are common data sources.
• Run a search on yourself. Deepscanner checks public records, social profiles and the web in one search, so you can see what's still out there after your removal requests go through.

Deepscanner is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Do not use it to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, insurance or tenant screening.