Use the decision notice and current source state before choosing a next action. Resubmission is justified only when a correctable submission error or new material evidence changes the request.
| Problem | Possible cause | Verification | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Request rejected | Category mismatch, information not about requester, requester controls it, public-interest assessment, missing policy element, or insufficient evidence | Read the stated reason; compare URL and facts with the selected criterion | Correct a demonstrable error or add new evidence; otherwise use the source/platform or applicable legal route |
| Source URL is inaccessible | Paywall, login, temporary error, block, deletion, or wrong URL | Test without changing evidence; record response/date; compare Search result | Paywalled personal info can use the detailed form; if deleted/changed, use outdated refresh; if wrong, correct the URL |
| Incorrect URL submitted | Homepage, Search URL, redirect, or unrelated page supplied instead of the content URL | Open the submitted string and compare with evidence | Obtain the specific page/image URL and submit the corrected URL with the existing case context |
| Page content changed | Owner edited or removed the information after submission | Compare current source with dated evidence | If information is gone but Search is stale, use outdated refresh; do not keep asserting it is live |
| Google shows an old snippet | Search preview has not caught up with source | Confirm the text is absent from the live page | Submit a Refresh Outdated Content request |
| Content remains on original website | Search removal does not delete source content | Open the source directly | Contact the website owner/platform; treat Search and source actions separately |
| Multiple URLs expose the same information | Only submitted URLs are reviewed; duplicates or mirrors have distinct addresses | Build a deduplicated URL inventory | Submit each specific relevant URL in the supported form; track each outcome separately |
| Limited or partial removal | Google applied query-based removal or another scoped decision | Read the notice and test the stated name/identifier query | Record scope accurately; pursue source removal or a separate applicable legal route if needed |
| Missing or ambiguous request status | Wrong account/email, unverified email, spam filtering, or route has no account dashboard | Check confirmation, request ID, account, spam folder, and form instructions | Verify email if requested; use the original confirmation channel; avoid unsupported duplicate submissions |
| No Remove result option | Feature unavailable or Google treats the source as valuable to the public | Check Results about you availability and source type | Use the detailed form only when an applicable policy category can be stated |
| Doxxing branch does not fit | Personal data appears without the stated threat/call/aggregation circumstance | Compare evidence with doxxing criteria | Use the ordinary private-information category if applicable; do not manufacture intent |
| Approved result still visible | Processing delay, different URL, different query scope, or source/result mismatch | Compare URL, query, status, and decision scope; Google notes a possible few-hour delay after Results about you approval | Recheck after the stated processing period; report only a verified mismatch |
Rejection review procedure
- Copy the decision reason into the case log without altering its meaning.
- Identify whether the issue is eligibility, evidence, URL accuracy, requester authority, route selection, or review scope.
- Re-open the source and controlling policy.
- Choose one justified action from the table.
- If resubmitting, state what is corrected or newly supported and preserve the prior request identifier.
Related documentation
Official references
- Remove web results from Google Search
- Remove my private info from Google Search
- Refresh outdated content
- Personal-content removal request form
Policy review record
- Last policy review: 2026-10-17
- Documentation version: 1.0.0