How to Remove Images from Google Search Results

William DiAntonio
September 11, 2025

Unwanted photos online can follow you everywhere–showing up in Google Search, damaging your reputation, and exposing private details.

Whether it’s an embarrassing post, an unprofessional photo, or sensitive personal content, leaving it visible puts your online privacy and credibility at risk.

The good news is you can take action. This guide shows you how to remove images from Google Search results, even when someone else posted them.

What Types of Images Should Be Removed?

Certain images can harm your privacy, safety, and reputation if they appear in search results. Removing them helps protect sensitive information, relationships, and career opportunities, while giving you control over your online presence.

Violence or graphic content – Photos of violent acts, accidents, or injuries that could cause distress or misrepresent someone.
Personal identifiers – Images showing home addresses, phone numbers, ID cards, or other sensitive personal info.
Defamatory or misleading images – Photos used to harass, embarrass, or falsely represent someone.
Financial or legal exposure – Images of credit cards, bank statements, or legal documents.
Child-related content – Any images of minors that are sensitive, exploitative, or private.
Medical or intimate health images – Photos revealing medical conditions, procedures, or private health data.
Explicit or sexual content – Non-consensual intimate images (revenge porn), sexually explicit content involving minors, or other private sexual content.
Unauthorized commercial use – Personal photos used in ads or promotions without consent.
Unprofessional photos - Any image that could harm your career or reputation, such as inappropriate party pictures, embarrassing social media posts, or outdated photos no longer reflecting who you are today.

Where Can Images Appear in Google?

Google has evolved to display images in many parts of its search ecosystem, meaning your photos can surface in more places than you might expect.

The dedicated image search tab at images.google.com
Users searching for keywords may see your images if they are indexed and relevant.

Thumbnail previews next to articles or webpages
Rich results / featured snippets (e.g., “How-to” articles with step images)

Google has evolved to display images in many parts of its search ecosystem, meaning your photos can surface in more places than you might expect.

Google Discover & Feed - Appears in mobile feeds personalized for users based on interest.
Google Knowledge Panels – For people, organizations, or places, images can appear in the panel on the right side of search results.
Google Shopping / Product Results – Product images can appear in shopping carousels and ads.
Google Maps / Local Search – Images associated with businesses, locations, or reviews can appear in map results.
Rich Media & Structured Data – If your page uses schema markup (like Product, Recipe, Article), Google can display images as rich results.
AI Overviews – AI Overviews aren’t just text—they can be visually enhanced through embedded images and interactive overlays like the bottom tray, making information richer and easier to explore—especially on visual or how-to queries.

Can You Get Google To Remove An Image Published On Another Site?

Yes — if an image meets Google’s removal policies, it can be hidden from search results even if it remains hosted on another website. While this doesn’t delete the file from the internet, removing it from Google ensures that the vast majority of people will never come across it.

5 Steps To Get Rid Of Pictures On Google

Removing photos from Google Images can either be straightforward, or more challenged. It all depends on whether you posted the pictures, or if someone else posted them.

Either way, follow these steps to remove pictures from google images:

1. Locate All Sources of the Image

To effectively remove photos from Google Search, you need to know everywhere it appears. Use these two methods to track it down:

Search with Keywords

Go to Google Images in an incognito window.

Type in your name in different variations: full name, nickname, initials.
Add extra details like your job title, city, or company to narrow results.
Scroll through and save the URLs of every image you want removed.

Do a Reverse Google Image Search

In Google Images, click the camera icon in the search bar.

Upload the photo file, or paste the image’s URL.
Google will show all websites where the picture appears.
Add these links to your list of URLs for removal.

2. Delete From Accounts You Control

If the image came from you, the fastest fix is to clean up your online profiles and delete it at the source. Go through every account where you’ve uploaded photos and remove them directly.

Social Media Accounts

Log in to all your profiles (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.).
Delete unwanted images and untag yourself from photos posted by others.
Set accounts to private so Google can’t crawl new or archived posts.

Personal Website or Blog

Log in to your CMS (WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, etc.).
Delete the image from both posts and the media library.

Even if you delete images, older versions may still appear on the Wayback Machine. Learn how to remove content from the Wayback Machine.

Regularly cleaning up your accounts keeps negative or outdated images from circulating in search results.

Step 3: Request Removal From the Site Owner

If the image is hosted on a site you don’t control, ask the webmaster to take it down:

Check the site’s Contact or About page for an email address or form.
If you don’t find anything, run a WHOIS lookup to locate the hosting provider’s contact details.
Send a clear, polite request that includes the exact URL of the image.

Sample Email Template

Subject: Request to Remove Image at [URL]

Hello [Site Owner’s Name],

I am contacting you regarding an image at [exact URL] that contains my personal/private content.

I kindly request that you remove this image from your website.

This content impacts my privacy and reputation, and I would appreciate your help in taking it down promptly.

Please confirm once the image has been removed.

Thank you for your time and cooperation.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[Your Contact Information]

4. Submit an Image Google Removal Request

If the site owner won’t remove the image, you can ask Google to take it out of search results. This doesn’t delete the file from the internet, but it does make sure people can’t see it when they search on Google.

When Google Will Remove an Image

Your request must meet one of these criteria:

Explicit or intimate personal images
Involuntary fake pornography or sexually abusive content
Pornography wrongly linked to your name
Personally identifiable information (PII) or doxxing content
Content on sites that charge for removal (“pay-to-remove”)
Images of minors (unless there’s public interest or news value)

Google will also act for legal reasons such as:

Copyright infringement (DMCA takedown)
Trademark violations
Court orders

How to File a Request

Go to the Google Removal Request page.
Select the reason that applies (privacy, explicit content, legal, etc.)
Provide the required details, including the exact image URLs.
Submit and wait for Google’s review.

If the request is approved, the photo will disappear from search results—though it may still exist on the hosting site.

5: Remove Outdated Images From Google

Sometimes deleted images still appear in Google Search because the index hasn’t been updated. Use the Outdated Content tool to speed up removal.

How to Use the Tool

Go to the Google Remove Outdated Content page.
Paste the URL of the deleted image.
Click Request Removal and follow the prompts.
Google will review and de-index it if the image is no longer live.

Here’s a quick overview of the 5 steps to remove an image from Google Search:

Step	Action	What to Do
1. Locate all sources	Find every place the image appears	Search Google Images with name variations and do a reverse image search to collect URLs.
2. Delete from accounts you control	Remove images you posted yourself	Clean up social media and personal websites or blogs.
3. Request removal from the site owner	Ask the webmaster or host to take it down	Use the site’s contact page or WHOIS info; send a polite removal email with the image URL.
4. Submit a Google removal request	File with Google if the image meets policy	Use Google’s removal request form for explicit, PII, minors, or pay-to-remove content.
5. Remove outdated images	Clear deleted images still showing in search	Use Google’s Outdated Content tool to de-index images that no longer exist online.

Need to Help Removing an Image from Google?

The professionals at Reputation911 can help you remove an unwanted image from search results.

What To Do When Google Image Removal Doesn’t Work

Sometimes Google won’t remove an image—either because it doesn’t meet policy, or the host refuses to take it down. When that happens, the next best option is search engine suppression.

Suppression pushes unwanted images off the first page of Google by publishing stronger, positive content that ranks above them. Since most people never click past page one, suppressed images lose almost all visibility.

1. Create a Personal Website

Owning a website gives you complete control over what shows up in search results. When properly optimized, it can outrank negative images.

Pick a domain name with your full name.
Write a detailed “About” page that includes your name and positive keywords.
Upload high-quality, professional images with descriptive file names, alt text, and captions.
Keep it fresh—update your site regularly with new photos and pages.

2. Launch a Blog

Regular blogging adds a steady flow of positive content tied to your name. Search engines reward consistent publishing, and your new posts help bury older results.

Use high-resolution images that match your blog topics.
Add keyword-rich alt text and filenames to each photo.
Mix in different types of visuals—photos, infographics, screenshots—for variety.
Place your strongest images near the top of posts to grab attention.
Guest blogging on other sites can extend your reach and build authority.

3. Build Professional Social Media Profiles

Social platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram rank well in Google. Filling them with professional images and updates helps crowd out unwanted ones.

Create new public profiles focused on your professional identity.
Complete each profile with your name, a short bio, and links to your website or blog.
Post new photos consistently and use descriptive alt text and captions.
Engage with comments to boost visibility.
For business owners: upload high-quality photos to your Google Business Profile and company pages.

By combining these efforts, you create a strong network of positive images and pages that search engines prefer. Over time, this buries unwanted results so they no longer appear on page one.

For more detailed strategies, see our full guide on burying negative Google search results.

Legal Options to Remove Images

If suppression isn’t enough—or the content violates your rights—legal remedies may apply. These options can compel removal of images that Google and site owners might not take down otherwise.

DMCA Takedown (Copyright Infringement)

If the image is yours (a photo you took, for example), you can file a DMCA takedown request to have it removed from Google and the host site.

Learn how to submit one in our Google DMCA Takedown guide.

Leaked or Intimate Images

For non-consensual, private, or explicit images, Google has strict removal policies. You may also have legal grounds to pursue removal and protect yourself.

See our full guide on removing leaked pictures.

Defamatory or Harassing Images

If the photo was posted to damage your reputation or spread lies, you may be able to request removal under defamation laws.

Learn your options in our guide to removing defamatory content.

Blackmail and Extortion

If someone is threatening to publish or share private photos unless you pay or comply, this is blackmail. It’s both illegal and a clear reason to pursue legal takedown options.

Read our advice on how to get rid of blackmailers.

The Impact an Unwanted Image Appearing in Google Has on Someone’s Reputation

If an unwanted or sensitive image remains on Google, it can significantly impact a person’s credibility and reputation in several ways:

Professional Reputation: Employers, clients, or colleagues may see the image, potentially questioning the person’s judgment, professionalism, or trustworthiness.
Social Perception: Friends, family, or the public might form negative opinions based on misleading, private, or embarrassing images.
Legal or Compliance Issues: Certain images (e.g., violating privacy, confidentiality, or company policies) could lead to legal scrutiny or compliance violations.
Online Harassment or Bullying: Persistent exposure can invite harassment, trolling, or cyberbullying, which can further damage credibility.
Loss of Opportunities: Job offers, partnerships, speaking engagements, or other opportunities may be withheld due to the image’s existence online.
Long-Term Digital Footprint: Even if the image is taken down later, cached or archived versions might persist, continuing to affect credibility.

In short, an image that seems minor can undermine trust, damage professional standing, and affect personal relationships if it remains visible in search results.

Final Thoughts: Removing Images From Google

Getting an image removed from Google Search isn’t always fast or simple, but it is possible. With the right steps—and sometimes legal or professional support—you can protect your privacy, reputation, and future opportunities.

Key takeaways:

Always start by locating every source where the image appears.
Delete photos from accounts you control, including social media and websites.
Contact site owners directly when the content is hosted elsewhere.
Use Google’s removal and outdated content tools when policies apply.
Suppression and legal options are available when removal alone doesn’t work.

You don’t have to handle this on your own. The team at Reputation911 specializes in content removal and suppression strategies to protect your name online. Contact us today to get expert help with removing images from Google.