Need help to remove "toxic backlinks"
- Thread starter yokuso69
- Start date
- Sep 2, 2025
- 291
- 62
Try removing links manually by contacting webmasters, then use ‘Disavow File’ as last resort.
- Nov 2, 2008
- 59,085
- 26,608
use googles disavow options
- Aug 9, 2017
- 5,567
- 6,858
If you bought those links, then sure you can submit a disavow request if you feel the need. But if you have had no hand in the creation of those links I would not recommend a disavow submission - your domain will get ensnared in a heuristic that treats your backlinks as suspicious.
Thomas SEO
BANNED
- Oct 29, 2025
- 539
- 106
Definitely use Disavow Tool in Google Search Console! Also check Ahrefs or SEMrush for toxic backlinks then reach out to webmasters to remove or disavow them.
- Dec 2, 2015
- 6,324
- 2,972
Disavow them
- Nov 7, 2025
- 360
- 91
Toxic links are usually handled not removed. Pull a full audit in Ahrefs/SEMrush isolate the bad ones and upload a clean disavow file. That’s the safest proven approach.
The best approach is to compile all of the malicious links and submit them using Google's disavow feature. After identifying the harmful ones using Ahrefs or Search Console, make a clean disavow file and submit it. It prevents Google from counting the links, but it won't delete them directly.
- Sep 9, 2023
- 3,018
- 1,797
Thanks for raising this. You’ve got a few options to clean up toxic links without making it a headache.
First, pull a full backlink audit with Ahrefs, Semrush or even Search Console. Export the toxic or spammy domains, verify they aren’t actually helping, and then build a clean disavow file. Upload that to Google Search Console and it usually does the job over time.
If the links come from hacked or auto-generated pages, you can also try reaching out to the webmasters, but honestly most of those never reply. Disavow is the fastest fix.
If you’re unsure which ones to disavow, feel free to share a sample and people here can guide you.
First, pull a full backlink audit with Ahrefs, Semrush or even Search Console. Export the toxic or spammy domains, verify they aren’t actually helping, and then build a clean disavow file. Upload that to Google Search Console and it usually does the job over time.
If the links come from hacked or auto-generated pages, you can also try reaching out to the webmasters, but honestly most of those never reply. Disavow is the fastest fix.
If you’re unsure which ones to disavow, feel free to share a sample and people here can guide you.
Online Growth Consulta
Newbie
- Dec 26, 2025
- 43
- 11
Before disavowing, make sure the links are actually harmful. Google usually ignores random spam links automatically. If you manually built or clearly see manipulative links, then audit them via Ahrefs/SEMrush and submit a clean domain-level disavow file in GSC. Disavow should always be the last step.
halo303
Newbie
- Jan 21, 2026
- 1
- 0
you can use a command like this and save the document as domainname.txt (You can see this using tools like ahrefs, if the backlink is indicated as spam)
sample
[#These are the domains which are affecting my website. I want to remove them. Thank you
#Here are the domains.
domain:domainname.com]
so on - then upload the file you have created into search.google.com/search-console/disavow-links if your domain uses search console
sample
[#These are the domains which are affecting my website. I want to remove them. Thank you
#Here are the domains.
domain:domainname.com]
so on - then upload the file you have created into search.google.com/search-console/disavow-links if your domain uses search console
- Jun 20, 2015
- 5,224
- 782
You need to identify the toxic links to remove it, use tools like GSC, SEMrush, Ahrefs to identify the toxic links. Then you can remove it manually or by submitting the links that you need disavow to google.