The Complete Guide to Deleting Yourself From People Search Websites

You searched for your own name online, and your stomach dropped. There it is: your home address, your phone number, your age, even your estimated income—all organized neatly by a people search site. Don't panic. You can get this data removed, and it's a lot simpler than most people think.

Why You Should Care

People search websites collect public records and sell access. They're not breaking any laws, but they're making your private information far too easy to find. Recruiters, ex-partners, scam artists, or anyone with a grudge can access your details in seconds. Removing yourself is one of the most effective ways to reduce your digital footprint.

The Big Players and How to Opt-Out

Most people search sites offer opt-out processes. They're intentionally tedious, but they work. Here are the sites that matter and the steps for each.

Spokeo

1. Go to Spokeo's opt-out page (search "Spokeo opt out").
2. Enter your email address and the profile URL of your listing.
3. Spokeo sends a confirmation link to your email. Click it.
4. Wait 24–48 hours for removal.

Tip: You can find your profile URL by searching your name on Spokeo first.

Whitepages

1. Navigate to Whitepages' opt-out page.
2. Enter your phone number or address to locate your listing.
3. Verify via email or text.
4. Confirm the removal request.

BeenVerified

1. Go to BeenVerified's opt-out page.
2. Enter your email and the URL from your BeenVerified profile.
3. Check your inbox and click the confirmation link.
4. Removal typically takes a few days.

Intelius

1. Visit Intelius' opt-out page.
2. Search for your listing and select "Remove This Record."
3. Complete a reCAPTCHA and submit your email.
4. Confirm via email.

MyLife

1. Go to MyLife's opt-out page.
2. Create a free account to claim your profile.
3. Use the dashboard to set your privacy to private.
4. Submit a removal request for the public-facing profile.

What About Smaller Sites?

There are dozens of lesser-known people search sites. Many copy data from the big ones. Once you remove yourself from major databases like Spokeo or Intelius, smaller sites often auto-purge your info within a few weeks.

For the holdouts, repeat the pattern: find the site's privacy policy, look for an opt-out link, follow the verification steps.

A Note on Data Brokers

Data brokers like Acxiom and Epsilon don't publish your info publicly but sell it to companies. They still have opt-out processes. Search for "[broker name] opt out" and follow their instructions. It's worth doing because these groups feed data to people search sites.

Automatic Removal Services

If manual removal sounds exhausting, services like DeleteMe, Kanary, or OneRep handle the grunt work. You pay a fee (around $10–$20/month), and they submit opt-out requests on your behalf across dozens of sites. They're not magic—removals can take a month—but they're effective for people who don't want to manage 50+ opt-out pages.

What to Do After Removal

1. Set a calendar reminder. People search sites update their databases monthly. You'll need to re-opt-out every 6–12 months.
2. Search your full name in quotes monthly to catch new listings.
3. Lock your credit reports with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This blocks new account openings in your name.
4. Remove your phone number from public directories. Check sites like 411.com or AnyWho.

A Reality Check

You cannot disappear entirely. Public records like property deeds and court filings are permanent. But you can make yourself very hard to find—hard enough that most casual searchers give up.

Start with one site this afternoon. By next week, you'll already be harder to track.