How to Opt Out of Spokeo: Complete Removal Guide

Why Remove Your Information from Spokeo?

Spokeo is one of the largest people search websites on the internet, aggregating personal data from public records, social media, and various online sources. The site creates detailed profiles that can include your name, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, relatives' names, social media accounts, and even criminal records.

Having your information on Spokeo creates several risks. Bad actors can use this data for harassment, doxxing, cyberstalking, scams, and identity theft. Even if you don't have anything to hide, you likely don't want strangers accessing your home address, family members' names, or employment history with a simple search.

The good news? Spokeo offers a free opt-out process. The bad news? They don't make it easy to find, and your data may reappear after removal. This guide will walk you through exactly how to remove your information and what to do if it comes back.

Step-by-Step: How to Opt Out of Spokeo

Follow these steps carefully to remove your listing from Spokeo's database:

Step 1: Find Your Spokeo Profile URL

Before you can opt out, you need to locate your profile on Spokeo. Here's how:

• Go to Spokeo.com
• Enter your name in the search bar and click "Search now"
• Scroll through the results to find your profile (use filters like location if needed)
• Click on your name or "See results" to open your profile
• Copy the complete URL from your browser's address bar

Pro tip: Don't use Spokeo's standard search from their homepage—it can take several minutes to load. Instead, go directly to their search results page or use Google to search "site:spokeo.com [your name]" for faster results.

Step 2: Navigate to the Opt-Out Page

Spokeo intentionally makes this difficult to find. You have two options:

• Go directly to spokeo.com/optout
• Scroll to the bottom of any Spokeo page and click "Do Not Sell My Info"

On the opt-out page, look for the section titled "Opt Out Your Listing from Spokeo" in the middle of the page.

Step 3: Submit Your Opt-Out Request

Now complete the removal form:

• Paste the URL of your profile into the designated field
• Enter your email address (use a disposable or alias email if you're concerned about privacy)
• Complete the reCAPTCHA verification ("I'm not a robot")
• Click the "Opt Out" button

Step 4: Verify Your Email

Check your inbox for a confirmation email from Spokeo. Click the verification link at the bottom of the email to complete your opt-out request. Without this step, your removal won't be processed.

Step 5: Wait for Processing

Spokeo typically processes opt-out requests within 24-72 hours. Your data may stay visible on the website for up to 10 days after your request is completed. Come back and search for your profile again to confirm removal.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

The Spokeo opt-out process doesn't always go smoothly. Here's how to handle the most common problems:

Error Messages When Submitting

If you see an error message when trying to submit your opt-out request, try using an Incognito or Private browsing window. Ad blockers can also interfere with the process—temporarily disable them if you're having trouble.

Can't Access Your Profile URL

Sometimes Spokeo requires payment or a trial subscription to view full profile URLs. If you're stuck behind a paywall, contact Spokeo's customer service directly at [email protected] or call 1-888-271-9562 (available 5 AM-8 PM PT daily). Explain that you need help with an opt-out request, and they should be able to assist.

Live Chat Issues

If you need to use Spokeo's live chat for assistance, note that the "Get Help Now" button won't work with ad blockers enabled. Turn off your ad blocker first, then access their customer care page.

Multiple Listings

Your information may appear in multiple listings on Spokeo, each with a unique URL. Unfortunately, you'll need to submit a separate opt-out request for each one. Search for variations of your name and check different locations if you've moved.

What Happens After You Opt Out

Successfully opting out removes your listing from Spokeo's public search results. However, there are important limitations to understand:

Your Data May Reappear

Spokeo continuously updates its database with new public records. This means your information could reappear on the site weeks or months after removal—without any notice to you. To maintain your privacy, you'll need to periodically check Spokeo and repeat the opt-out process when necessary.

Search Engine Caching

Even after Spokeo removes your profile, search engines like Google and Bing may still display cached versions of your page for days or weeks. To remove outdated content from Google, use their personal information removal tool. For Bing, submit removal requests through their webmaster tools.

Original Data Sources Remain

Opting out of Spokeo only removes your information from their website—it doesn't affect the original public records or other data brokers. Your information will likely still appear on dozens of other people search sites.

Alternative Removal Methods

If the online opt-out form isn't working for you, Spokeo offers other ways to request removal:

Email Request

Send an email to [email protected] with the following information:

• Your full name
• Date of birth
• Current and previous addresses
• The URL of the record you want removed

Note: Email requests may be less effective than the online form since they can end up in spam folders or get delayed.

Phone Request

Call Spokeo's customer service at 1-888-271-9562. Representatives are available 5 AM-8 PM Pacific Time, seven days a week. Be prepared to provide your personal details to locate your profile.

Court Records Exception

If you're trying to remove court records from Spokeo, be aware that these require a valid order of expungement. Submit your expungement order to [email protected] to request removal of these specific records.

Beyond Spokeo: Protecting Your Privacy

Spokeo is just one of hundreds of data broker sites exposing your personal information. Sites like Whitepages, BeenVerified, PeopleFinder, Intelius, Radaris, and TruthFinder all maintain similar databases.

Check Your Data Exposure

Want to see what personal information is publicly available about you across multiple sites? Our free Background Checker tool lets you run a comprehensive check and see what data brokers—and anyone else—can find about you online. It's a quick way to identify which sites you need to prioritize for removal requests.

Verify Contact Information

If you're concerned about the accuracy of contact information floating around on data broker sites, you can use our Email Verifier to check whether email addresses associated with your profiles are still active. This can help you understand which outdated accounts might be feeding data to sites like Spokeo.

Monitor Your Digital Footprint

Protecting your privacy is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. Since data brokers continuously refresh their databases, make it a habit to:

• Search for yourself on major people search sites quarterly
• Review your social media privacy settings regularly
• Limit the personal information you share publicly online
• Use privacy-focused tools when browsing and communicating

Professional vs. DIY Data Removal

Manually opting out of every data broker site takes significant time and effort. Each site has its own process, and you'll need to repeat these processes regularly as your data reappears.

For ongoing protection, you might consider automated data removal services that handle opt-out requests across hundreds of data broker sites. These services typically cost $100-200 per year and continuously monitor for new listings.

However, if you're just concerned about a few specific sites like Spokeo, the DIY approach outlined in this guide works perfectly well. The key is consistency—set a calendar reminder to check and re-opt-out every few months.

Final Thoughts

Removing your information from Spokeo is straightforward once you know where to look. The challenge isn't the process itself—it's the ongoing maintenance required to keep your data private.

Start with Spokeo since it's one of the most widely used people search sites, then work your way through other major data brokers using similar opt-out methods. Combined with smart privacy practices on social media and other platforms, you can significantly reduce your digital footprint and protect yourself from unwanted attention.

Before you start your opt-out journey, use our free Background Checker to see exactly what information is publicly available about you. Knowing your current exposure level helps you prioritize which sites to tackle first and measure your progress over time.