How Do I Remove Spammy Backlinks?

Not all backlinks help your website. While strong backlinks can improve your rankings, low-quality or spammy links can sometimes cause issues if there’s a clear pattern.

Disavowing backlinks tells Google, “Ignore these links—they don’t represent my site.”

This guide walks you through when it actually makes sense to disavow backlinks and how to do it safely.

What Are Backlinks (and Why They Matter)?

Backlinks are links from other websites pointing to yours.

Think of them as signals of trust. When a credible site links to you, it tells Google your content is worth showing in search results.

More high-quality backlinks can lead to:

• Better rankings in Google

• Increased traffic

• More visibility in AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude

Good vs. Risky Backlinks

Natural (Good) Backlinks
These happen when other websites link to your content because it’s helpful or relevant.

Unnatural (Risky) Backlinks
These are usually:

• Paid links

• Links from spammy or irrelevant sites

• Links built only to manipulate rankings

Too many of these can create problems over time.

Do You Actually Need to Disavow?

In many cases, the answer is no.

Google is designed to ignore most low-quality backlinks automatically. Disavowing is typically only needed if:

• You’ve built spammy links in the past

• You see a clear drop in rankings tied to backlinks

• You’ve received a manual action from Google

If your traffic and rankings are stable, it’s usually best to leave things alone.

Step 1: Identify Potentially Harmful Backlinks

Start in Google Search Console:

• Go to Links

• Export your external backlinks

Then review your links using a tool like Moz or similar.

What to look for:

• Links from unrelated or low-quality sites (gambling, adult, etc.)

• Repetitive, keyword-heavy anchor text

• Links from spammy directories or comment sections

Use tools as a guide, but don’t rely on scores alone. Context matters more than any number.

Step 2: Build Your Disavow List

• Open your exported file in Excel or Google Sheets

• Flag domains or URLs that look clearly harmful

• Focus on patterns, not one-off links

In most cases, it’s better to disavow entire domains rather than individual URLs.

Create a clean list of only the links you want Google to ignore.

Step 3: Format Your Disavow File

Use a simple text file (.txt):

• One domain or URL per line

• Use domain: for entire domains

Example:

Step 4: Submit to Google

• Go to the Google Disavow Tool

• Upload your file

• Confirm submission

Google will begin ignoring those links over time.

Before You Disavow

Disavowing is powerful, but it’s easy to overdo.

Keep in mind:

• Google already ignores many low-quality links

• Removing good backlinks can hurt your rankings

• Most sites don’t need to disavow anything

If you’re unsure, it’s better to review carefully before taking action.

Want Help Reviewing Your Backlinks?

If you’re a Pro member, you don’t have to figure this out alone.

You can join diibLive Office Hours to:

• Ask questions about your backlinks in real time

• Get help deciding what to disavow (and what to keep)

• Walk through your backlink profile with a Growth Expert

Not a Pro yet? Upgrading gives you access to live sessions, deeper insights, and expert guidance so you can make the right call before making changes.

Backlinks are a key part of SEO, but quality matters more than quantity.

Before disavowing anything:

• Look for clear patterns of harmful links

• Don’t panic over a few random backlinks

• When in doubt, get a second opinion

Managing your backlinks carefully helps protect your rankings and keeps your site moving in the right direction.