Remove yourself from Spokeo: steps, timeline, and what comes back (2026)

By Delist Editorial Team · Updated September 7, 2026 · Corrections

Most relevant if this is you: Privacy for families

What is Spokeo?

People search engine founded in 2006 that aggregates publicly available information from phone books, social networks, marketing surveys, real estate listings, and other public sources. Indexes 13+ billion public records.

Spokeo's particular danger is the surfacing of information most people do not realize is publicly available. A single search reveals your home address, the names of your family members, and your approximate age. All without any verification of who is searching, or why.

What data Spokeo has on you

A Spokeo profile can include a surprisingly detailed picture of your life. Here is what they typically display:

• full name and aliases
• phone numbers, landline and mobile, sourced from commercial providers and public records
• email addresses, often going back 10 to 20 years
• current and past addresses, often going back 10 to 20 years
• family members and associates
• social media profiles (120+ networks), across major platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram
• dating site profiles, detected across dating platforms
• education history
• employment and estimated income, estimated from occupation, property, and demographic models
• property records, ownership, estimated value, and neighborhood data
• marital status
• age and birth information
• criminal records, arrests, convictions, and court filings where available
• neighbors and household members

Not every profile contains all categories. Depth depends on what public records exist in your jurisdiction and how much commercial data has been linked to your identity. For most adults with any public record history, Spokeo has enough to paint a detailed picture.

Prefer it handled for you? Delist finds your Spokeo listing, files the opt-out, and re-checks that it stays down — start with a free scan.

How to opt out of Spokeo: step by step

1. Search for your name at spokeo.com and locate your profile listing
2. Copy the full URL of your specific profile from the address bar
3. Navigate to spokeo.com/optout
4. Paste your profile URL into the URL field
5. Enter a valid email address
6. Complete the reCAPTCHA verification
7. Click 'Remove This Listing'
8. Check your email for a confirmation from noreply@spokeo.com
9. Click the confirmation link within 72 hours to finalize removal
10. Repeat for each additional profile URL if you have multiple listings

How long does Spokeo removal take?

Spokeo does not publish a guaranteed processing time. Recheck the listing after confirming the request by email, and contact Spokeo if the same listing remains available.

The catch: your data comes back

The most important thing to understand about Spokeo removal: it is temporary.

Spokeo can receive updated public-record and partner data after an opt-out. Recheck periodically and submit another request if a new listing appears.

Data can return after an opt-out if the broker later ingests a new record. Whether and when that happens varies by company and source. Periodic checks can catch re-listings; a monitoring service can re-file when supported.

What Spokeo's opt-out does not cover

• Other brokers are not affected. Removing yourself from Spokeo does nothing to the dozens of other people-search sites where your data is exposed. Each requires its own opt-out.
• Cached copies may persist. Google and other search engines may cache your Spokeo profile for days or weeks after it is removed. Use Google's content removal tool to request de-indexing.
• Multiple profiles may exist. If you have lived in multiple states, changed your name, or have multiple phone numbers, Spokeo may have built separate profiles for each variation. Search and opt out of each.

Tips for a successful opt-out

Use a dedicated email. Use an alias or a separate account for removal requests. Keeps your primary inbox out of Spokeo's system and keeps confirmation emails organized.

Search every angle. Do not just search by name. Try phone number and email too. You may have more than one listing.

Set a calendar reminder. Your data can return if the broker ingests new source records. Set a recurring reminder to re-check and re-submit. Tedious but necessary if you are doing this manually.

Document the request. Screenshot the confirmation page and save the confirmation email. Useful if you ever need to prove you requested removal.

Frequently asked questions