{"id":18074,"date":"2025-09-12T23:10:22","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T21:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/disavow-tool-de-google-guia-de-como-desautorizar-backlinks\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T20:06:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T18:06:32","slug":"google-disavow-tool-guide-backlink-removal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/google-disavow-tool-guide-backlink-removal\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Disavow Tool: How to Remove Harmful Backlinks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||3px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]Doing a disavow, or <strong>disavowing links<\/strong>, is basically telling Google: \u201cthese backlinks don\u2019t count for my site.\u201d You manage it in the <a href=\"https:\/\/search.google.com\/search-console\/disavow-links\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disavow Links Tool<\/a>, which is linked to <strong>Google Search Console<\/strong>, by uploading a small file with the problematic URLs or domains for Google to ignore.<br \/>\nSo, when should you do it? Only in specific cases: if you have (or suspect) a <strong>manual action for unnatural links<\/strong>, or after trying to remove toxic links and it wasn\u2019t possible. It\u2019s not routine cleanup; using it carelessly can do more harm than good.<\/p>\n<h2>When should you use disavow?<\/h2>\n<p>Before you rush to \u201csweep\u201d your link profile, keep this in mind: the <strong>Disavow Tool<\/strong> isn\u2019t a magic button\u2014it\u2019s a <strong>surgical measure<\/strong>. Used well, it helps you tell Google \u201cignore this noise.\u201d Used poorly, you can cut valuable signals\u2014like <strong>jumping without a parachute<\/strong> in organic traffic.<\/p>\n<p>And, <strong>when does it make sense to add links to disavow?<\/strong> Here are the cases that truly matter:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dead links (broken links from third-party sites):<\/strong> they usually deflate on their own when Google recrawls, so they <strong>typically don\u2019t require disavow<\/strong>. Use it only if they come from <strong>spam patterns<\/strong> (shady networks) and keep resurfacing via clones or odd mirrors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Link farms \/ toxic links:<\/strong> domains created to link at scale, sites with no real content, inflated metrics, and reckless outbound linking. <strong>Here, yes: add them to the list.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>PBNs (private networks):<\/strong> if you detect a constellation of sites with the same footprint (templates, obfuscated WHOIS, shared hosting, unrelated topics) all pointing at you with \u201coptimized\u201d anchors, <strong>disavow by domain<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Black-hat attacks or \u201cnegative SEO\u201d:<\/strong> bursts of hundreds of junk links, unusual anchors, random languages, exotic TLDs\u2026 If you can\u2019t remove them at the source, <strong>disavow to cut the noise.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Hacked domains:<\/strong> injected pages linking to you from hidden sections\u2014casino, pills, XXX mixed with anything. <strong>Straight to disavow,<\/strong> preferably with <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Anchors you don\u2019t want:<\/strong> anchor text that <strong>doesn\u2019t match your editorial line<\/strong> (e.g., \u201conline betting\u201d pointing to a travel blog) or that tries to manipulate your search intent. If it comes from suspicious sites or can\u2019t be removed, <strong>disavow.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cuando-hacer-disavow.webp\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" alt=\"When to use disavow\" class=\"wp-image-18054 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cuando-hacer-disavow.webp 700w, https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cuando-hacer-disavow-480x274.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 700px, 100vw\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Disavow myths and risks<\/h2>\n<h3>Myths (what they don\u2019t tell you)<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Myth: \u201cDisavow is my spring cleaning.\u201d<\/strong> <strong>Reality:<\/strong> Google already <strong>ignores a lot of spam automatically<\/strong>. Using disavow as a routine is a waste of effort and, worse, you might remove valid links. Disavow isn\u2019t for sweeping \u201cjust in case\u201d; it\u2019s for specific, well-justified scenarios.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Myth: \u201cI got hit by a core update; I\u2019ll upload a disavow and bounce back.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Reality:<\/strong> Disavow <strong>doesn\u2019t fix algorithmic drops<\/strong> by itself or guarantee quick wins. Recovery depends on the <strong>entire context:<\/strong> content quality and focus, search intent, <strong>technical SEO<\/strong> (crawl, indexing, canonicals, speed), <strong>metadata<\/strong> (title\/description\/robots), internal linking, and authority signals. If that foundation is weak, disavow won\u2019t save you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Myth: \u201cI\u2019ll upload <span style=\"color: #339966;\">disavow.txt<\/span> today and rank higher tomorrow.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Reality:<\/strong> There are no shortcuts. Google needs <strong>weeks<\/strong> to recrawl and reprocess. And if you over-disavow, you cut signals that were helping; in other words, <strong>you can lose visibility.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Risks (what can happen)<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Risk: Overdoing it.<\/strong> Disavowing legitimate domains (out of panic or overzealousness) leaves you without natural references. <strong>Less is more:<\/strong> act with a scalpel, not an axe.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Risk: Misreading symptoms.<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cUgly\u201d links aren\u2019t always the main problem. Sometimes the hit comes from <strong>technical issues, poorly planned metadata<\/strong>, content misaligned with intent, or weak topical authority. If you don\u2019t fix that, disavow is a band-aid on a fracture.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Risk: Chasing ghosts.<\/strong> Many <strong>toxic links<\/strong> deflate on their own when Google recrawls. If there\u2019s no clear pattern (farms, PBNs, hacks, attacks), you might <strong>not need<\/strong> to touch the file.<\/p>\n<p>If you notice a drop, don\u2019t jump straight into the Disavow Tool: first run a <strong>full audit<\/strong> of technical SEO (crawl, indexing, Core Web Vitals), metadata, internal linking, among others, because the dip can come from many places\u2014including <strong>algorithm updates<\/strong>. The disavow tool is the <strong>last resort<\/strong> and only with evidence: <strong>after<\/strong> attempting link removals, use it to ask Google to <strong>ignore problematic backlinks<\/strong>; only then, decide carefully.<\/p>\n<h2>How to assess whether you really need to disavow links<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Como-evaluar-si-realmente-necesitas-desautorizar-enlaces.webp\" width=\"700\" height=\"450\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18056 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Como-evaluar-si-realmente-necesitas-desautorizar-enlaces.webp 700w, https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Como-evaluar-si-realmente-necesitas-desautorizar-enlaces-480x309.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 700px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Red flags<\/h3>\n<p>Per Google\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/webmasters\/answer\/2648487\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">support docs<\/a>, you should primarily use disavow when there\u2019s a manual action for artificial links in Search Console.<\/p>\n<p>Spikes in low-quality links, obvious link-farm patterns, sitewide footer links, manipulated anchors, hacked domains\u2014ideally, back this up with backlink audits across multiple SEO tools.<\/p>\n<h3>Where to audit<\/h3>\n<p>In the <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/webmasters\/answer\/9049606\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Links report<\/a> in Google Search Console: open \u201cLinks\u201d in the Search Console sidebar. You\u2019ll see external links (top linked pages, top linking sites, most frequent link text) and internal links. Click \u201cMore\u201d to view the full list in each block.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What to check right there (without leaving GSC):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Top linking sites:<\/strong> spot odd domains, exotic <strong>Top Level Domains<\/strong>, irrelevant languages, or sudden spikes. Drill into each domain to see which pages link to you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Most frequent link text (anchors):<\/strong> catch suspicious anchors (casino\/pills\/XXX, repeated exact-match, spam). If a strange anchor spikes, flag it for audit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Export the available files and, with those CSVs, create simple filters: \u201cdomain contains words X,\u201d suspicious Top Level Domains, \u201cmany sitewide links to a single page.\u201d This alone isn\u2019t enough to decide, but it gives you a first map.<\/p>\n<p>In SEO tools like Ahrefs, you can play with filters and signals to prioritize what to review. Note: <strong>\u201ctoxic\u201d scores and labels are directional, not a verdict<\/strong>; use them to prioritize\u2014not to automate disavows. In Ahrefs you could:<\/p>\n<h3>1) Quick profile snapshot<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Auditoria-de-backlinks.webp\" width=\"700\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Backlink audit\" class=\"wp-image-18058 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Auditoria-de-backlinks.webp 700w, https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Auditoria-de-backlinks-480x309.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 700px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Site Explorer \u2192 Referring domains \/ Backlinks<\/strong><br \/>\nStart with <strong>Referring domains<\/strong> and sort by <strong>ascending DR<\/strong>; look for domains with <strong>0 traffic<\/strong> to your site and odd patterns (many links in a short time, incongruent topics). Then go to <strong>Backlinks<\/strong> with <strong>\u201cOne link per domain\u201d<\/strong> to reduce noise.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Anchors<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Site Explorer \u2192 Anchors<\/strong> to spot out-of-place anchors (e.g., \u201cpoker,\u201d \u201ccasino,\u201d \u201cviagra\u201d) or blatant manipulation. If it lines up with an organic drop or link bursts, prepare candidates for outreach or, if removal isn\u2019t feasible, for disavow.<\/p>\n<h3>2) Useful filters (common cases)<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Filtros-utiles-para-analizar-backlinks.webp\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" alt=\"Useful filters to analyze backlinks\" class=\"wp-image-18060 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Filtros-utiles-para-analizar-backlinks.webp 700w, https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Filtros-utiles-para-analizar-backlinks-480x274.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 700px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>PBN \/ farms:<\/strong> very low DR + disconnected topics + repeated template\/footprint patterns. Prioritize <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span> if the entire site looks bad.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Black-hat attacks \/ bursts:<\/strong> sort by <strong>First seen<\/strong> and date to spot bursts. Cross-check with suspicious anchors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Footer sitewide:<\/strong> in Backlinks, keep <strong>One link per domain<\/strong> to avoid inflating these cases; review the source page before deciding\u2014footer links often send many links from one domain over a short period.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3) Export and prepare your list<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Exportar-y-preparar-tu-lista-para-disavow.webp\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" alt=\"Export and prepare your list for disavow\" class=\"wp-image-18062 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Exportar-y-preparar-tu-lista-para-disavow.webp 700w, https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Exportar-y-preparar-tu-lista-para-disavow-480x274.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 700px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Export<\/strong> from Backlinks\/Referring domains (<strong>CSV<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<li>Manually review samples from each flagged domain (not everything \u201cweird\u201d is bad).<\/li>\n<li>Build your <span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>disavow.txt<\/strong><\/span>: use <strong>URLs<\/strong> if the site is healthy but specific pages aren\u2019t; use <span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>domain:<\/strong><\/span> if the entire domain is problematic\u2014otherwise, a single URL is enough.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Step-by-step to disavow in Google Search Console<\/h2>\n<h3>1) Prepare your list<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Try to remove links first (contact webmasters). If that\u2019s not possible, compile the URLs and domains to ignore.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>2) Create the disavow.txt file (correct format)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>One entry per line<\/strong> (full URL or <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span>).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Encoding:<\/strong> UTF-8 or 7-bit ASCII.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limits:<\/strong> up to <strong>100,000 lines<\/strong> (includes comments\/blanks) and <strong>2 MB<\/strong>; max URL length 2,048 characters.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Comments<\/strong> with <strong>#<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Template example (copy\/paste)<\/strong><\/p>\n  <div class=\"code-box is-wrap\" data-code-box>\n    <button type=\"button\"\n            class=\"copy-btn\"\n            data-copy-target=\"#codebox-da82681c-317f-4d38-b0ab-b1e0c2e3b788\"\n            data-copied-label=\"Copiado\">\n      Copiar    <\/button>\n    <pre style=\"margin-top:20px;\"><code id=\"codebox-da82681c-317f-4d38-b0ab-b1e0c2e3b788\" class=\"language-txt\">#Disavow create 09-10-2025 - Reason: Toxic backlinks domain:spam-example.com https:\/\/suspicious-site\/Guest-post.html #Sitewide footer domain:blogs-x.example<\/code><\/pre>\n  <\/div>\n  \n<h3>3) Upload the file in the disavow tool<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Access the Disavow Links Tool, choose the correct property, and upload your file. You\u2019ll replace the previous list if one existed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>4) Review and timelines<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Changes can take several weeks while Google recrawls and reprocesses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Quick checklist for the Disavow Tool<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>I confirm the <strong>manual action or real risk<\/strong> \u2192 attempt removal. I audit, identify, and flag the domains and URLs of <a href=\"https:\/\/seranking.com\/es\/blog\/backlinks-toxicos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">toxic backlinks<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>I create <span style=\"color: #339966;\">disavow.txt<\/span> with the correct rules and limits recommended by <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/webmasters\/answer\/2648487\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google support<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>I upload the file in the <a href=\"https:\/\/search.google.com\/search-console\/disavow-links\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disavow Links Tool<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>I monitor Search Console and traffic; I expect weeks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before uploading anything, download the current list from the tool (save it as a backup): it helps you see what you\u2019ve already disavowed and <strong>keep consistency<\/strong> in the cleanup. Note: when you upload a new file, you <strong>completely replace<\/strong> the previous one for that <strong>property<\/strong>, so pay attention to domains and URLs you add or remove.<\/p>\n<h2>Best practices and common mistakes<\/h2>\n<h3>Best practices (what you should do)<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Buenas-practicas-para-hacer-disavow.webp\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" alt=\"Best practices for disavow\" class=\"wp-image-18064 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Buenas-practicas-para-hacer-disavow.webp 700w, https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Buenas-practicas-para-hacer-disavow-480x274.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 700px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Prefer <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span><\/strong> when the entire domain is problematic. If it smells like a PBN, farm, or widespread hack, play it safe: <span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>domain:example.com<\/strong><\/span> and done.<\/li>\n<li>On <strong>quality sites<\/strong>, disavow the <strong>specific URL<\/strong>. If the publication is reputable but links from a weird page (comments, profile, tag spam), don\u2019t take down the whole domain\u2014just the <strong>problem URL<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No subpaths<\/strong> or wildcards. The file doesn\u2019t accept \/folder\/* or regex. Only <strong>full URLs<\/strong> or <span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>domain:<\/strong><\/span>example.com.<\/li>\n<li>Keep a <strong>changelog in comments<\/strong>. Add lines with # showing <strong>date, reason, and source<\/strong> (e.g., # 2025-09-11 \u2013 PBN detected \u2013 outreach failed). It\u2019ll save you later when reviewing history.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Back up and version:<\/strong> download the current list, keep a copy, and work on a new version. <strong>Remember: uploading replaces everything.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Be minimalist and specific. Less is more: <strong>disavow<\/strong> what you have <strong>evidence<\/strong> is toxic or manipulative; avoid \u201cjust-in-case\u201d sweeping.<\/li>\n<li>Verify the correct property in GSC. Upload the file to the <strong>exact property<\/strong> (domain vs. URL-prefix) so the change isn\u2019t \u201clost.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Document removal attempts.<\/strong> Before using the <strong>Disavow Tool<\/strong>, try to remove the link and keep proof (emails, forms, dates).<\/li>\n<li>Check the <strong>nature<\/strong> of the link. If it\u2019s already rel=&#8221;nofollow&#8221;, sponsored, or ugc <strong>properly applied<\/strong>, you normally <strong>don\u2019t need to disavow<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mind the format<\/strong>\u2014one directive per line, comments with <strong>#<\/strong>, <strong>UTF-8\/ASCII<\/strong> encoding, no smart quotes or odd tabs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Errores-comunes-al-hacer-disavow.webp\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18066 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Errores-comunes-al-hacer-disavow.webp 700w, https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Errores-comunes-al-hacer-disavow-480x274.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 700px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Using <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span> indiscriminately.<\/strong> Nuking good domains because of one ugly URL makes you lose valuable signals. Rule: <strong>domain only if the whole site is bad.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Trying folders or patterns.<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span>example.com\/blog\/ <strong>doesn\u2019t work<\/strong>; Google will ignore that line.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Disavowing by TLD or \u201clooks\u201d without checking.<\/strong> A .xyz or .tk isn\u2019t bad per se. Check <strong>content, context, and patterns<\/strong> before deciding.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Using disavow to fix algorithmic drops.<\/strong> If the issue is <strong>content, intent, or technical SEO<\/strong>, disavow won\u2019t save you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No paper trail.<\/strong> Without comments or backups, you won\u2019t know <strong>why you disavowed<\/strong> a backlink\u2014or how to revert it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Upload and forget.<\/strong> After updating, <strong>monitor Google Search Console<\/strong>, traffic, and coverage; the effects <strong>take weeks<\/strong> to process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How to undo a bad disavow<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/How-to-get-rid-of-a-poorly-executed-disavow.webp\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" alt=\"How to get rid of a poorly executed disavow\" class=\"wp-image-18080 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/How-to-get-rid-of-a-poorly-executed-disavow.webp 700w, https:\/\/getlinko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/How-to-get-rid-of-a-poorly-executed-disavow-480x274.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 700px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You messed up with <span style=\"color: #339966;\">disavow.txt<\/span>\u2026 it happens to the best agencies. The good news: <strong>you can reverse it.<\/strong> The key is to do it methodically, without rushing, as follows:<\/p>\n<h3>1) Back up and check what you broke<\/h3>\n<p>Go to the Disavow Links Tool and <strong>download the current list<\/strong>. Save it as \u201cbackup-before-reverting.txt.\u201d Use it to identify which domains\/URLs you <strong>shouldn\u2019t have<\/strong> disavowed.<\/p>\n<h3>2) Choose your strategy: partial or full<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><strong>Partial reversal:<\/strong> edit the file and <strong>remove only<\/strong> the lines you want to restore\u2014those URLs or <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span> entries you marked by mistake. This is usually the best approach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Full reversal:<\/strong> if the cleanup was a mess, upload an <strong>empty file<\/strong> (or delete the entire list) to <strong>cancel the disavow completely<\/strong> for that property.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Document and prevent a relapse<\/strong><br \/>\nAdd a <strong>changelog<\/strong> inside the file with the date, reason, what you reverted, and why. Set a simple rule for the future:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On good sites with one bad page \u2192 <strong>specific URL<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>On domains that smell like PBN, farm, or widespread hack \u2192 <span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>domain:<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li>If in doubt, <strong>sample and review manually<\/strong> before editing the file.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Be patient\u2014changes aren\u2019t immediate:<\/strong> Google needs weeks to recrawl and reprocess signals. In the meantime, don\u2019t tweak the file every couple of days; let it settle. Monitor performance, links, and manual actions in Search Console as needed.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||2px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>FAQS<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;1) What is the Disavow Tool?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;on&#8221;]It\u2019s the <strong>Google Disavow Links Tool<\/strong>, accessible from <strong>Google Search Console<\/strong>. It works with a file called <span style=\"color: #339966;\">disavow.txt<\/span> that you upload to tell Google which links not to count.[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;2) What is the Disavow Tool for?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]To <strong>ask Google to ignore problematic backlinks<\/strong> (link farms, PBNs, hacks, black-hat attacks, anchor text that doesn\u2019t align with your editorial line) when you can\u2019t remove them and there\u2019s a real risk they\u2019ll impact your link profile.[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;3) What kind of links can I disavow with the Disavow Tool?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]You can disavow individual URLs or entire domains:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Single URL<\/strong> if the site is <strong>legitimate<\/strong> but placed a problematic link on a specific page (comments, profiles, odd tags).<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span> when the <strong>entire domain<\/strong> is problematic (PBN, link farm, hacked site, or widespread spam pattern).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;4) When should I use the Disavow Tool?&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]Only as a <strong>last resort<\/strong>: after attempting to remove links and if you have a <strong>manual action for unnatural links<\/strong> or a <strong>real risk<\/strong> of receiving one. No routine \u201ccleanups.\u201d[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;5) Does disavow fix a crash after a core update?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]Not on its own. <strong>The Disavow Tool doesn\u2019t guarantee immediate improvements<\/strong>: first, a <strong>full audit<\/strong> (technical SEO, content, search intent, metadata, internal linking, authority). If the foundation is weak, the disavow won\u2019t save you.[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;6) Do I use domain: or better only URL?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]Practical rule: <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span> if the entire site looks bad; <strong>URL if the site is good<\/strong> and the issue is on a specific page. (Yes, same as #3, but worth repeating: scalpel before ax).[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;7) Can I disavow folders or use wildcards?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]No. The <span style=\"color: #339966;\">disavow.txt<\/span> file doesn\u2019t support subpaths or patterns like \/blog\/*. Only full URLs or <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:example.com<\/span> (and you can apply it to specific subdomains with <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:sub.example.com<\/span>).[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;8) How do I create the disavow.txt without messing up?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]One <strong>directive per line<\/strong> (URL or <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span>), comments with <strong>#<\/strong>, UTF-8\/ASCII, no smart quotes or odd tabs. Before uploading, <strong>download the current list<\/strong> to stay consistent with what you\u2019ve already disavowed.[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;9) How long does the effects of the disavow take?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]Short answer: Weeks. <strong>Google needs to recrawl and reprocess signals<\/strong>. Don\u2019t edit the file every other day: <strong>upload, document, and wait<\/strong>.[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;10) Can a badly made disavow be reversed?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]Yes. <strong>Edit and remove<\/strong> the incorrect lines or upload an empty file to revert everything. Then be patient: the reintroduction of signals also takes time.[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;11) Does it serve for Black hat attacks, PBNs, farms or hacked domains?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]Yes, as a <strong>last resort<\/strong> when you can\u2019t remove anything at the source. If the entire site is toxic, <span style=\"color: #339966;\">domain:<\/span> if it\u2019s a one-off on a legitimate site, <strong>only the URL.<\/strong>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;12) What do I do with nofollow, sponsored, or ugc links or dropped links?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]Normally, you <strong>don\u2019t need<\/strong> to disavow: <strong>Google already ignores a lot of spam<\/strong> and honors those tags. Dead links usually fade on their own; only consider disavow if there are <strong>spam patterns<\/strong> that persist.[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Doing a disavow, or disavowing links, is basically telling Google: \u201cthese backlinks don\u2019t count for my site.\u201d&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":18051,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[157],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seo-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getlinko.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}