Disavow File: The List You Submit to Google
A disavow file is a plain text list of links you want Google to ignore. This guide explains the format and how to build one safely.
A disavow file is a plain text list of links or domains that tells Google which backlinks to ignore.
What a Disavow File Is
A disavow file is the text document you upload to the Disavow Links tool. Each line names a link or a whole domain to ignore.
It is plain text, not XML or a spreadsheet.
How to Format It
List one URL or domain per line, optionally with comments that start with a hash sign. Use the domain prefix to ignore an entire domain.
Google parses the file top to bottom, so keep it clean and explicit.
What Belongs In It
- Links you could not remove through webmasters.
- Entire domains that only produce spam links.
- Links from clearly hacked or outdated pages.
- Never your own trusted links or major sites.
What Not to Include
- Links from quality sites you simply dislike.
- Links you can still remove manually.
- Random guesswork without an audit.
- Everything, hoping it cleans the slate.
The file: a team lists three spam domains with the domain: prefix.
The submission: they upload it and Google re-crawls the links over the coming weeks.
The result: the harmful links stop influencing rankings.
The lesson: a small, precise file beats a long and reckless one.
Quick Tip
Back up your disavow file and keep it on record, because you may need to add to it as new spam links appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Disavow File, Bottom Line
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