Disavowing backlinks tells Google to ignore specific links when evaluating your site.

Most websites do not need to use the disavow tool. Use it only when harmful links create a real risk.

This guide shows beginners when to disavow and how to do it correctly — in under three minutes.

When Should You Disavow Backlinks?

You should disavow backlinks only in high-risk situations.

Use the disavow tool if:	Do not disavow links just because:
You received a manual action for unnatural links	They look low quality
You previously bought links or participated in link schemes	They come from unrelated websites
You see a large number of clearly manipulative backlinks	An SEO tool marks them as “toxic”

Google already ignores most spam automatically.

If there is no penalty and no link scheme history, you likely do not need to disavow.

What You Need Before Starting

You need:

1. Access to Google Search Console
2. A list of harmful links or domains
3. A simple text (.txt) file

That’s it.

Reviewing your backlink profile carefully helps protect both your search visibility and long-term organic stability.

How to Disavow Backlinks Using Google Search Console

Step 1: Check for a Manual Action (30 Seconds)

Open Google Search Console → Go to Security & Manual Actions → Manual actions

If you see:

You likely do not need to disavow🙂

If you see: “Unnatural links to your site”. You should proceed.

Step 2: Identify Harmful Links (1 Minute)

Look for links that:

• Were clearly paid or exchanged
• Come from link farms or private blog networks
• Appear in large volumes from the same spam domain

Focus on domains, not individual URLs.
If a domain is spammy, disavow the entire domain.

In rare cases, manipulative backlinks can harm your SEO metrics, especially if they cause a manual penalty.

Example of a bad domain:

• Random blog
• No real traffic
• Outbound links to casinos, pills, crypto, etc.

Avoid disavowing legitimate websites just because they look small or outdated.

Step 3: Create a Disavow File (1 Minute)

Create a plain text file (.txt).

Title: Disavow file – February 2026

domain:spamsite.com

domain:badlinksnetwork.com

Step 4: Submit the File to Google (30 Seconds)

Use Google’s official Disavow Tool:

👉 https://search.google.com/search-console/disavow-links

1. Select your property

2. Upload the file

3. Click Submit

Important:

• Uploading a new file replaces the old one
• Processing may take several days
• Ranking recovery (if penalized) may take weeks

Common Beginner Mistakes

❌ Disavowing links without a penalty

❌ Trusting “toxicity score” blindly

❌ Disavowing hundreds of domains at once

❌ Updating the file weekly

The disavow tool is an emergency tool — not a routine SEO task!

Final Takeaway

The disavow tool exists for damage control. Disavow only if:

You received a manual penalty

You knowingly built manipulative links

You see clear, large-scale spam

When you do need it, keep the process simple:

1. Confirm the risk
2. List harmful domains
3. Upload a clean .txt file
4. Submit and wait
   

Used correctly, disavow protects your site. Used unnecessarily, it can harm it.