So you finally got a news article taken down—but it’s still showing up in Google search results. What gives?
Here’s what’s really going on, and how long it usually takes for the article to fully disappear.
Learn More: How to Remove a News Article from Google
What Happens After an Article Is Removed?
When a publisher deletes an article, the original page is gone. But that doesn’t mean it vanishes from Google right away.
Search engines store cached versions of web pages and metadata (like your name or the headline) that can stick around for days, sometimes even weeks.
Typical Timeline for Removal from Google
Here’s what to expect:
- 1 to 10 days: If the site has strong SEO or is crawled often, Google may update the search index quickly.
- 10 to 30 days: Most articles disappear naturally in this timeframe once deleted from the source.
- 30+ days: If the site doesn’t get crawled often or the article had lots of backlinks, it can linger longer.
If it’s still showing after a month, it may need a manual nudge.
How to Speed It Up
You don’t have to wait around. Use Google’s Remove Outdated Content Tool to request an update. This tells Google the page no longer exists or has changed—and prompts them to clear it from search.
This is especially useful if:
- The link leads to a 404 page
- The article was removed but your name still shows in the snippet
- A redacted version is now live, but Google shows the old one
Most requests are processed within 24–48 hours, but it can take a few more days to fully disappear from all results.
Bonus Tip: Use Google Alerts
Set up a Google Alert for your name. That way, you’ll know if the article resurfaces—or if it was copied elsewhere.
Final Thought
Getting a news article deleted is step one. Making sure it disappears from Google is step two.
Be patient—but not too patient. If the article is still showing after a few weeks, use Google’s tools to speed things up. And if you need help with the process, Reputation Flare can handle it for you.
Want the article gone faster?
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