How to Remove a Page From Google Search Results Using OzSpeed hPanel

If you need to remove a page from Google search results, whether it’s because the content is outdated, sensitive, or no longer relevant, there are a few steps you can take to ensure it is deindexed effectively. Using OzSpeed’s hPanel, you can manage the visibility of your pages and work with Google Search Console to expedite the removal process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to remove a page from Google search results.

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Step 1: Access the Page Editor in hPanel #

To start the removal process, open the Page Editor in hPanel.

1. Log in to hPanel at ozspeed.com.au.
2. Go to Website Builder > Edit Site.
3. Select the page you want to remove from Google search results.

Tip: #

• Before proceeding, consider if you want to permanently delete the page or simply hide it from search engines.

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Step 2: Set the Page to Noindex #

The easiest way to remove a page from search results is to add a noindex tag, instructing search engines not to index the page.

How to Add Noindex Tag: #

1. Click on the Settings Icon (gear icon) for the selected page.
2. Go to the SEO & Visibility tab.
3. Toggle the option Allow Search Engines to Index This Page to Off.
4. Click Save.

Tip: #

• This action will add a noindex meta tag to the page, signaling search engines to exclude it from search results.

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Step 3: Remove the Page URL in Google Search Console #

To expedite the removal process, use Google Search Console to request the removal of the page from Google’s index.

How to Submit a Removal Request: #

1. Go to Google Search Console and log in.
2. Select your website property.
3. Click on Removals in the left-hand menu.
4. Click on New Request and choose Remove URL.
5. Enter the full URL of the page you want to remove (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/page-to-remove).
6. Click Next and then Submit Request.

Tip: #

• This process temporarily removes the URL from search results. For a permanent solution, ensure the page remains noindexed or is deleted.

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Step 4: Delete the Page (Optional) #

If the page content is no longer needed, you can permanently delete the page from your website.

How to Delete a Page: #

1. In the Page Editor, click on the Settings Icon for the page.
2. Select Delete Page and confirm the deletion.
3. Click Save Changes.

Tip: #

• After deleting the page, set up a 301 redirect to guide users to a relevant alternative page and avoid broken links.

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Step 5: Update Your Sitemap #

If you’ve added a noindex tag or deleted the page, update your sitemap to reflect the changes and help search engines crawl your site more efficiently.

How to Update the Sitemap: #

1. Go to Website Settings > SEO & Analytics in hPanel.
2. Click on Regenerate Sitemap.
3. Submit the updated sitemap to Google Search Console under the Sitemaps section.

Tip: #

• This step helps ensure search engines are aware of the changes and can update their index accordingly.

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Step 6: Clear Website Cache #

Clear your website cache to ensure the changes take effect immediately and are visible to search engines.

How to Clear Cache: #

1. Go to Website Settings > Performance in hPanel.
2. Click Clear Cache.
3. Refresh your website.

Tip: #

• Clear your browser cache as well to see the most recent version of your site.

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Step 7: Monitor the Removal Status in Google Search Console #

After submitting a removal request, monitor the status in Google Search Console to confirm that the page has been successfully removed.

How to Check Status: #

1. Go to Google Search Console and click on Removals.
2. Check the status of your removal request (e.g., Pending, Removed).
3. Use the URL Inspection Tool to verify that the page is no longer indexed.

Tip: #

• It may take a few days for Google to process the removal request and update the search results.

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Troubleshooting Tips #

1. Page Still Appears in Search Results:
   • It can take time for search engines to update their index. Revisit the page settings in hPanel and ensure the noindex tag is applied.
   • Resubmit the removal request in Google Search Console.
2. Page Not Removed After Deletion:
   • If you’ve deleted the page, ensure a 301 redirect is in place. This helps guide users and search engines away from the deleted URL.
3. Temporary Removal Only:
   • The Remove URL tool in Google Search Console only removes the page temporarily. Use the noindex tag or delete the page for a permanent solution.

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Additional Tips: #

• Use Robots.txt for Sensitive Pages: For pages with sensitive information, block them using the robots.txt file in addition to the noindex tag.
• Check Internal Links: Update or remove any internal links pointing to the removed page to avoid broken links.
• Communicate with Users: If the page was important, consider creating a custom 404 error page or redirecting users to a relevant alternative page.