A disavow file is a text file (.txt) submitted to Google through Search Console that lists backlinks you want Google to ignore when assessing your site. It tells Google not to count specific links as ranking signals.
Disavow File Format
Basic Structure
The disavow file is a plain text file with:
- One entry per line
- UTF-8 encoding
- .txt extension
- Comments optional (start with #)
Syntax
Disavow a specific URL:
https://example.com/spammy-page
Disavow an entire domain:
domain:spamsite.com
Add comments:
# Links from link network
domain:linkfarm.com
domain:spamnetwork.net
# Individual spam pages
https://example.com/bad-page
File Format Specifications
Requirements
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| File type | Plain text (.txt) |
| Encoding | UTF-8 or 7-bit ASCII |
| Max size | 100,000 lines, 2MB |
| Line format | One URL or domain per line |
| Comments | Start with # |
URL Format
Correct:
https://example.com/page
http://example.com/page
domain:example.com
Incorrect:
example.com/page (missing protocol)
www.example.com (use domain: prefix)
*.example.com (wildcards not supported)
When to Use Disavow
Appropriate Situations
Manual action: You have an "unnatural links" penalty Link cleanup: Recovering from past link spam Known schemes: Links from your participation in link schemes Penalty prevention: Large-scale suspicious links you built
Inappropriate Situations
Random spam: Links you didn't build Competitor attacks: Alleged negative SEO Low-quality links: Simply not valuable links Precautionary: "Just in case" disavowing
Creating a Disavow File
Step 1: Audit Backlinks
Export from multiple sources:
- Google Search Console
- Ahrefs
- Semrush
- Moz
Create comprehensive list:
- Merge all sources
- Remove duplicates
- Include all potential issues
Step 2: Identify Links to Disavow
Criteria for disavow:
- Links you built that violate guidelines
- Links from known link schemes
- Links from PBNs you used
- Paid links you purchased
- Links from link networks
Do NOT disavow:
- Natural links from low-quality sites
- Random spam you didn't create
- Links you're unsure about
- Competitor-generated spam
Step 3: Format the File
Organize by category:
# PBN links
domain:pbn-site1.com
domain:pbn-site2.com
# Paid links
https://seller.com/sponsored-article
https://another-seller.com/paid-post
# Link network
domain:linknetwork.com
domain:linknetwork.net
Step 4: Review and Verify
Before submission:
- Double-check each entry
- Ensure you're not disavowing good links
- Verify format is correct
- Test encoding (UTF-8)
Domain vs URL Disavow
Domain-Level Disavow
Use domain: prefix when:
- Entire site is spam
- Multiple pages from same spam domain
- PBNs and link farms
- Sites you know are problematic throughout
Example:
domain:entirespamsite.com
URL-Level Disavow
Use specific URLs when:
- Only some pages are problematic
- Site is legitimate but specific pages aren't
- You want to preserve some links from domain
Example:
https://legitsite.com/one-bad-page
Common Disavow Mistakes
Over-Disavowing
Problem: Disavowing too many links Consequence: Potentially hurting rankings Solution: Be conservative and specific
Format Errors
Common issues:
- Wrong encoding
- Missing protocol
- Incorrect domain syntax
- Extra spaces
Prevention: Follow format exactly
Disavowing Good Links
Problem: Including legitimate links Consequence: Losing link equity Solution: Manual review before inclusion
Not Disavowing Enough
Problem: Incomplete disavow file Consequence: Penalty persists Solution: Thorough audit before submission
Disavow File Management
Updating Your File
Important note: New uploads replace old files completely
Process:
- Download existing disavow file
- Add new entries
- Review complete file
- Upload updated file
Organization Tips
Use comments:
# Added January 2026 - PBN cleanup
domain:pbn1.com
# Added February 2026 - Link network
domain:network.com
Keep local backup: Save copies of all versions
After Submission
What Happens
- Google receives your file
- Links are flagged for disavow
- Recrawl needed for processing
- Links gradually stop counting
Timeline
Processing: Can take weeks to months Full effect: When pages are recrawled Monitoring: Check Search Console for changes
No Confirmation
Google doesn't confirm individual links are disavowed. You'll only know it worked if:
- Manual action is lifted (after reconsideration)
- Rankings recover over time
Best Practices
Before Creating
- Confirm disavow is necessary
- Complete thorough audit
- Try link removal first
- Document everything
During Creation
- Be conservative
- Use domain: for spam sites
- Add comments for documentation
- Check format carefully
After Submission
- Keep backup copies
- Monitor for changes
- Update as needed
- Don't obsess over it
Summary
A disavow file tells Google to ignore specific links:
Format requirements:
- Plain text (.txt)
- UTF-8 encoding
- One entry per line
- domain: prefix for entire domains
When to use:
- Manual actions
- Links you built that violate guidelines
- Recovering from link schemes
Best practices:
- Be conservative
- Manual review each entry
- Document with comments
- Keep backups
- Don't over-disavow
The disavow file is a last resort—only use when truly necessary.