A disavow file is a plain text (.txt) file that you submit to Google through the Google Search Console Disavow Tool. It contains a list of domains or specific URLs that you want Google to ignore when evaluating your backlink profile.
Why you need one:
If spammy websites are linking to you and you cannot get those links removed, a disavow file is Google's official way to say "please don't count these links." Without it, Google may associate your site with the low-quality sites linking to you, which can hurt your rankings.
Format:
Each line contains either a specific URL or a domain-level entry. Domain entries use the format `domain:example.com` which disavows all links from that entire domain, including subdomains. Lines starting with `#` are comments and are ignored by Google.
Example disavow file:
``` # Spam link farms domain:spammysite.xyz domain:linkfarm-network.tk
# Specific toxic page
https://example.com/spammy-page
`
How to use it:
Go to the Google Search Console Disavow Tool (search.google.com/search-console/disavow), select your property, and upload the .txt file. Google will process it as they recrawl the web. Full impact can take 2 to 6 months.
Important:
Only disavow links you are confident are harmful. Accidentally disavowing legitimate backlinks from good websites can hurt your rankings. If you make a mistake, you can download your file, remove the entry, and re-upload it.
How Disavow helps:
Our tool scans your backlinks, classifies them by risk level, and lets you build a disavow file with one click. You can also import your existing disavow file to see which entries are still active and find new threats. New to disavow files? Our <a href="/blog/what-is-a-disavow-file" class="text-amber-400 hover:text-amber-300 underline">complete beginner's guide to disavow files</a> covers everything you need to know.