How to remove pages from the Wayback Machine
A story deleted at its source can stay reachable for years in the Wayback Machine; the Internet Archive reviews removal requests by email.
Why archives matter
When a publisher removes an article, people can keep sharing its archive link. Archive copies rarely rank on Google but are searched deliberately by journalists and researchers.
Who can ask
- Site owners: to exclude their own domain.
- People named in the content: for specific pages, on privacy, personal data or unlawfulness grounds.
- Copyright holders: with a takedown notice.
Step by step
- List the exact archived URLs with their timestamps.
- Email the Internet Archive's official contact address in English, briefly and with reasons.
- Attach proof the content was removed at source, such as the publisher's email or a court order.
- Expect weeks rather than days.
Frequently asked questions
Is the page deleted from the archive?
It is usually removed from public access; other snapshots on other dates need to be listed too.