What Google Sitelinks Are & Why You Can’t Control Them Manually
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The extra subpage links (sitelinks) that appear beneath main search results are determined automatically by Google's algorithms.
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There is no way to manually block or remove a specific link from being shown as a sitelink
How to Remove a Subpage from Google Search Results
1. Ensure Crawling is AllowedMake sure the page is not blocked by robots.txt—Google needs access to see the page and its meta tags
2. Apply a noindex Meta TagInsert the following in the page’s HTML head:
<meta name="robots" content="noindex">
Once Google crawls that and sees the tag, it will drop the page from its index—even if other websites link to it.
3. Use Search Console’s URL Removal Tool for SpeedFor rapid removal, verified site owners can request temporary removal via the URL Removal Tool in Google Search Console—effective within about one day
Summary: What Works & What Doesn’t
| Question | Best Approach |
|---|---|
| Can I stop a page being a sitelink specifically? | No — sitelink appearance is automated by Google. |
| Can I remove it from search results entirely? | Yes — if it's crawlable and has a noindex tag. |
| Need it gone fast? | Use the Search Console Removal Tool for quicker action. |
Pro Tips for Site Cleanup
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Regularly audit your live subpages—especially outdated or low-value content—and apply noindex as necessary.
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Be cautious about blocking pages via robots.txt before applying noindex—Google must crawl first.
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For urgent or sensitive removals, have removal requests ready in Search Console for swift action.
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Remember: Google makes sitelink decisions; focus on broader SEO strategy instead of manual control.
