You can remove backlinks, but the method depends on who controls the linking site. If you manage the site linking to you, simply delete the link or update the content. If someone else owns it, send a polite removal request via email or contact form with the specific page URL and anchor text. Most legitimate site owners comply within 5–14 days, especially if the link violates their editorial policy or you cite a valid reason like outdated content or a rebrand. For links you can't remove manually, Google's Disavow Tool lets you submit a text file of domains or URLs you want Google to ignore when assessing your site. This doesn't delete the link, but tells Google's algorithm to disregard it for ranking purposes. We typically disavow only when dealing with spammy link schemes, negative SEO attacks, or remnants of old black-hat campaigns. Disavowing legitimate links rarely helps and can hurt if you accidentally block good authority. The harder part is finding all your backlinks. Tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Google Search Console each show different subsets. At Ottawa SEO, we usually export from 2–3 sources, deduplicate, and prioritize removal of links with exact-match anchors pointing to thin pages or links from known link farms. Low-authority editorial links from real blogs rarely warrant removal unless they're part of a manual penalty. Timeline matters. If you're responding to a Google manual action, document every removal request with screenshots and dates. Google wants evidence you tried. If you're just cleaning up for risk management, batch requests monthly rather than chasing every minor link. Expect 40–60% of requests to go unanswered. After 30 days of no response, add non-responders to your disavow file and move on. Removing backlinks is tedious but straightforward when you're systematic about outreach and know when disavowing is the practical fallback.