Playbook: Emergency-hide a URL from Google in under an hour

Playbook: Emergency-hide a URL from Google in under an hour
Leaked page in the index, need it gone NOW. The Removals tool buys you ~6 months while the real fix propagates.

Setup:
— GSC > Removals > New Request > Temporarily remove URL
— Choose Remove this URL only (or prefix for a folder)
— This hides it from Search within hours but it's TEMPORARY (~180 days)
— In parallel, apply the permanent fix: noindex, 404/410, or auth gate
— Don't rely on removal alone it expires and the page returns if still indexable

What it does well: fastest possible visual removal from SERPs, free, also has a 'Clear cached URL' option.

Where it falls short: it does NOT deindex it only hides, and it won't touch other search engines.

Pros:
— Hides within hours
— Folder-level option
Cons:
— Temporary, ~180 days
— Google-only, not true removal

Best for: leaks and accidental publishes needing instant cover. NOT for permanent removal pair it with noindex/410.