Should I disavow bad backlinks to my site?
Backlinks
Disavowing backlinks is only necessary if your site has unnatural link patterns and you suspect a manual penalty or algorithmic suppression. Google has stated since 2021 that its systems ignore most spammy links automatically.
However, in 2025, disavow is still useful if:
1) You’ve engaged in link schemes in the past.
2) You receive a manual action in GSC.
3) You see toxic links (like hacked domains or paid networks) pointing at scale.
How-to:
1) Audit backlinks with Ahrefs, SEMrush, or GSC.
2) Identify links from irrelevant, spammy, or penalized domains.
3) Attempt removal (email outreach).
4) If not possible, prepare a .txt disavow file and upload it in GSC. For most businesses, you don’t need regular disavow maintenance—focus on earning good links instead.
Real-world example:
If you bought directory links in 2018 and see them flagged today, disavowing can help future-proof your site.
Further Reading:
https://developers.google.com/search/docs/monitor-debug/disavow-links https://moz.com/blog/disavow-links