Internet Archive accepts requests to review exclusions of archived website or account material. Its current instructions ask for precise URLs, the period requested and the period of control where relevant. A request starts a review; the Archive does not guarantee its outcome.
01
Identify the archived material precisely
Separate the live source URL from the Wayback snapshot and record the dates involved. Check whether the concern covers one page, a date range or material from a period when you controlled the site. For a hypothetical domain acquired recently, ownership today does not automatically establish authority over every historical publication by a previous operator. Explain the circumstances accurately without overstating your rights.
02
Prepare a focused request
The official Help Center currently directs exclusion requests to info@archive.org. Include the URLs, requested timeframe, control period and supporting explanation. Provide only the evidence needed to establish the request and authority; avoid sending unnecessary identity documents or confidential records. Copyright complaints follow the Archive's separate copyright policy, and other categories can have their own appropriate processes.
- List each relevant URL and the specific archived date or period.
- Explain your relationship to the website, account or affected material.
- Preserve a copy of the request and any follow-up instructions received.
03
Distinguish exclusion from complete erasure
A successful Archive review would not necessarily remove the live source, search results or copies held by other services. Address those separately through their own owners and policies when appropriate. Check the official instructions again before submitting because procedures can change. Your Reputation Agency can help organize a precise evidence file without claiming that archived history can always be removed or that review has a guaranteed deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Can robots.txt alone remove every old capture?
Do not assume that it does. Use the Archive's current exclusion-request instructions for the specific material rather than relying on an automatic historical-removal promise.
Can I request review of material I do not own?
The Archive accepts other types of requests for review, but you should explain your actual relationship and basis honestly. Do not claim ownership or authority you do not have.
Continue with your next step
Related guides on this topic
Sources and policies
Check the current policy before submitting a request.
You do not have to figure out the next step alone.
Share the URLs and explain your concern. We will review the context and explain which options are worth assessing.
Request a confidential reviewOr call (307) 429-2531Educational information, not legal advice. Outcomes depend on the facts and decisions made by third parties.