Unsure About Spammy Backlinks? John Mueller Just Clarified When To Use Disavow Files

Google Search Advocate John Mueller has clarified when site owners should consider using the disavow links tool in Google Search Console. Responding to a Bluesky question about spam-like backlinks, he said it is acceptable to disavow links when you are unsure. He also reiterated that while most sites do not need the tool, some sites might.

Google guidance on disavow links tool

Mueller replied to a Bluesky post from marketer Jacques Bouchard, who tagged his account @johnmu.com. Bouchard said a client was receiving roughly 50 new links each week that redirect through spam-like pages and asked whether these should go into a disavow file since they "technically don't link to the site".

The exchange included the following points:

• In his post, Bouchard wrote: "A client is getting about 50 links/week redirecting to this kind of page a week."
• He continued: "Should I include them in a disavow file, or nah? They technically don't link to the site."
• In response, Mueller said: "If you're conflicted and just want to be sure, it's totally fine to use disavow files."
• He added: "If you notice that most problems are from a few TLDs, you can disavow the whole TLD."
• He described the disavow file as "a tool, not a religion :-)." Mueller concluded: "Most sites don't need it, but that's not all sites."

Background on link disavowals in Google Search

Google introduced the disavow links feature in 2012 within Google Webmaster Tools, which later became Google Search Console. The tool lets site owners ask Google to ignore specific inbound links when assessing their sites. It is available to verified properties through the Search Console interface.

Google's help documentation states that most sites do not need to use the disavow feature. It recommends using the tool mainly for sites affected by manual actions or serious issues from unnatural links. The documentation also warns that improper use can negatively affect a site's visibility in Google Search.

Official sources and documentation

Mueller's recent comments align with guidance in Google's existing support materials for the disavow links tool. Both the Bluesky exchange and the Google Search Central help article "Disavow links to your site" present consistent messaging about limited but valid use cases. These sources confirm that using disavow files is acceptable when site owners are unsure about problematic backlinks.

• John Mueller response in Bluesky thread with Jacques Bouchard
• Google Search Central help article "Disavow links to your site"