If a face search engine shows photos of you, you can ask it to stop. Every major engine has an opt-out or removal form, and most are free. But each one works differently, and none of them can delete a photo from the website where it was originally posted.
This guide covers the four engines most people ask about: PimEyes, FaceCheck.ID, Lenso.ai and Protevio. For each one you'll see what you need to provide, how long it takes, and what the opt-out does and doesn't cover. Everything here comes from each engine's own opt-out page, checked in October 2026.
Before you start: find out which engines show your face
You can only opt out of an engine you know about, and you'll want to know which photos are involved. Run a search on each engine with a clear, front-facing photo of yourself and note the results. Most engines need a photo for the opt-out anyway, because they identify you by your face, not your name.
Also take screenshots of anything harmful before you remove it. If you later need to involve a platform, a lawyer or the police, you'll want a record of what was published and where.
How to opt out of PimEyes
PimEyes runs its opt-out from a dedicated page on its site. It asks for three things:
- Photos of your face, ideally from a few different angles, so it can find all matching images.
- An anonymized scan of your ID or passport, to confirm you're the person in the photos.
- An email address, where it sends the result of your request.
PimEyes says it holds no names or emails, which is why it needs your face to find you. It doesn't list a fee or a processing time. It's also clear that it can't take a photo down from the website where it was posted.
How to remove photos from FaceCheck.ID
FaceCheck.ID's removal is free and the fastest of the four. You search for your own face, select the images you want removed, then verify your identity in one of two ways:
- A selfie, which is checked automatically. FaceCheck.ID says most of these requests are approved instantly.
- An anonymized ID document, which is reviewed by hand and takes 1 to 5 business days.
Selected photos are hidden from new search results straight away, before the review finishes, and you get tracking details for your request. One exception: FaceCheck.ID says it may refuse removal for convicted violent and sex offenders.
How to opt out of Lenso.ai
Lenso.ai has two forms, and it matters which one you use:
- The opt-out request is for broad removal, especially of your face. You give your country, your name, surname, email and phone number, a short reason, and the image you searched with. Lenso.ai says images removed this way won't be indexed again.
- The DSA form is for removing one specific image from its index, and you need to supply the exact source link of that result.
You get a confirmation email, then a decision by email once its team reviews the request. Lenso.ai doesn't publish a timeline. Note that Lenso.ai's face search isn't available in the EU, but its other categories, such as duplicates, can still surface your photos there.
How to opt out of Protevio
Protevio's opt-out page is free and asks for:
- A clear, front-facing photo of yourself.
- A photo of your government ID (passport, driving licence or national ID card) with only your face and name visible. Cover everything else.
- Optionally, the reason you want to be removed.
Removals are typically completed within 48 hours, and you get an email when it's done. The opt-out covers all matching facial data in Protevio's index. Your uploaded photo and ID are used only to identify you and are deleted after processing. You can only opt out your own face.
The four opt-outs side by side
| Engine | What you provide | Identity check | Stated timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| PimEyes | Face photos, email | Anonymized ID or passport scan | Not stated |
| FaceCheck.ID | Your face search, selected images | Selfie or anonymized ID | Instant (selfie) or 1–5 business days (ID) |
| Lenso.ai | Name, email, phone, country, reason, image | Manual review | Not stated |
| Protevio | Face photo, optional reason | ID with only face and name visible | Typically within 48 hours |
What an opt-out can't do
This is the part most people miss. Opting out of a face search engine only removes you from that engine's results. It doesn't touch:
- The original website. The photo stays wherever it was published. Anyone who finds that page another way can still see it.
- Other face search engines. Each engine has its own index, so you need a separate request for each one.
- Regular search engines. Google and Bing can still show the page or the image. Our guide to removing photos of yourself from Google covers that.
Getting the photo deleted at the source
To remove the photo itself, you need to go to the website that published it, or its hosting provider. You have three main routes:
- A DMCA takedown notice, if you own the copyright, for example because you took the photo yourself. Our free DMCA templates help with the wording.
- A GDPR erasure request, if you're in the EU and the photo identifies you. Our GDPR right to be forgotten guide explains how.
- A notice under the EU Digital Services Act, if the content is illegal, for example intimate images shared without consent. See our guide to reporting illegal content under the DSA.
If someone else took the photo, a DMCA notice may not be the right tool, because the copyright belongs to the photographer, not to you. Our guide on your rights when a photo of you is posted without consent explains which route fits which situation.
Keep checking after you opt out
New photos can appear after you opt out, and engines keep crawling. Search for yourself again every few months, or set up a face alert that notifies you when a new match appears, so you can act quickly instead of finding out by accident.
Sources: PimEyes opt-out; FaceCheck.ID removal request; Lenso.ai opt-out guide; Protevio opt-out. Checked October 2026.
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