• About
    • History of Dallas SEO
  • Contact
  • Topics
    • Bing
    • Blogging
    • Branding
    • Domain Names
    • Google
    • Internet Marketing
    • Link Building
    • Local Search
    • Marketing
    • Public Relations
    • Reputation Management
    • Search Engine Marketing
    • Search Engine Optimization
    • Search Engines
    • Social Media
  • Tech
  • Advertise
  • Services
    • Search Engine Optimization
    • Ongoing SEO Services
    • SEO Expert Witness
    • Google Penalty Recovery
    • Mini SEO Audit
    • Link Audit
    • Keyword Research
    • Combine Websites SEO Services
    • PPC Management
    • Online Reputation Management
    • Domain Name Consultant
    • Domain Names & Expired Domains
    • Domain Name Appraisal

Bill Hartzer

..
Home » Google » Did Google Remove the Link Search Operator?

Did Google Remove the Link Search Operator?

Posted on February 11, 2016 Written by Bill Hartzer

It looks to me like Google has, just recently, remove the link: search operator on Google. If you search for any website’s links using Google, there aren’t any search results. So, for example, a search for link:google.com shows no results:

link search operator

So, most websites (or the main ones I have tried) show no results if you try to look up the links to a website in Google.

But, if you were to use the Link: search operator, if you use the Capital Letter L in Link: then you will find results, but it’s pretty much useless, as it’s just a search result including that site you looked up:

link search operator

Link_abc.xyz_-_Google_Search_-_2016-02-11_11.37.50

So, I am going to go ahead and call the link: search operator dead in Google. It has been for at least, well, let’s say at least 5 years or more, but now it’s useless. As in don’t use it, it doesn’t give you any results, and Google doesn’t want you to know the links to a site because links are still a part of their algorithm.

By the way, it’s worth noting that Google does NOT list the link: search operator on their help page here:

https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433?hl=en

Related Posts

  • Hackers Hijack Google Results: Bybit Exposes AI-Powered macOS Malware Targeting Claude Code Searches
  • Brandpoint: 60% of Google Searches End Without Clicks
  • RyghtSites.com Launches: The Free AI Search Engine That Could Fix Clinical Trial Delays Overnight
  • The Mystery of “Bill Hartzer Disease”: A Deep Dive into Google Autosuggest Anomalies
  • Google’s New Discover Update Is Live

Filed Under: Google, Search Engines

About Bill Hartzer

Bill Hartzer is the CEO of Hartzer Consulting and founder of DNAccess, a domain name protection and recovery service. A recognized authority in digital marketing and domain name strategy, Bill is frequently called upon as an Expert Witness in internet-related legal cases. He's been sharing his insights, expertise, and research here on BillHartzer.com for over two decades.

Bill Hartzer on Search, Marketing, Tech, and Domains.

Hartzer Domains

DFWSEM logo

 

 

Brand Ambassador for:

Majestic logo

Oncrawl logo

Industry Friends

  • David Daniels
  • WTFSEO
  • SEO By the Sea
  • Jeff Lenney
  • Jeff Gabriel
  • Scott Hendison
  • Dixon Jones
  • Brian Hartzer
  • Navah Hopkins
  • DNAccess
  • Hartzer on IT.com
  • Jason Olson

Connect With Bill Hartzer

  • Bill Hartzer on X
  • Bill Hartzer on BlueSky
  • Bill Hartzer on Instagram
  • Hartzer Consulting on Facebook
  • Bill Hartzer on Facebook
  • Bill Hartzer on YouTube

Recent Posts

  • The Dental SEO Playbook Is Changing: Identity Dental Marketing Releases AEO vs. SEO Study
  • Link Freedom Group Just Bet Tens of Millions on the Future of the Internet
  • The .ORG Impact Awards Just Named 35 Global Changemakers—and the Finalists Are Remarkable
  • Marlow Launches Its AI Software Builder
  • Brands Keep Killing Their Best Ads Too Early—New Agentio Report Says Here’s What They Should Do Instead
  • accessiBe Launches AI Accessibility Assistant
  • Viral Nation Launches AI Discovery as Brands Face a New Problem: Getting Recommended by AI
  • Dynadot’s New Domain Report Reveals Winners, Losers, and One Surprise Nobody Saw Coming
  • Domain Parking Is Finished: What the 2025 Numbers Show
  • I Analyzed Twenty Years of My Own Backlinks. Half of Them Are Gone.
Note: All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only, and are mentioned only to help my readers. All other trademarks cited herein are the property of their respective owners. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.

  Hartzer Consulting

Website, Content, and Marketing by Hartzer Consulting, LLC.
Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Terms of Use - AI Instructions - Entity Map

Copyright © 2026 ·