What Is DexKnows (Dex Pages) and How Do You Remove Your Info?

DexKnows (dexknows.com) is the online version of the old Dex phone book, which many people still call Dex Pages. It lists local businesses and residential listings, so if your name, home address, or phone number appears, anyone can find it with a quick search. This guide covers what DexKnows publishes, where the data comes from, and how to remove or update your listing.

Key Takeaways

DexKnows started as the digital version of the Dex phone book and has grown into a searchable online directory that publishes both residential white pages listings and business listings. These entries typically include names, addresses, and phone numbers drawn from public records and third-party data providers.

People can search DexKnows by name, phone number, or business category. That means home addresses and personal phone numbers can show up in public search results, visible to anyone with an internet connection.

Individuals can remove or opt out of personal listings by following the directory’s opt-out steps. Business owners can claim or update a free listing to correct errors, add details, or take down an outdated entry.

Information often reappears because many data broker and white pages sources share the same underlying records. Full cleanup requires removing data from multiple sites, not just DexKnows alone. Privacy concerns are common with data broker services, and a single removal rarely solves the problem permanently.

If you want hands-on help, a removal service such as NetReputation can handle opt-outs across DexKnows and other directories for you.

What Is DexKnows and Where Did It Come From?

DexKnows is an online directory that grew out of the Dex print phone books delivered to homes across the United States throughout the 1990s and 2000s. DexKnows evolved from traditional print telephone directories into a digital platform, serving as the web-based counterpart to those thick yellow-and-white-page books that once sat next to every kitchen phone.

R.H. Donnelley, founded in 1886, acquired and ran many of the original regional phone book operations. The company filed for bankruptcy in May 2009 and emerged in early 2010 as Dex One Corporation.

In 2013, Dex One merged with SuperMedia to create Dex Media. This combined entity managed DexKnows, SuperPages, and other directory products for local businesses across dozens of states.

Dex Media eventually rebranded under the Thryv name, shifting its primary focus toward small business marketing software. However, the legacy directory data continued to appear across search sites, and DexKnows remained active as a digital property.

Most consumers encounter DexKnows today as a searchable online directory result in Google or Bing. It typically shows up alongside White Pages, Yellow Pages, and other local listing or people-search sites. 

What Information Does DexKnows Show About You or Your Business?

DexKnows pulls both residential and business data from public records, telecom data, and third-party data providers.

Residential Listings

For residential or “white pages style” listings, the typical data fields include:

• Full name

• Street address

• City, state, and ZIP code

• Primary landline or VoIP number

• Possible previous address or city information

Residential listings work like the old white pages. DexKnows also supports reverse phone lookups, so someone can start with just a phone number and find the name and address tied to it.

Business Listings

A DexKnows business listing generally displays:

• Business name and physical address

• Local phone number

• Business categories (for example, “plumber in Denver, CO”)

• Hours of operation

• Short description

• Customer reviews and ratings

Users can view ratings and reviews for local establishments on DexKnows to help them evaluate a company before calling. Business profiles on DexKnows may include visual content like photos or videos, and interactive maps and directions help users locate businesses relative to their geographic position.

DexKnows lets users search by keyword or category and filter and sort results by criteria such as distance, rating, or relevance. 

Where the Data Comes From

Directories like DexKnows often share or license data with partners. Once a home address or personal cell number is published, it can be copied across marketing lists and other data broker sites, multiplying privacy exposure.

How To Find, Review, and Remove a Personal DexKnows Listing

Most individuals want to remove a home address or phone number from DexKnows search results. Start by locating and confirming the correct listing before submitting any removal request.

Step 1: Locate Your Listing

Visit DexKnows or any remaining Dex-branded directory site. Search using your full name and city. Then run a separate search using your phone number and any old cities where you have lived. Try variant spellings of your name if your name has common alternate forms.

Step 2: Capture Evidence

Before requesting removal, document what you find:

• Take a screenshot of the full listing as it appears

• Copy the listing URL from your browser’s address bar

• Note any variant spellings of your name or address that appear in the results

This record helps if you need to follow up or escalate.

Step 3: Submit an Opt-Out Request

Look for a “contact,” “support,” or “privacy” link on the DexKnows or related directory site. Follow the instructions to request removal of your residential listing. In your request, provide the exact name, address, and phone number shown in the listing, along with the URL you copied.

Some DexKnows data may be fed by larger white pages or yellow pages providers. In those cases, DexKnows may route the removal request through a partner directory or a national yellow pages organization rather than a DexKnows-branded form.

Step 4: Complete Verification

Verification steps may include email confirmation, a phone call, or identity checks. These exist to prevent unauthorized changes to someone else’s listing. Complete all requested steps to finalize the opt-out.

Step 5: Wait and Recheck

Changes can take several days or longer to appear in search results. Cached versions of the listing may remain in Google and Bing until their indexes refresh.

After a few weeks, run the same name and phone searches again on DexKnows and on major search engines. If the listing is still visible, submit a follow-up request. Data often cycles back from upstream sources, so persistence matters.

If DexKnows does not respond and you live in California, the CCPA gives you the right to demand deletion. Several other states have passed similar privacy laws.

How To Claim, Update, or Remove a DexKnows Business Listing

Business owners often discover inaccurate or outdated DexKnows entries. Claiming the free listing gives them control over basic contact and branding details, and DexKnows allows free business listings for local businesses.

Claiming Your Free Listing

Search for your business name and city on DexKnows. Select the correct listing and look for a “claim,” “manage listing,” or similar option. 

Business verification typically relies on a confirmed phone number or email address at the business. It may include automated calls, emails, or document checks to prove ownership and prevent fraudulent claims.

Updating Your Listing

Once you have control, update these critical fields:

Businesses can add descriptions and photos to their listings, which helps build trust with potential customers.

Paid Upgrades vs. Free Listings

DexKnows and related platforms often promote paid upgrades such as featured placement, search advertising, or reputation tools. But the basic free listing is enough to correct or standardize core contact data. You do not need to pay for advertising just to fix wrong information.

When To Request Full Removal

A business might ask for full removal instead of updates when:

• The business has permanently closed

• The business has moved, and the old listing creates confusion

• The owner wants to reduce exposure on older directory channels

Use the same contact or support options to request deletion of a business listing. Be specific about the business name, location, and the exact page that should be removed to avoid taking down the wrong listing.

Preventing Republication

Update your information directly with the main data sources that feed local directories. This includes major search engines, primary local listings, and telecom providers. If those upstream sources still have old data, an outdated DexKnows entry is likely to be republished later.

How To Keep DexKnows and Other Directory Listings From Coming Back

Deleting one DexKnows page does not remove the underlying data from other sites. Many directories share or resell the same personal and business records through overlapping data feeds.

Build a Removal List

Create a list of the main people-search and directory sites where your information appears. This should include:

• Major white pages and yellow pages sites

• 411 and reverse lookup services

• People-finder sites (Spokeo, Intelius, BeenVerified, etc.)

• Mapping platforms

Work through each site’s opt-out steps individually.

Set Recurring Checks

Set a calendar reminder every few months to search your name, address, and phone number on Google. Check the first several pages of results for any reappearing DexKnows or related directory profiles. One month of silence does not mean the data is gone for good.

Reduce New Data Leaks

Consumers can limit future exposure by:

• Being selective about where they share their phone number and home address

• Adjusting privacy settings with their phone carrier and utilities

• Using a mailbox service instead of a home address for nonlegal mail

• Reviewing privacy settings on social media and online accounts

Keep Business NAP Consistent

Business owners can reduce confusion by keeping their NAP (name, address, phone) information consistent and up to date on Google Business Profiles, major map services, and primary industry directories. Consistent data reduces variations that spread to legacy sites like DexKnows.

When DIY Gets Overwhelming

Monitoring and removing listings across dozens of directories takes time. If you would rather not handle it yourself, a professional removal service can manage the opt-outs and recheck for listings that reappear.

FAQ

Does DexKnows still publish printed phone books?

DexKnows began as the digital extension of printed Dex phone books, but most directory activity has moved online. Some regions may still receive yellow- or white-page print directories, but online listings are now the primary product. Thryv, the parent company, has focused its business on digital local search and small business software for several years.

Why is my unlisted or VoIP number showing on DexKnows?

Some VoIP and mobile providers still share subscriber data through partner networks or public records. Third-party aggregators can match phone numbers with names and addresses, which then appear in directories like DexKnows. Even if you believed the number was “unlisted,” it may have appeared in a data feed at some point and then been redistributed across multiple directory companies.

Can I remove only my address but keep my phone number on DexKnows?

Some directories allow partial redaction while others require removing the whole listing. When you submit your opt-out request, specify whether you want the entire entry deleted or only certain fields hidden. Follow the directory’s options, and check back to confirm the result matches what you asked for.

Will removing my DexKnows listing hurt my local SEO as a business?

Search engines rely most heavily on major properties like Google Business Profiles, maps, and large local directories. Closing a low-quality or outdated DexKnows listing usually has little impact on rankings if your business maintains consistent and accurate listings on the main platforms. In many cases, removing incorrect listings actually helps by eliminating conflicting NAP data.

How long does it take for DexKnows changes to disappear from Google search?

Directory updates and removals can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to show in Google results. The timeline depends on how often Google recrawls that specific page. If the listing is gone but still shows in Google, you can ask Google to update its copy using the Refresh Outdated Content tool.