Callum Sweeney
Allow users to upload their Google Search Console disavow file (disavow.txt) to Ahrefs and automatically cross-check which disavowed domains are still actively linking to their site.
Use case: SEOs managing link cleanup need to:
  • Verify which domains from their disavow file are still linking to them
  • Identify new spammy links that should be added to the disavow file
  • Validate whether they've disavowed the right domains or missed any
Currently, this requires manual export of backlinks data, export of the disavow file, and spreadsheet cross-referencing — a time-consuming process that needs to be repeated regularly as new spammy links appear.
Proposed solution:
  • Add a "Upload disavow file" option in Site Explorer that would:
  • Accept standard disavow.txt format from Google Search Console
  • Highlight or filter backlinks that match domains/URLs in the disavow file
  • Show which disavowed links are still active vs removed
  • Optionally suggest potentially toxic links not yet in the disavow file based on quality signals (low DR, high outbound links, spammy patterns)
This would save significant time for ongoing link cleanup and disavow file maintenance.
Requested by: Eberle (customer via support)