Searching “Add Me to Search” previously allowed eligible users to create a Google People Card—a virtual profile displaying their name, occupation, location, website and social media accounts directly in Google Search.
However, Google People Cards are no longer available.
Google discontinued the feature on April 7, 2024. Users can no longer create new People Cards, edit existing cards or make them appear by changing their language, location or device settings. Google also deleted previously saved People Card information after May 7, 2024.
Can You Still Use “Add Me to Search”?
No. As of August 2026, searching for terms such as:
- Add me to Search
- Add me to Google
- Create my People Card
- Edit my People Card
will not provide the old “Get started” option.
The feature has been discontinued for everyone—not only users in a particular country or people experiencing an account problem. Recent responses in Google’s Search Help Community continue to confirm that People Cards cannot be created.
Using a VPN, changing your Google Account language or enabling Web & App Activity will not restore the feature.
What Was a Google People Card?
A Google People Card was a public profile designed to help individuals become easier to find online.
Users could add information such as:
- Their name and profile photograph
- Occupation and location
- A short personal biography
- Education and work details
- A personal or business website
- Social media profile links
- Contact information
Google originally described People Cards as virtual visiting cards for professionals, entrepreneurs, performers, influencers and other individuals who wanted to establish a searchable online presence.
People Cards were different from Knowledge Panels. Users could directly submit and manage a People Card, while Google generates Knowledge Panels automatically using information collected from authoritative sources across the web.
Why Is My Google People Card Not Showing?
Your card is not showing because Google removed the entire People Card service in April 2024.
It is not caused by:
- Your Google Account settings
- Your country or language
- Web & App Activity being disabled
- An incorrect search phrase
- Failure to update or verify your card
- Using a desktop computer instead of a mobile device
Old tutorials that recommend searching “Add Me to Search,” switching to a supported country or enabling particular account settings are no longer applicable.
Can I Recover My Previous People Card?
No. Google allowed former users to download or save their People Card information until May 7, 2024. Google stated that the stored information would be deleted after that date.
You can still recreate the useful parts of your old card on a personal website, professional profile or eligible Google Business Profile.
What Should You Use Instead of Google People Cards?
Although you cannot manually create a People Card, you can still improve how your name appears in Google Search.
1. Create a Personal Website
A personal website gives you considerably more control than a People Card did.
Create a dedicated homepage or About page containing:
- Your full professional name
- A recent photograph
- Your occupation and location
- A clear biography
- Qualifications and experience
- Services or areas of expertise
- Links to verified social accounts
- Examples of your work
- Contact information
Use the same version of your name across your website and professional profiles. This helps visitors—and search engines—understand that those profiles represent the same person.
2. Optimize Your Profile Page
Give your profile page a clear title, such as:
Jane Smith – Graphic Designer in Austin, Texas
Add an accurate meta description, descriptive headings, an author biography and links to your strongest professional profiles.
Avoid publishing a thin page that contains only your name and social links. Include original information that genuinely helps someone understand who you are, what you do and why they may want to contact you.
Google recommends creating accurate, reliable and people-first content rather than content produced mainly to influence rankings. Clear authorship and information about the creator’s background can also help demonstrate trust.
3. Add ProfilePage and Person Structured Data
Website owners can add ProfilePage structured data with a Person as the main entity.
Relevant properties may include:
namealternateNamedescriptionimageurlsameAsjobTitleworksForalumniOf
The structured data must accurately match information visible on the page. It can help Google understand the person represented by the profile, but it does not guarantee a special search result or Knowledge Panel.
After implementation, validate the markup through Google’s Rich Results Test and inspect the page in Google Search Console.
4. Strengthen Your Professional Profiles
Create complete and consistent profiles on platforms that are relevant to your work, such as LinkedIn, GitHub, Behance, YouTube or an industry-specific directory.
Focus on quality rather than creating accounts on dozens of low-value websites. Use:
- The same professional name
- A consistent profile image
- A similar biography
- Accurate job and location information
- A link to your official website
Do not create fake biographies, credentials, reviews or profiles to manufacture authority.
5. Create a Google Business Profile When Eligible
A Google Business Profile is not a direct replacement for a People Card.
It is intended for eligible businesses and public-facing individual practitioners. Google states that an individual practitioner may qualify when they serve customers publicly and can be contacted directly at the verified location during their stated hours.
Do not create a Business Profile solely to display your personal name if you do not operate an eligible business.
6. Claim a Knowledge Panel If One Already Exists
You cannot directly order or manually create a Knowledge Panel.
Google generates Knowledge Panels from information it finds and understands across the web. When a panel already appears for you, search for your name and select “Claim this knowledge panel” at the bottom of the panel.
After verification, you may be able to suggest corrections, update certain information and provide feedback.
How Long Does It Take to Appear in Google Search?
There is no guaranteed timeline.
After publishing or updating your personal website:
- Verify the website in Google Search Console.
- Submit an XML sitemap.
- Inspect your profile page URL.
- Request indexing.
- Ensure the page is not blocked by
robots.txtor anoindexdirective. - Build genuine references to the page from relevant profiles and websites.
Google may take several days or longer to crawl and reassess a page. Indexing also does not guarantee that the page will rank first for your name.
Protect Your Personal Information
Only publish information you are comfortable making permanently public.
Avoid displaying:
- Your home address
- Personal identification numbers
- Private phone numbers
- Confidential employment information
- Personal email addresses exposed to spam
- Daily schedules or sensitive location details
Use a professional contact form or dedicated business email address whenever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google People Card available in 2026?
No. Google discontinued People Cards on April 7, 2024.
Can I create a People Card with a VPN?
No. The service itself has been discontinued. A VPN cannot restore it.
Why does “Add Me to Search” not show “Get started”?
The option was removed when Google ended the People Card service. It is not an account or device problem.
Is a Knowledge Panel the same as a People Card?
No. People Cards were submitted by users. Knowledge Panels are generated automatically from information Google finds across authoritative web sources.
Can structured data create a Knowledge Panel?
Structured data can help Google understand a person or organization, but it cannot guarantee a Knowledge Panel or any particular search appearance.
What is the best Google People Card alternative?
For most professionals, the best alternative is a well-designed personal website supported by consistent professional profiles, accurate ProfilePage and Person structured data, and genuine mentions from reputable sources.
Final Thoughts
“Add Me to Search” is now an outdated Google feature. You cannot create, recover or edit a Google People Card in 2026.
Instead of following obsolete setup instructions, build an online identity that you control. A useful personal website, consistent professional profiles, accurate structured data and trustworthy third-party references provide a stronger and more sustainable way to become discoverable in Google Search.
