Can You Remove Hard Inquiries from Your Credit Report? (Yes, Here’s How)

You can remove hard inquiries from your credit report if they're inaccurate or fraudulent. It’s those authorized inquiries you can’t remove. Authorized hard inquiries remain on your credit report for up to two years.

If you’ve applied for a credit card or loan, you’ve probably noticed a hard inquiry pop up on your credit report. While hard inquiries do temporarily lower your score, there are steps you can take to manage them.

In this guide, we'll walk you through what hard inquiries are, how they affect your credit score, and what you can actually do about them — including how to dispute false inquiries and rebuild your credit with confidence.

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What is a hard inquiry?

A hard inquiry, or hard pull, is when a lender reviews your credit report to decide whether to approve your application.

If you apply for a car loan, credit card, or mortgage, the lender checks your credit file to see how you’ve managed past accounts (like whether you paid on time and kept balances low). Each of these checks is recorded as a hard inquiry on your credit report.

These inquiries are normal, but they can temporarily lower your score.

Hard inquiries vs. soft inquiries

Lenders make hard inquiries when you apply for credit, and these can temporarily lower your score by a few points. Soft inquiries occur when companies review your credit for reasons other than a new credit application, like:

• Pre-approval checks for credit cards or loans
• Employment background checks
• Insurance quotes
• Utility account setup or apartment rental applications

Soft inquiries don’t impact your credit score. You’ll see them on your report, but lenders won’t.

How do hard inquiries affect your credit score?

One hard inquiry might only drop your score by a few points. But multiple inquiries within a short window can have a bigger impact.

FICO and other credit scoring models interpret frequent applications as a sign you're taking on more debt than you can manage. Lenders see this as a potential financial strain, which makes them hesitant to approve new credit.

➢ RELATED: What Affects Your Credit Score?

How long do hard inquiries stay on a credit report?

Hard inquiries usually stay on your credit report for about two years, but their impact can fade much sooner (often within 6-12 months). You could speed up the recovery by making payments on time and keeping balances low.

Should you remove hard inquiries from your credit report?

You can’t remove authorized hard inquiries because they’re part of your financial history. But if you spot inquiries you don’t recognize, they may be the result of an error or identity theft.

Take action right away. The sooner you dispute false or unauthorized inquiries, the sooner they could be removed.

💡 Tip: Keep an eye on your credit reports so you can catch and dispute errors as they arise.

How to remove unauthorized hard inquiries

1. Review your credit report from all three bureaus

Start the removal process by requesting your free annual reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com . Each bureau maintains its own data, so an inquiry could appear on one report but not the others. Reviewing all three helps ensures nothing slips through the cracks.

2. Identify false or unauthorized hard inquiries

Next, carefully scan the “hard inquiries” section. As you review each inquiry, ask yourself:

• Do I recognize the lender or company listed?
• Did I recently apply for credit with them?

If you didn’t give permission for the inquiry, it could be unauthorized. Make note of any that look suspicious.

3. Dispute inquiries with the credit bureau and lender

Start by contacting the lender or company that made the inquiry. Explain that you didn’t authorize it and ask them to remove it. Keep a record of all communications, including emails, letters, and call logs.

Then file a dispute with the credit bureau that shows the inquiry. Provide them with the inquiry details and any supporting evidence you’ve gathered. If the inquiry is related to identity theft, include a report from the FTC or your local police to strengthen your case.

The credit bureau typically investigates within 30 days. If they confirm the inquiry was unauthorized, they'll remove it.

4. Monitor your credit after filing any dispute

After submitting a dispute, keep monitoring your credit reports to make sure the change is reflected. You can use free credit monitoring tools or sign up for alerts with your bank or credit card provider. These can help prevent future unauthorized activity.

What you can’t remove from your credit

Authorized hard inquiries can't be removed, and that's okay. If you authorized the inquiry, it stays on your report, but the impact on your credit is temporary.

Here’s what to expect:

• Hard inquiries drop off automatically after two years.
• Your score bounces back within 12 months.
• Build positive credit habits to offset any short-term dips.

➢ RELATED: What Is Considered a Good Credit Score?

How to rebuild your credit after multiple inquiries

Make all your payments on time

Your payment history makes up the largest portion of your credit score. Signing up for automatic payments on your loans and credit cards can help you avoid missed due dates and late fees.

Lower your credit utilization ratio

Your credit utilization ratio is the portion or percentage of your available credit that you’re currently using. Ideally, you want to keep it below 30%. You can do this by:

• Paying down balances more than once a month.
• Asking for a higher credit limit (without taking on more debt).
• Keeping old credit card accounts open to preserve available credit.

Maintain a healthy credit mix

Keeping a mix of different types of credit, like credit cards, personal loans, and Installment Loans, can actually help your credit score. It shows lenders you can handle a variety of borrowing responsibly.

Limit hard inquiries in the future

Be selective when you apply for new credit. It’s best to:

• Review your credit score before applying to gauge approval odds.
• Prequalify when possible (these use soft inquiries).
• Only apply for credit you actually need.

Check your credit report regularly 🔍

Try to check your credit at least a few times a year, especially before applying for new credit. If you notice any issues, dispute them right away. Staying on top of your report keeps your credit history accurate and helps you catch problems before they impact your score.

More about credit:

• 10 Tips to Boost Your Credit Score Fast
• Soft vs. Hard Credit Checks
• What is Creditworthiness?