Customer reviews are a core part of your Google Business Profile — they help build trust and influence buying decisions. However, not all reviews are fair or appropriate.
While you cannot remove customer reviews yourself, you can flag reviews that violate Google’s Review Policies and request their removal.
🚫 What Reviews Can Be Removed?
Google may remove reviews that include:
🧢 Fake or misleading content
🚫 Hate speech or harassment
🧼 Offensive language or explicit content
🔗 Spam, links, or promotions
🚫 Off-topic or irrelevant experiences
👤 Conflicts of interest (e.g. posted by a competitor or employee)
✅ Legitimate customer feedback — even if negative — cannot be removed unless it violates these policies.
🧭 How to Flag a Review on Google
Step | Action |
1. | Sign in to the Google account associated with your business |
2. | Go to Google Maps or search for your business on Google |
3. | Scroll to the review you want to report |
4. | Click the three dots ⋮ or flag icon 🏳️ next to the review |
5. | Follow the on-screen prompts to report the review as inappropriate |
Once submitted, Google will review the case. If the review violates their guidelines, it may be removed. The process can take several days, and there's no guaranteed outcome or timeline.
⚠️ Important Notes
❌ Don’t Do This | ✅ Do This |
Attempt to remove valid negative reviews | Respond professionally and use them as feedback |
Report reviews that are simply unfavorable | Report only if they violate Google's policies |
Ask Google to remove reviews you just don’t like | Focus on building more positive reviews instead |
📚 Google Official Resources
For more detailed guidance from Google:
💬 Need Help?
Not sure whether a review qualifies for removal or need help crafting a response?
Chat with us in-app or email [email protected] — we’re happy to assist!