Yes, you can delete or edit a Google review you wrote, using Google Maps or Search while signed in to the same account.
Got second thoughts about something you posted? You can take down your own rating and comment in a few clicks. The process is quick on desktop and phone. This guide shows exact steps, what changes after removal, and fixes when the delete option doesn’t appear.
Delete A Google Review You Posted: Step-By-Step
The fastest path is through Google Maps. You need to be signed in with the account that created the review. Here’s the flow on each device type.
On A Computer (Maps On The Web)
- Open Google Maps and sign in.
- Open the menu, choose Your contributions, then pick Reviews.
- Find the post you want to remove. Click the three dots.
- Choose Delete review. Confirm.
Edits follow the same path. Pick Edit review instead of delete, change the text or rating, and save.
On Android
- Open the Maps app. Tap Contribute and then your profile.
- Tap See all reviews. Find the post and tap the three dots.
- Choose Delete review or Edit review.
When you edit a post, the visible date resets to your last edit. That helps readers see when your view changed.
On iPhone
- Open the Maps app and go to your profile.
- Open your reviews. Tap the three dots next to the post.
- Pick Delete review or Edit review and follow the prompts.
Quick Reference: What You Can Do With Your Past Posts
This table sums up common actions and where to find them. Use it when you just need the control name.
| Action | What Happens | Where To Do It |
|---|---|---|
| Delete a review | Removes the text and star rating from Maps and Search | Your contributions → Reviews → three dots |
| Edit a review | Replaces the text/rating; shows the new edit date | Your contributions → Reviews → three dots |
| Delete a photo you added | Removes the image from the place’s gallery | Your contributions → Photos |
| Change the star rating only | Updates the score without removing the post | Edit review |
| Undo after deletion | Not available; you can write a fresh post | N/A |
What Changes After You Remove Or Edit
Once you delete a post, it disappears from the place page and your profile. Aggregate ratings update after a short delay. If you edit instead of delete, the content stays live with your latest text and star score, and the visible date reflects the last edit.
If a business owner replied to your original message, that reply will also vanish when your post is gone. Replies are tied to the original item.
Rules That Shape What Stays Online
Google applies strict content standards to posts and photos. Reviews must be based on real experiences at a place. Fake entries, incentives for positive feedback, and off-topic rants are barred. You can read the full list under the Maps user-generated content policy and the prohibited and restricted content policy.
For the step-by-step removal and edit controls, open the official Maps help guide. For policy coverage, see the user-generated content rules and the page on prohibited and restricted content.
Why Your Delete Option Might Not Appear
Sometimes the menu shows only Report instead of Delete review. These are the usual causes and fixes.
- Wrong account: You’re signed in with a different email. Switch to the account that posted the item.
- Different product view: You’re on Search, not Maps. Jump into Maps and open your profile.
- Network lag or cache: Refresh the app or browser. Sign out and back in if the option still hides.
- Content already removed: The post may be under review or taken down. Wait a short while and reload.
- Work profile conflict (Android): Switch to your personal profile in the app.
Step-By-Step On Google Search
You can reach your past ratings from a normal Google Search page. Type the place name, open the sidebar panel, and look for your profile photo near the reviews. A link lets you open your post to edit or delete. The Maps method is still the most reliable route.
Editing Versus Deleting: Which Move Fits?
Pick delete when your view no longer reflects reality, you reviewed the wrong place, or you want the rating gone from your profile. Pick edit when the place fixed a problem, your visit changed, or you want to add photos. Edits keep context for readers and help the business track progress.
Timing, Visibility, And Refresh Delays
After you press delete, removal is quick. Listing pages and search results can show stale copies for a short time due to caching. That clears soon. If a business flagged your content, staff may already be reviewing it, which can delay changes until the check finishes.
Policy reviews for flagged items usually take a few days. There isn’t a firm public timeline, and response times vary by queue volume.
Can A Business Remove Your Post?
No. Owners can reply and they can flag items that break policy, but they can’t erase a post just because they dislike it. Only the writer or Google staff can take it down. That protects real feedback while keeping spam out.
What You Cannot Do With Past Posts
You can’t restore a deleted post. You can’t move a post to a different place page. You can’t hide the star rating while leaving the text. You can’t delete a reply from the owner without deleting your post. Each limit keeps the system predictable for readers.
What If You Can’t Access The Old Account?
Deletion requires access to the exact Google account that posted the item. If that account is lost, start with account recovery. Once signed in, follow the steps above. If recovery fails, your only option is to wait for a policy review if the content violates rules.
Region-Specific Notes
Some countries give users extra rights over personal data. If your post reveals contact info or a private address by mistake, removal through the delete tool is the fastest fix. For doxxing by others, flag the item. Staff will review it under the prohibited content rules. Where local law applies, Google may add steps or messages on the place page during review.
Best Practices When You Edit Instead Of Delete
- Lead with the update. Start the post with a phrase like “Update:” so readers see the change.
- Explain what changed at the place and why you changed your score.
- Keep photos current. Remove older images that no longer reflect the place.
- Avoid stacked edits. Make your changes in one pass so the date doesn’t jump several times.
Method Notes: How This Guide Was Built
Steps and menu names were checked on desktop Maps and mobile apps. Policy details come from Google’s public guidelines and help pages. Links above point to the exact pages so you can verify steps and rules.
Data And Privacy After Removal
When you delete a post, Google stops showing it on the place page and your profile. The text and rating no longer count toward the place’s average. Copy that already reached third-party scrapers may linger where those sites cached content. That copy isn’t under your Google account. If a site mirrors your words without permission, reach out to that site.
Your profile page still lists other places you rated. You can also review your full history under your contributions. If you want a local backup, copy your text before deletion or use the Takeout tool to export activity tied to your account.
Troubleshooting: Common Roadblocks And Fixes
Use this matrix to spot the likely cause and the quickest remedy.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Delete button missing | Signed in with the wrong Google account | Switch accounts, reload, try again |
| Post still shows after deletion | Cache delay on Maps or Search | Wait a short while, then refresh |
| “Review under evaluation” banner | Policy check in progress | Wait for the decision email |
| Photos remain after text removal | Images are managed separately | Remove photos from Contributions → Photos |
| Can’t find the right place | Duplicate place names or wrong city | Open the place page link from your profile |
| Business owner reply still visible | You edited, not deleted | Delete the post to remove the thread |
Fair Use Of Reviews
Write from real experience. Don’t post the same message at several places. Skip anything that looks like a bribe. Never share private data. That keeps the map useful for everyone and keeps your account safe.
If You Manage A Business Profile
You can’t remove posts written by others except through the policy process. Use the review reporting flow to flag items that break rules such as fake content, harassment, or private info. Staff review flagged posts and send a result by email. Reviews that don’t break rules will stay online.
Simple Checklist Before You Press Delete
- Signed in with the exact account used to post?
- Maps app or maps.google.com open?
- Found Your contributions → Reviews?
- Picked the three-dot menu next to the item?
- Chose Delete review and confirmed?
Bottom Line: Clean Up Your Past Posts With Confidence
You have control over what you wrote. Use Maps to delete or edit in minutes. If a policy check is underway, give it time. For false claims from others, use the Business Profile reporting flow. Follow the rules, share real experiences, and your feedback will help people pick good places to visit.