Can You Turn Off Reviews On A Facebook Page? | Quick Wins Guide

Yes, Facebook Page reviews can be hidden by turning off Recommendations or removing the Reviews tab in settings.

Pages on Facebook collect public feedback in the form of Recommendations and ratings. Some owners want a clean slate; others want fewer distractions on a service Page. If you need a tighter grip on feedback visibility, the platform gives you two main levers: disable Recommendations or hide the Reviews tab. Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide that gets the job done without losing control of your Page.

Can You Disable Facebook Page Reviews? Settings That Work

Short answer: yes—ratings and written Recommendations can be switched off. When you turn off Recommendations, Facebook removes the score, hides existing write-ups, and stops new ones from coming in. You can also remove the Reviews tab from your Page layout, which tucks the section out of sight. Both options are reversible.

Main Ways To Control Feedback

Action What It Does Where To Change
Turn Off Recommendations Hides ratings and stops new posts Page Settings → Privacy/Recommendations
Hide The Reviews Tab Removes the tab from public view Page Settings → Templates And Tabs
Limit Visitor Posts Reduces wall spam and off-topic posts Page Settings → Privacy/Visitor Posts
Report A Problematic Review Flags content that breaks rules On the review → three-dot menu

Turn Off Recommendations (Current Flow)

  1. Open Facebook and switch to your Page profile.
  2. Go to Settings. On desktop, look in the left rail. On mobile, open the menu → Settings & privacySettings.
  3. Open Privacy or Page settings. Find the Recommendations toggle.
  4. Switch the toggle off. Your rating and review snippets disappear from public view.
  5. Test with a logged-out browser or a friend’s device.

Meta’s help articles confirm that switching off Recommendations removes ratings and reviews from your Page, and you can switch them back on later without losing admin access to past content.

Hide The Reviews Tab (Layout Route)

  1. From your Page, open SettingsTemplates and tabs.
  2. Scroll to Reviews. Toggle the switch off.
  3. Reorder other tabs so Services, Menu, or Offers sit higher for visitors.

This route hides the entry point. People won’t see a Reviews tab in your left rail or tab bar.

When Turning Off Ratings Makes Sense

There are moments when hiding feedback buys breathing room. A new brand might inherit spam from an old ownership group. A clinic may face a brigading wave after a news spike. A seasonal venue might want to pause ratings when closed. In each case, switching off Recommendations can calm the feed while you clean house.

Trade-Offs You Should Weigh

Social proof boosts trust for many visitors. Hide the section and you remove both praise and rants. Searchers may still see ratings pulled into search results from third-party sites. If you depend on local discovery, weigh the loss of visible stars against the relief of fewer negative posts during a storm.

Better First Steps Before Hiding Everything

  • Reply with care: Short, calm replies show you listen. Offer a clear next step by phone or email when needed.
  • Report clear rule breaks: Hate speech, spam links, impersonation, or off-topic promos can be flagged.
  • Ask happy customers to post: A steady trickle of real voices balances the feed.
  • Tighten visitor posting: Limit who can post to your timeline while leaving Recommendations on.

For reference, Meta’s help pages detail how Recommendations work and the exact toggle that switches them off. Link to turn Recommendations on or off and the page on how the rating score is calculated.

Can You Remove A Single Facebook Review?

You can’t delete a legitimate review just because you dislike it. What you can do: report posts that break platform rules. If the content is spam, harassment, or includes private data, send a report. If Facebook removes it, the rating drops out of your total.

How To Report A Problem Post

  1. Open the review.
  2. Tap the three dots in the corner.
  3. Select Report post and follow the prompts.

Meta’s help article explains the report flow in plain terms.

Step-By-Step: Switch Off Recommendations And Test

Desktop

  1. Open your Page and choose Settings.
  2. Pick Privacy or Page settings and find Recommendations.
  3. Toggle off. Confirm any pop-up.
  4. Visit your Page while logged out. Check that the rating block and review snippets are gone.

iPhone Or Android

  1. Open the menu → Settings & privacySettings.
  2. Choose your Page in Profiles.
  3. Open PrivacyRecommendations and switch off.
  4. Ask a teammate to confirm what they see.

Menu names shift slightly between app versions. If a label moved, search “Recommendations” inside Settings and follow the result.

Turning Off Facebook Page Ratings: When It Helps

Switching off ratings can help during coordinated spam, a rebrand, or when your team is understaffed for moderation. It’s a pause button, not a cure. Plan a timeline for turning the feature back on once the dust settles. Pair the pause with fixes that stop repeat issues.

Pros And Cons Of Hiding Reviews

Benefit Or Risk What You Gain Or Lose Likely Impact
Stops New Negativity Ends fresh one-star posts Lower stress for staff
Less Social Proof Good reviews vanish from view Fewer trust cues for visitors
Cleaner Layout Fewer tabs and blocks Faster reading on mobile
Temporary Pause Time to adjust service or policy Space to regroup

Alternatives To Hiding Reviews

Ask For Balanced Feedback

Request short comments from fans after a visit. Small prompts in receipts, DMs, or post-purchase emails can lift the average over time.

Spot Patterns And Fix Them

Scan common themes in low-star posts. If wait times, stockouts, or billing mix-ups keep coming up, post a brief update on what changed.

Use Private Channels For Sensitive Cases

Share a phone or email for tricky cases. Move the chat to a private thread for identity checks or refunds, then invite the customer to update their post later.

Quick Troubleshooting

  • The toggle is missing: Switch to the Page profile first. Personal profiles don’t show business settings.
  • I turned off the tab, but stars still show in search: That snippet can come from other sites. Check Yelp, Google, or niche directories.
  • I want staff to help: Add trusted admins or editors so replies don’t pile up.
  • I need proof for a dispute: Keep screenshots of spam waves, timestamps, and links.

The Practical Path

If Ratings are hurting more than helping, use the switch. Disable Recommendations, or remove the Reviews tab, then set a review policy your team can keep. Keep posting updates, ask for fair feedback, and return the feature when the Page is ready. That steady approach keeps control with you, not with trolls.

Recommendations Vs. Star Ratings: What Each Means

On newer Pages, the feature is called Recommendations. Visitors can post a thumbs-up or thumbs-down with text. When the feature is on and enough feedback exists, Facebook shows an average score to visitors. Pages that leave the feature off won’t show a rating box, and new posts won’t appear on the Reviews tab.

Meta explains that only Pages with Recommendations switched on can show a rating, and a score may not appear until there are enough posts. That threshold protects small Pages from averages that swing wildly.

For the policy details straight from Meta, see the help page on rating rules and counts. It also links to the setting that turns the feature off.

Brand And Policy Rules

Some franchises and healthcare groups set rules for owned locations. Before you hide anything, check your brand guide and any contract terms about review visibility. Many franchises prefer a measured reply plan over hiding the section, as fans use it to share praise.

Local disclosure rules may also matter. If you collect testimonials for ads or landing pages, align how you gather consent and how you present star scores so visitors aren’t misled when the Page rating is hidden.

A Simple Reputation Repair Plan

Week 1: Stabilize

  • Pause Recommendations or hide the tab if brigading is active.
  • Set a short reply template for common issues so your tone stays steady.
  • Create one pinned post with contact hours and the best channel for help.

Week 2: Fix Root Causes

  • Audit call logs, DMs, and ticket tags to spot repeat pain points.
  • Ship one fast fix customers will notice, like curbside pickup lines or a shorter refund form.
  • Tell people what changed in a short post.

Week 3: Rebuild

  • Invite recent happy buyers to share a line about their experience.
  • Rotate a simple ask in email footers or receipts.
  • Turn Recommendations back on once spam waves stop.

Printable Checklist

  • Switch to Page profile
  • Open Settings → find Recommendations
  • Toggle off, or hide the Reviews tab
  • Test while logged out
  • Draft reply templates for common issues
  • Report clear rule breaks
  • Schedule a date to review the toggle

Common Myths

“Turning Off Reviews Deletes Them Forever”

Switching off Recommendations hides public view. Admins still see past posts. You can switch the feature back on later.

“You Can Wipe Single Reviews You Dislike”

Individual posts stay put unless they break site rules. Use the report tool for spam, fraud, or harassment. The rest calls for a calm reply.

“Stars Vanish From Everywhere”

Hiding the section on Facebook doesn’t remove ratings from Google or other sites. Keep an eye on listings beyond your Page.

Set a reminder to review feedback settings quarterly and reopen ratings once responses and service are back on track.

Set reminders to revisit settings after busy seasons end monthly.