Can You Turn Off Reviews On A Facebook Business Page? | Clear, Safe Steps

Yes, you can disable Facebook Page recommendations by turning off the Reviews tab in settings; the ratings hide and can be restored later.

If you run a Page, you might want to pause public feedback during a spam wave or while you sort out a service hiccup. Facebook calls Page reviews “Recommendations.” When you switch them off, the Reviews tab disappears, your average score and past comments no longer show on the Page, and you can turn them back on at any time.

Turning Off Facebook Page Reviews — What Actually Happens

Before you flip the setting, know what changes. This quick table spells out what you’ll see, what visitors see, and where the switch lives.

Item	Where It Lives	What Changes When Off
Reviews/Recommendations Tab	Templates & Tabs / Reviews	Tab hides from the Page menu
Average Rating	Header & Reviews area	Star score no longer displays
Past Written Reviews	Reviews area	Comments and reactions hide
Ability To Leave New Reviews	Reviews area	Visitors can’t post new feedback
Existing Data	Stored by Facebook	Data remains; it returns when you re-enable

You’ll see Meta’s naming in help docs: the feature is “Recommendations,” and it can be turned on or off for a business Page. You can also manage which tabs show on your Page, including the Reviews tab itself.

Quick Steps To Disable Reviews On A Page

Here are two common paths, since layouts differ across the New Pages experience and older layouts. Both end with the same switch.

Path A: New Pages Experience

Open your Page on desktop and switch into the Page profile.
Go to Settings → Templates and Tabs (or Professional dashboard → Settings on some accounts).
Find Reviews and click Settings next to it.
Toggle Show Reviews to off. Save.

Path B: Classic Page Layout

From your Page, open Settings.
Select Templates and Tabs.
Scroll to Reviews and click Settings.
Switch the setting to off. Save.

If you don’t see the switch, check whether the Reviews tab is hidden in your menu rather than disabled. Use the Templates and Tabs screen to reorder tabs or add the Reviews tab back, then look for its settings switch.

Should You Turn Off Recommendations? Pros And Risks

Switching the feature off solves short-term pain. It also hides positive social proof. Weigh both angles before you act.

Pros

Stops fresh review spam during a dog-pile.
Buys time while you investigate a complaint.
Removes a visible score that might be skewed by a recent event.

Risks

Hides genuine praise that helps new shoppers trust you.
Can look like damage control if regulars notice the tab vanish.
Reduces fresh signals that feed discovery on and off Facebook.

If the problem is a handful of bad takes, a measured reply often wins more trust than silence. If the issue is fake or abusive content, report it and keep the tab on.

Better Than Hiding: Smart Ways To Handle Rough Feedback

Reply With A Calm Script

Short, human replies lower the temperature and show you care. Here’s a simple pattern you can adapt:

“Thanks for flagging this. We’re sorry for the let-down. Please DM your order number so we can fix it. We’ll update here once we’ve sorted it.”

Keep names out of it, avoid legal talk, and move the specifics to private messages.

Report Reviews That Break Rules

Spam, hate speech, impersonation, and unrelated rants belong in a report. Open the three dots on the review, pick Find support or report, choose the reason, and send. If the post breaks the platform’s rules, it can be removed.

Ask Happy Customers For Balanced Feedback

Make it simple to leave a review after a positive moment. Add a short link in order emails, QR codes at checkout, and post-purchase texts. The goal is steady, authentic feedback rather than bursts tied to one incident.

How Turning Reviews Off Affects Reach And Trust

Ratings act like quick proof. Shoppers scan the stars, then skim a few comments. When the score and quotes vanish, people lean on other cues: your photos, your recent posts, and outside listings. If you run ads that land on your Page, expect more clicks to bounce while the tab is off.

Search can feel the impact too. Local results often pull review snippets and scores. Hiding them means fewer rich signals. If your website has strong testimonials and third-party profiles carry steady praise, the trade-off may be fine for a short stretch.

When You Should Pause Reviews

There are times when a short pause makes sense. A harassment campaign. A viral mix-up that sends non-customers to your Page. A platform bug that floods Pages with spam. In these cases, switching the feature off protects your regulars from noise while you work the back channels.

Keep the window tight. Set a calendar reminder to re-enable the feature after the issue cools. If you leave it off for weeks, you lose the steady drip of fresh feedback that keeps trust alive.

Policy Grounding You Can Rely On

The platform’s help center uses the term “Recommendations.” Their guide on how to turn Recommendations on or off explains the toggle. The overview page about recommendations explains how scores are calculated and how people leave feedback. You can also manage tabs and sections to show or hide the Reviews tab in your menu.

Admin Tips That Make Reviews Work For You

Set A Response Rhythm

Pick a daily window to handle replies. Thank fans. Fix misses. Move detail into DMs. Fast replies earn trust and can turn a three-star post into a four or five.

Build A Simple Request Flow

Add a “Tell us how we did” link near receipts and in order confirmations. Ask after delivery or a successful visit. Keep the ask short and polite, never pushy.

Train Your Team On Tone

Share a short playbook. Use names. Apologize once. Offer a next step. Close with care. These small habits shape how your brand feels in public.

Examples Of Clear Replies You Can Borrow

When Service Ran Late

“Thanks for the note. We ran behind on Tuesday and you felt it. Please DM your order number so we can refund shipping and make it right.”

When A Review Isn’t About You

“Hi — we can’t find your order in our system, so this might be a mix-up. Could you message us with details? If this isn’t us, we’ll report it.”

When A Fix Is In Progress

“We see the same issue and a fix is rolling out today. If you still have trouble, message us so we can help one-to-one.”

Data And Privacy Notes

Turning the feature off does not purge review data. It hides public views. When you restore the feature, the score and comments come back as they were. Screenshots are still useful for your records, audits, and staff training.

If a review includes private data or doxxing, report it. Use the three dots on the post, choose Find support or report, and send. Keep your staff safe and move any sensitive talk to private channels.

What Happens To Your Data When You Re-Enable Reviews

When you turn the feature back on, your Page shows the score and past comments again. The hidden reviews return as they were. You won’t lose the old star count or text feedback; it’s just out of view while the feature is off.

Myths, Edge Cases, And Fixes

“I Turned Off The Tab, But People Can Still Leave Feedback.”

This usually means the tab was hidden, not disabled. Go back to Templates and Tabs, make sure the Reviews tab is visible, then open its settings and toggle it off there.

“The Reviews Tab Disappeared On Its Own.”

Page layouts change from time to time. Tabs can shift under the More menu or be turned off during template changes. Re-add it from the same Templates and Tabs screen, then adjust the order.

“I Need To Pause Reviews During A Crisis.”

Turning the feature off is a fast move. Pair it with a public post that acknowledges the issue and outlines the fix. Keep your replies open on other channels so customers still feel heard.

Step-By-Step Troubleshooting

Confirm you’re using a desktop browser with admin access.
Switch into the Page profile from your personal profile.
Open Settings → Templates and Tabs.
If Reviews isn’t listed, click Add a Tab and add it back.
Click Settings next to Reviews and toggle off.
Refresh your Page and check that the tab and star score are gone.

Alternatives When You Shouldn’t Hide Reviews

Sometimes hiding reviews hurts more than it helps. These options protect your reputation while keeping the score visible.

Situation	Best Action	Extra Tip
Coordinated fake reviews	Report each one; post a calm note on your Page	Collect screenshots and order IDs
One-off service slip	Public reply + private make-right	Offer a fix, then ask for an updated review
Old score no longer fits	Launch a steady review request plan	Ask after successful deliveries or visits
Legal or safety issue	Seek counsel offline and pause replies	Post a brief holding note; avoid details
Missing Reviews tab	Re-add the tab, then check its settings	Use desktop; mobile menus vary

A Clean Checklist You Can Save

Before You Switch Reviews Off

Screenshot the current score for your records.
Skim the latest feedback and tag items to resolve.
Draft a short message for affected customers.

While It’s Off

Fix root issues tied to recent complaints.
Close the loop with customers who reached out.
Set up a steady ask for reviews across email, SMS, and receipts.

When You Turn Reviews Back On

Post a note about the changes you made.
Invite fresh feedback from recent buyers.
Reply to new posts within one business day.

Where The Setting Lives In Meta Help

Meta’s help articles use the term “Recommendations.” They show where to turn the feature on or off and how the score works. You’ll also find guides on managing Page tabs. The links above open the exact pages so you don’t have to hunt through menus.