No, Google reviews can’t be moved freely; they shift only in limited cases like merges, rebrands, or ownership transfer through support.
Owners ask about moving ratings for many reasons: a sale to new hands, a move across town, or a clean-up after duplicates appear. Each case has different rules. This guide explains what can travel with your page, what can’t, and the precise steps that keep hard-won feedback intact.
Transfer Google Reviews Between Listings — What’s Allowed
Ratings live on a specific Business Profile tied to a real place. There’s no copy-and-paste button that ports them to an unrelated page. Movement happens only when the new page still represents the same business. Common green-light cases include a verified rebrand, a relocation while keeping the same name, or a support-approved merge of duplicates.
The safest path is often to update the existing profile instead of creating a new one. Edit the live page, verify the change, and keep ownership stable while the update runs. If you truly need a merge or a move, prepare evidence that the pages refer to the same entity and submit a request.
| Scenario | Can Reviews Move? | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Relocation With Same Name | Often | Edit the address on the current profile; ratings usually follow to the new spot. |
| Minor Name Change | Often | Keep the profile; adjust the name; history stays attached. |
| Full Rebrand | Case-by-case | Show clear continuity of ownership, services, and customers; submit to support. |
| Duplicate Pages | Yes via merge | Request a merge so the surviving page keeps the review history. |
| New, Unrelated Brand | No | Feedback reflects a different business experience; it doesn’t transfer. |
| Different Locations | No | Each site keeps its own ratings; location matters. |
| Hotels/Attractions Moving | Rare | Experience is tied to place; movement is limited or blocked. |
What Counts As The “Same Business” To Google
Continuity is the test. Signals include the same legal entity, matching services, the same or related phone and domain, and a paper trail that ties operations together. A contractor changing from “Smith Plumbing” to “Smith & Sons Plumbing,” keeping the team and serving the same city, fits that test. A sale to a new franchise with new staff and policies usually doesn’t.
Place type also plays a role. Service-area businesses and storefront retailers can move and keep feedback when nothing material changes. Experience-led places, like resorts and attractions, are treated more strictly because the experience changes with the site.
Ownership Transfer Keeps Reviews With The Page
Passing control is not the same as moving feedback. When you transfer primary ownership on the same profile, the page retains its ratings. Use this route for a sale, hand-off to a new partner, or an agency change. Add the new account as an owner, wait through the required window, then assign the primary role.
Steps To Pass The Page To A New Owner
- Open the profile in Search, choose “Business Profile settings,” then “People and access.”
- Add the new account as an owner and send the invite.
- After the waiting period, change the role to “Primary owner.”
- Remove the old owner only after the new one accepts and access is stable.
This path keeps your review history intact because the profile itself never changes hands outside the platform.
How Merges Work For Duplicates
Duplicates happen: a page made by a former staffer, an auto-created entry after a move, or an old address left open. A merge reduces that clutter to a single source of truth. Gather both profile IDs, pick the page that should survive, and submit a merge request. If the pages represent the same entity, ratings consolidate on the chosen profile.
Proof That Helps A Merge Request
- Documents showing the same legal entity across both pages.
- Matching phone number and domain on each profile.
- Photos showing the same storefront, vehicle wraps, or crew branding.
- Invoices, permits, or utility records tying the entity to each address.
Once support confirms the match, duplicates are combined and only one page remains. Replies to older reviews may need reposting, so keep a few templates on hand.
Edge Cases That Often Get Denied
Some requests hit a hard stop. Moving ratings from one city to a distant city, handing one brand’s ratings to another brand, or blending feedback from separate branches usually fails. The star score should reflect the current place and experience. Shifting that history when the business changes too much would mislead searchers.
Step-By-Step Paths You Can Take
Relocating A Store Or Office
Edit the address on the active profile. Keep the name steady until the move is complete. Add fresh photos of the new site and a short post with directions. If a second page was created for the new site, ask support to mark the old page as moved to the new one so ratings remain attached.
Rebranding Without Changing Ownership
Update the existing page name and branding fields. Share a post that explains the new label to customers. Keep categories and services the same where possible. If the new label is a minor variation and the business stays the same, feedback usually stays too.
Combining Duplicates
Collect the Business Profile IDs, decide which page should survive, and submit the merge. Be clear about the relationship between pages and why one should remain. After the merge, check that your hours, categories, and service areas are correct.
Selling The Business
Use the owner transfer path described above. Invite the buyer as an owner, then hand over the primary role after the waiting period. The profile and its ratings remain, while control passes to the buyer.
What You Can’t Do With Reviews
You can’t copy ratings from one brand to another. You can’t move ratings from a closed branch to an open branch that serves a different area. You can’t transplant feedback from a listing to a personal profile, or move a reviewer’s contributions from one Google account to another. Reviewer entries belong to the original account and stay there.
Keep Review History Safe During Changes
Plan first. Map the exact change you’re making, then pick the right path: edit, merge, or owner transfer. Take screenshots before you start, including the profile ID, current NAP data, and a CSV export of reviews from your dashboard or reporting tool. Update your site and citations so names, addresses, and phones match the live profile.
Next, make the smallest change needed. Move the address before changing the name. Close duplicates only after the main page is verified and stable. When the update settles, spot-check that ratings and responses remain visible, then ask recent customers for new feedback so the score reflects the current team and location.
Review Quality Rules Still Apply
All movement sits under the same content rules. Reviews must reflect real experiences and can’t be tied to perks or gifts. If a profile trips spam filters, ratings may be held or removed, and warnings may appear on the page. Keep requests clean and respond to feedback without incentives.
Common Myths And Clear Answers
“We Can Move Ratings Between Two Different Brands”
No. Brand-to-brand transfers mislead searchers and get denied. If you bought a brand and kept staff, tools, and customers, use a merge request only if both pages truly represent the same entity after the change.
“We Can Move Ratings From One City To A New City”
No. Ratings reflect a place. Separate sites maintain separate histories unless the old page is marked as moved to the new address for the same business.
“We Can Ask Reviewers To Post The Same Text Again For Perks”
Don’t do it. Incentives put reviews at risk and may trigger warnings or removals. Ask for honest feedback with no perks, keep requests neutral, and never script the star rating.
Checklist Before You Request A Move Or Merge
- Confirm that both pages represent the same legal entity.
- Match phone number and domain on both profiles.
- Gather proof: licenses, lease or utility bills, tax docs, or insurance.
- Note each profile’s ID and current URLs.
- Decide which page should survive after the merge.
- Capture screenshots of current reviews and replies for reference.
- Align your website, menus, and booking links with the surviving page.
Sample Message You Can Send To Support
“We operate a single business that recently moved from [old address] to [new address] with the same name and services. Profile A (ID: XXXXX) is our active page. Profile B (ID: YYYYY) was created by a former manager and references the same entity. Please merge Profile B into Profile A and mark the old address as moved to the new address. Attached are matching licenses and utility bills. Thank you.”
Metrics To Watch After Changes
Track impressions, calls, website clicks, and direction requests for four weeks after the update. Watch the average rating and review pace. If anything drops or replies vanish, contact support with your before-and-after screenshots. Keep asking recent visitors for feedback so the profile reflects current service quality.
Pros And Cons Of Each Path
| Action | Upside | Trade-Offs |
|---|---|---|
| Edit Current Page | Fast; history stays attached. | Large shifts in brand or category may need support review. |
| Merge Duplicates | Consolidates ratings; one page to manage. | Some old replies may need reposting. |
| Owner Transfer | Clean hand-off with reviews intact. | Short waiting window before the role can switch. |
Practical Tips To Avoid Review Loss
- Run one live profile per site; avoid extra pages.
- Keep categories and services steady during a move.
- Maintain the same phone and domain where possible.
- Save proof before changes; store it in a shared folder.
- Request a merge instead of deleting a duplicate.
- Post updates so customers know what changed and when.
- Invite fresh feedback after changes to keep signals current.
When To Contact Google
Reach out when you find a duplicate, when a rebrand goes beyond a minor tweak, or when a relocation leads to two live pages. Include links to both profiles, profile IDs, and a short note that explains continuity. Attach proof that shows the same entity and services. Clear, concise requests with evidence get the fastest results.
Requests that would mislead searchers—like moving ratings to a new brand, a new owner with new staff, or a different place with different conditions—tend to be declined. In those cases, start fresh and build new feedback the right way.
Helpful References For Next Steps
Google’s own guidance explains when reviews can move or be merged and how to reach support. See the review movement rules. Selling the company or handing the page to a client? Follow the steps to transfer primary ownership so the profile and ratings stay intact.
Bottom Line For Business Owners
You can protect review history when the page still represents the same business. Use edits for small changes, merges for duplicates, and owner transfer for a sale or hand-off. If the brand, place, or entity changed in a way that breaks continuity, ratings stay with the old page. Make a simple plan, document continuity, and pick the path that fits your case.