You can delete only a Google review you wrote; other people’s posts can’t be removed by you and must be flagged under policy.
You’re here because the remove button isn’t showing up, or it isn’t doing anything. The reason is simple: Google lets you erase only feedback that sits under your own account. Posts written by others stay put unless they break rules and get taken down after a report, or the author edits them.
What You Can And Can’t Do With Reviews
Use this quick map to confirm what’s possible and where to find each control.
| Action | Who Can Do It | Where/How |
|---|---|---|
| Delete a review you posted | The original author (you) | Maps > Your contributions > Reviews > More > Delete (Maps Help: edit or delete) |
| Edit the text or stars you posted | The original author (you) | Same path as above; choose Edit (step-by-step) |
| Remove someone else’s comment on your Business Profile | No one directly | Flag it in your profile’s Reviews tab for policy review (Report inappropriate reviews) |
Why You May Be Unable To Remove A Google Review
Several roadblocks trip people up. Run through these quick checks to find the blocker and fix it.
You’re Not Signed In With The Right Account
The delete option appears only when you open the post from the exact Google account that created it. Switch accounts, open Maps, and go to Your contributions > Reviews. If the post isn’t there, it isn’t tied to that login. Ask friends or coworkers if a shared device may have used another account.
The Place Listing Changed
When a business merges, rebrands, or moves, the page can redirect to a new listing. Your text may look “stuck,” or the edit icon may vanish. Re-open the post from Your contributions. If the option still won’t appear, copy the review link and try from desktop Maps. Some listing changes hide older entries until the system finishes processing the merge.
The Review Was Removed For Policy Reasons
Google pulls content that breaks rules on spam, fake engagement, off-topic posts, or harassment. When that happens, the entry can disappear from public view and from your profile. Check for notices in Your contributions. If you want to learn what triggers removal, scan the official “Prohibited & restricted content” page linked in the table above. It lays out plain-language examples like incentives for edits, mass posting, personal attacks, and private data.
You’re A Business Owner Trying To Delete A Customer’s Comment
Owners and managers can’t erase user posts. Google made this design choice to keep ratings trustworthy. You can flag content that breaks rules and reply with context. For clear violations, use the flag flow in your Business Profile and track the case in the Reviews section. Short, factual replies also help readers judge the situation while a report is reviewed.
Your Account Or Location Has Posting Limits
During spam waves or sensitive events, Google can throttle new posts or edits in some categories or regions. If you see a message about posting limits, wait and try later. The “Posting restrictions” page in Maps Help explains why these temporary blocks appear and how they are lifted.
Step-By-Step: Delete A Review You Wrote
On A Phone (Maps App)
- Open the Maps app and tap your avatar.
- Pick Your profile > Your contributions > Reviews.
- Find your post, tap the three dots, then choose Delete.
On A Computer
- Open Maps on the web.
- Click the menu icon.
- Open Your contributions > Reviews.
- Click More next to your post and pick Delete.
Those paths work for edits, too. If the button is missing, jump to the fixes below.
Fixes When The Delete Button Won’t Show
Confirm You’re On The Right Review
Open Your contributions and sort by Recent. If the post isn’t there, you might be on a different page that copied the business name. Search for duplicate listings and pick the one with the correct address or category. Edits and deletion only work from the original entry under your profile.
Switch Devices Or Browsers
Edits can fail on a single device due to extensions or cache. Try desktop Chrome with no extensions. Sign out, clear cache, sign in again, and retry the path to your post. If mobile still fails, try desktop; if desktop fails, try mobile data instead of Wi-Fi in case of a local block.
Check For Policy Flags Or Quality Filters
When spam signals pop up, systems can hold or hide entries. This got stricter in late 2024 and early 2025 as Google rolled out tougher actions on review abuse and placed warnings on some profiles during enforcement waves. If your text vanished, it may have been filtered. Read the official policy pages noted earlier and make sure your post aligns with those rules.
Look For Listing Merges
If the business changed its name or combined locations, your old post might sit on a retired page. Use the listing’s Share link to copy the URL, then open Your contributions > Reviews and access the post from there. If the edit or delete commands still don’t appear, wait a day and check again; page moves can take time to settle.
Appeal Paths Work Differently
There’s an appeal route for owners when a user post breaks rules. There isn’t a special line to override the normal delete control for your own text. If Delete never appears for your account, it usually means you aren’t in the right profile or the entry already fell under a filter.
How Removal Works For Content That You Didn’t Write
If you manage a Business Profile and a user post breaks rules, use the flag. Pick a precise reason that matches the issue, like spam, off-topic, conflicts of interest, or hate speech. Google reviews the case and may remove the post, restrict the reviewer, or add warnings on the listing during enforcement. Normal negative feedback doesn’t qualify for removal. Readers want to see both praise and complaints, so the bar for takedown sits high.
What Counts As A Violation
- Fake engagement: paid posts, swaps, mass posts from the same person.
- Harassment and hate.
- Off-topic rants that don’t describe an on-site experience.
- Private data like phone numbers or emails.
- Images that break content rules.
How To Flag A Problem Review
- Open your Business Profile on Search or Maps.
- Select Read reviews, find the post, click the three dots, then choose Report.
- Pick the reason that matches the rule, add concise context, and submit.
Keep replies calm and factual while the case is reviewed. Readers often weigh your tone as much as the star count.
Owner Playbook When You Can’t Delete A Customer’s Post
You can’t erase user feedback, so handle the parts you control. Use this playbook to keep your rating steady and fair.
Respond With Facts And A Calm Voice
Thank the reviewer for the time spent, address the exact point raised, and state what you checked or changed. Skip names and private details. A short reply beats a long argument.
Invite A Re-Visit After A Fix
When you correct an issue, invite the person back. Many people update their rating after a quick, clean fix. Don’t offer perks tied to edits or removals; incentives linked to review changes break policy.
Report Clear Violations Promptly
Flag spam or abuse using the right reason. Add a line of context in your report, such as “duplicate posts from one person” or “contains private phone number.” Track the case in your profile and follow up if needed.
Edge Cases That Confuse People
The Business Closed Or Rebranded
When a page closes or merges, older entries sometimes become read-only while the system moves data. Try again from desktop Maps after a day or two. If you still can’t access Delete on a post you wrote, copy the link from Your contributions and open it in a clean browser session.
Your Stars Changed But The Text Didn’t
Star edits can show up first while text edits lag. Refresh, then check Your contributions. If the text still won’t update after a while, remove the post entirely and write a fresh one. Keep it factual and brief.
You’re Seeing A Warning On A Business Profile
During crackdowns on fake activity, Google can remove batches of posts, block new ratings for a time, or show warnings on a profile. Those labels aim to keep readers informed while abuse is cleared. Once the wave passes, new posts open up again.
Policy-Safe Ways To Ask For More Feedback
Skip anything that gates reviews or pays for edits. Ask all customers for honest feedback with a neutral invite link. Don’t filter out unhappy folks. Clear, wide invites grow ratings over time without risking penalties or warnings on your listing.
Second Table: Policy Reasons Vs. Likely Outcomes
| Policy Issue | What It Means | Likely Result |
|---|---|---|
| Fake engagement | Paid or mass posts, swaps, device tampering | Review removal; posting bans; profile warnings during enforcement waves |
| Off-topic content | Comment that doesn’t describe a real visit | Possible removal after review |
| Harassment or hate | Slurs, threats, bullying | Removal; account limits |
| Personal data | Sharing private info | Removal |
| Incentivized edits | Perks offered to change or remove a rating | Removal; restrictions on the listing |
Light Checklist Before You Try Again
- Open Maps on desktop and sign in to the account that wrote the post.
- Go to Your contributions > Reviews and confirm the entry appears there.
- If yes, click More > Delete. If no, search for duplicates or a new page for the place.
- Clear cache, disable extensions, and retry a clean browser.
- Scan the policy pages linked earlier to rule out a filter or posting limit.
Short Notes On Timing And Appeals
Reports usually get looked at in a few days. Complex cases can take longer. If a clear breach remains live after you flagged it, re-report with a short line of context and the exact rule name from the policy page. Keep replies polite while the case runs. Readers often reward calm, precise answers.
Why Google Limits Deletion
Ratings shape real choices. If owners could erase user posts at will, trust would drop. That’s why Google leans on a rules-first system, a flag flow, and wave-based actions against abuse. Users keep control over their own posts. Owners manage replies, service fixes, and accurate info on the listing.
Bottom Line That Helps You Act
If you wrote the post, remove it from Your contributions. If someone else wrote it, use the flag and reply with facts. Learn the few policy lines that matter, and you’ll know when a takedown is likely and when a calm, clear reply works best.