You can’t hide a single Google review; you may restrict your profile, edit it, delete it, or flag it if it breaks policy.
Wrote a review about a doctor and now wish it didn’t show up the way it does? You’re not alone. Many reviewers want a quiet fix without losing their voice.
Here’s the straight path. Google reviews for places, including clinics and individual practitioners, are public. There’s no private switch for one review. What you can do is choose from a handful of clean moves that either make your profile harder to find, update the text, or remove the review altogether.
This guide walks you through each option with clear steps, guardrails for personal details, and quick fixes for common snags.
What hiding a review means
On Google Maps, all posted reviews are public. That includes the name on your profile and any photos you attach. You can’t make one specific review private on its own. If a review stays up, it remains visible on the doctor’s place page.
You can still limit who sees a list of your contributions on your profile by using the restricted profile setting. That setting hides the grid of your reviews from your profile page, yet each review still appears on the place where it was posted. If you want a review to stop showing under the doctor’s listing, the only direct path is to delete it.
Your profile on Maps shows your name, profile image, bio, and a running list of public contributions. Maps does not offer anonymous posting. The name set on your About me page is the name that appears with your review.
If you worry that a past comment reveals too much about a medical visit, think about the impact beyond search results. Friends, coworkers, or family might find it by looking up the clinic. Privacy starts with the words and photos you share.
For the official position on visibility and editing, see Google’s review help.
Quick options at a glance
| Goal | Works? | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Hide one review from the doctor’s page | No | Delete the review |
| Stop people browsing all your reviews on your profile | Yes | Restrict your Maps profile |
| Fix wording, rating, or attached photos | Yes | Edit the review |
| Remove a review that breaks policy | Maybe | Flag the review for Google to review |
| Reduce your name exposure on the review | Yes | Change your account name and photo |
Hiding a Google review for a doctor safely
If your goal is less exposure, start with quick edits. Trim personal details, remove faces from photos you added, and switch to a neutral name and image on your Google profile. Keep any comments about care factual and respectful. Avoid sharing diagnosis specifics, insurance numbers, phone numbers, or any data you wouldn’t want shared.
How to remove or edit your Google review for a doctor
You control the text, the star rating, and whether the review exists. Edits update the timestamp to the latest edit date. Deletion takes the review down right away. The doctor and other readers won’t see it after removal. Use Maps edit and delete steps if you need a refresh.
Edits are a good first step when your feedback is sound but the wording feels too personal. You can change the text, remove photos, and adjust the star rating in one pass. The post date will update to the last edit time. Use Maps edit and delete steps if you need a refresh.
If you want a clean slate, delete the review. Deletion is near instant, though caches may take a short time to refresh. You can always write a shorter version later with fewer details. Use Maps edit and delete steps if you need a refresh.
Steps
- Open Google Maps and sign in with the account that posted the review.
- Tap or click your profile picture, then Your contributions, then Reviews.
- Find the review for the doctor. Choose More, then Edit review to revise, or Delete review to remove it.
- Save your changes. If you edited, confirm the new text and photos look right.
Restrict your Maps profile
A restricted profile hides your reviews list from your profile page. People won’t be able to browse your full review history from your profile. This does not remove reviews from place pages. Learn more under profile privacy.
From September 2025, Maps removed followers. The restricted setting still exists; it now controls profile visibility without follow requests. Use it if you want less casual snooping across your reviews. Learn more under profile privacy.
Think of the restricted setting as a way to make your review history harder to browse. Someone landing on your profile won’t see a grid of past posts. They would still see a review on a clinic’s page if they open that clinic. Learn more under profile privacy.
That tradeoff works well when you prefer less profile exposure but still want your thoughts to help others choosing a doctor. Learn more under profile privacy.
Steps
- Open Google Maps on Android or iOS.
- Go to Settings, then Personal content, then Profile privacy.
- Turn on the switch to make your profile restricted.
Reduce your footprint on the review
Minimize what the review shows about you while keeping the message clear.
Small tweaks go a long way. Replace names with roles, replace exact dates with time windows, and keep photos free of people. If you attached images of forms, delete them. Keep only neutral shots of the building or waiting room if needed.
Tone also matters. Short, direct lines about service, access, or clarity help readers and reduce risk for you. Try lines like “Booking was smooth. Wait was twenty minutes. Doctor gave clear next steps.”
- Edit out names, appointment dates, policy numbers, and any identifiers.
- Remove photos with faces, badges, or paperwork.
- Switch your Google Account name to a simple first name and last initial, and use a neutral profile image.
- Avoid posting details that could reveal private medical information about you or someone else.
Flag a review that breaks policy
If a review contains private information or content that violates Maps rules, you can flag it for review. Google removes content that breaks its posted policies. If the issue is your own review, deleting it is faster; flagging is meant for content that violates rules. Review the Prohibited & restricted content page before you file.
Policy breaks include fake engagement, doxxing, harassment, hate speech, and the posting of personal information. If you see any of that in a review on the doctor’s page, flag it. Reviews that break rules can be taken down after review. Review the Prohibited & restricted content page before you file.
Flagging is not a shortcut to remove a review you posted yourself. Use delete for your own content; save flags for content that breaks rules. Review the Prohibited & restricted content page before you file.
Steps
- Open the doctor’s listing on Google Maps.
- Find the review in question.
- Select More, then Flag as inappropriate, and pick the reason.
Doctor review tips that keep you safe
Stick to real experiences with scheduling, bedside manner, clarity, billing, and wait times. Keep it about the visit, not a diagnosis or private story. Never paste email threads, lab reports, or images of forms.
Good healthcare feedback stays within the visit: front desk, clarity of options, time spent, follow-up process, billing clarity, parking, and access. Skip symptoms, test results, prescription names, and anything that could identify another patient.
Never post phone numbers, email, or anything copied from private messages. If you want the clinic to contact you, call them instead of posting your details in public.
Step-by-step paths on each device
Paths can vary slightly by device and app version. If a menu item moved, use the search box inside Google Maps to find “Your contributions” or “Profile privacy.” Those queries jump you to the right screen.
| Action | Desktop | Android / iOS |
|---|---|---|
| Edit or delete a review | Menu → Your contributions → Reviews → More → Edit or Delete | Profile → Your contributions → Reviews → More → Edit or Delete |
| Restrict profile visibility | Not on desktop; use the app | Settings → Personal content → Profile privacy → Restricted |
| Flag a policy-breaking review | Open place page → Reviews → More → Flag as inappropriate | Open place page → Reviews → More → Flag as inappropriate |
Common roadblocks and fixes
Your review doesn’t show up publicly: automatic filters may hold it. Remove links, promotional lines, or repeated text. If you added photos, try deleting them and check if the text shows again.
You can’t find the review to edit: confirm you’re signed in with the account that posted it. If you used a different device or number, you might be on another account.
Edits won’t save: update your app, clear cache, and try again on the web. Shorten the text if it looks like a wall of characters or includes special symbols.
A review can also be held back if your account posts many reviews in a short burst or repeats the same lines across places. Slow down, keep each post original, and stick to direct, personal experiences.
If photos seem to trigger a hold, test by removing them, saving, and checking again. Then add back one clean photo if you still want an image with the post.
If an old account posted the review, search your inbox for Google Maps notifications to find the account used. Sign out, then sign in with that account before you try to edit. On mobile, long-press the app icon, pick Incognito, and check the place page to confirm which account shows the review. Try again and save.
When deleting makes sense
Delete if the review includes personal data, identifies staff by full name, or shares medical details you no longer want online. If you still want to give feedback to the clinic, send it by phone or on their official feedback form without posting it publicly.
Delete when the text reads like a diary entry or contains details you would not share with a stranger. It’s fine to step back and write again in a week with a leaner message that still helps other patients.
Delete as well if you posted while upset and later cooled down. Short, calm notes carry more weight and reduce risk of pushback from the clinic.
If you delete a review by mistake, write a shorter, safer version when you’re ready. A calm rewrite often lands better and helps people who will visit the same clinic.
Final checklist before you post or edit
A few minutes spent here can save you from backtracking later. Run through each line before you press Post or Save.
- Does the text avoid personal identifiers and private medical details?
- Is the tone factual and fair?
- Did you remove photos that reveal faces or documents?
- Have you checked your account name and profile image?
- If you prefer less profile exposure, is the restricted setting on?
Sample rewrites that protect you
These examples show how to keep the point while trimming personal detail. They’re not meant to be copied word for word; use them as patterns.
- Too detailed: “Dr. Rahman increased my dosage of X and ordered a CT on May 4 after my third flare-up.” Safer version: “Provider adjusted treatment and explained next steps with care.”
- Too identifying: “Receptionist Samira called my workplace from the front desk about my paperwork.” Safer version: “Front desk handled forms in public; a bit more privacy would help.”
- Too personal: “I cried in the room because of a past event.” Safer version: “Staff showed empathy and gave me time to ask questions.”
- Too revealing photo: a selfie with a wristband and lab slip. Safer choice: no people, no documents; or skip photos entirely.