No—you can’t delete individual reviews on a Facebook Page, but you can report rule-breaking posts or switch off all Recommendations.
If you run a business Page, sooner or later you’ll face a harsh comment or a suspicious star rating. The big question is whether an admin can delete one bad post and keep the good ones. The short answer: Facebook treats customer feedback as user-generated content. Page admins can’t erase a single review written by someone else. What you can do is report a post that breaks platform policies, reply to it, or turn off the entire Recommendations feature, which hides the score and past reviews until you turn it back on.
What You Can And Can’t Do With Facebook Reviews
Here’s a quick map of your options. Use it to choose the fastest, least disruptive fix for the situation you’re dealing with.
| Action | Result | Where/How |
|---|---|---|
| Report a policy-breaking review | Facebook reviews the post; if it violates rules, it’s removed | Open the review → three dots → Report post |
| Turn off Recommendations | Hides all past reviews and the rating score Page-wide | Page settings → Recommendations → Off |
| Reply publicly | Shows your side, offers a fix, signals care to readers | Business Suite → Ratings & reviews → Respond |
| Ask the reviewer to edit/delete | The author can change or remove their own post | Reach out in a calm, solution-first message |
| Remove a review you wrote | You can edit or delete your own review | Your profile → Activity → Your review → Edit/Delete |
How Facebook Reviews Work Behind The Scenes
Facebook now uses “Recommendations” rather than classic star reviews. When Recommendations are turned on, people can post a “Yes/No” style recommendation with text and photos. The platform aggregates signals from these posts to build a score and review count on your Page. If you disable Recommendations, the score and the whole tab disappear from public view; turn them back on, and the history returns.
Turning Recommendations Off (And Back On) Without Losing History
If you need breathing room—say a troll swarm or a sudden spike of irrelevant comments—you can pause the feature. Switching the setting to Off hides ratings and all past posts from the public. When the dust settles, set it back to On and the content reappears. This move is blunt, since it hides good feedback along with the bad, but it’s quick and reversible.
When Reporting A Review Works
Reporting is the right move when a post breaks Facebook rules—spam, hate speech, threats, slurs, doxxing, or irrelevant promos. You flag the post from the three-dot menu on the review. Facebook will review the report and, if it matches a policy violation, remove the content. If it doesn’t cross a policy line, the post stays up. Because removal hinges on policy, not whether you disagree with the opinion, stick to clear violations when you report.
Close Variant Keyword: Deleting Reviews On A Facebook Page—What’s Allowed
Admins can’t press a trash can icon on a customer’s review. You can delete a comment left by your Page under a review, but the original post remains unless the author edits it or Facebook removes it for a policy issue. The platform protects user posts by design. That means your control leans on reporting, replying, or toggling the feature.
Step-By-Step: Best Ways To Handle Negative Feedback
1) Triage The Situation
Scan the post content. Is it about an actual visit or purchase? Is it abusive or unrelated to your business? If it’s a clear policy issue, report it. If it’s genuine frustration about service, plan a human reply. If you’re facing a wave of off-topic posts from non-customers, consider switching off Recommendations for a short window while you document and report patterns.
2) Craft A Reply That Wins Readers
New prospects read replies as much as the original post. Keep it short and calm: acknowledge the experience the person describes, share one concrete next step, and invite a private channel to swap order numbers or book a fix. Avoid copy-paste scripts. Use names and specifics you can verify from your records. When the issue is solved, ask the customer if they’d consider updating the review.
3) Report Clear Violations
Use the report tool when you see personal attacks, slurs, threats, spam links, or content that’s not about your business. File one clean report per post with the most accurate category. Don’t flood the system with duplicates. Keep screenshots of the original post and your steps for your records.
4) Pause Recommendations In A Crisis
If a viral post triggers a flood of fake reviews, stop the bleeding by turning the feature off for a short period. Update your customers on other channels—Instagram, X, email—that you’re dealing with a spam rush and will restore the tab soon. When the wave passes, switch it back on and continue normal moderation.
Linking Policies And Official Guides
For clear rules on reporting and the Recommendations switch, read Facebook’s own help pages. The instructions to turn Recommendations on or off and to report a review lay out the current controls and enforcement process. Linking to the primary source helps your team stay current when menus or labels change after an update.
Where To Find And Respond To Reviews
If you manage your Page through Meta Business Suite, open All tools and find Ratings & reviews. You’ll see a feed of recent posts with options to reply. Set a weekly routine—ten minutes twice a week—to clear inbox-style. Faster replies help future readers trust your business, and resolving a complaint early can lead the author to edit their post.
Pro Tips For Replying To Tough Posts
Lead With Facts You Can Check
Ask for an order number, visit date, or staff name. Offer one fix you can deliver today—refund path, redo, replacement, or a call from a manager. Keep the tone friendly and brief. Avoid arguing point-by-point in public. If the author piles on with new claims, move the conversation to direct messages and post a short public note that you’ve sent a DM.
Train One Voice
Give one person or a small team the keys to replies. A single voice keeps tone consistent and prevents cross-talk. Draft three reusable reply skeletons: a thank-you for praise, a fix-it offer for service issues, and a policy reply for posts about things you don’t provide. Personalize each send so it reads human, not scripted.
Close The Loop Internally
Share weekly highlights with staff—wins, misses, and frequent themes. If multiple posts mention wait times on Fridays, change staffing or pre-order flows. Reviews become free QA when you act on patterns.
When You Should Not Turn Off Recommendations
Hiding the entire tab removes social proof, which can dent conversions, especially for local searchers. Use this only for short periods tied to a clear problem, like spam campaigns or coordinated harassment. If feedback is mixed but authentic, keep it live. A steady stream of honest posts with thoughtful replies builds more trust than a pristine wall that suddenly disappears.
Common Scenarios And The Best Move
Use this table to choose your path fast.
| Scenario | Best Response | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Angry but real customer story | Public apology + fix + DM for details | Shows care; invites resolution; may win an edit |
| Spam link or promo | Report; no debate in public | Policy match; saves time and attention |
| Coordinated fake posts | Pause Recommendations; document; report patterns | Stops flood; builds case; keeps staff sane |
| Staff member replied in anger | Delete your comment; post a calm reply; coach staff | Resets tone; prevents escalation |
| Reviewer asks for a freebie you can’t offer | State policy plainly; offer a fair alternative | Keeps expectations clear for future readers |
| Old issue already fixed | Reply with the fix date and invite a revisit | Updates the story for shoppers comparing options |
FAQ-Style Clarifications (No FAQ Section Needed)
Can An Admin Delete One Bad Review?
No. You can’t remove a single customer’s post yourself. The author can edit/delete their own review, and Facebook may remove a post that breaks rules.
Will Turning Off Recommendations Delete My History?
No. The feature hides everything while off. When you switch it back on, the past content and the score return.
Does Replying Help My Rating?
Replying doesn’t change the math on its own, but it often changes reader perception and can lead to edited posts with a better tone or updated details.
Simple Playbook You Can Use Today
1) Set Up Monitoring
Add Ratings & reviews to your weekly checklist. In Business Suite, bookmark the panel so it’s one click away. Turn on email alerts for new posts if your team prefers inbox workflows.
2) Create Three Reply Templates
- Thank-you: Greet by name, name the product or service, and invite them back.
- Fix-it: Apologize for the exact issue and offer one clear next step.
- Policy: Briefly state what your business offers and suggest the right channel.
3) Build An Escalation Path
Decide when a manager steps in. Pick thresholds: legal threats, safety issues, media mentions, or a pile-on from suspicious profiles. Keep a one-page crib sheet with contacts and talking points.
4) Encourage More Real Reviews
Ask happy customers to post a short note after a resolved support ticket or a completed service. More authentic feedback dilutes outliers and gives a fuller picture.
Policy Refreshers Worth Bookmarking
Keep two links handy: the page for switching Recommendations on or off and the guide to reporting a review. These are the levers Page admins actually have today.
Key Takeaways For Page Owners
- You can’t delete a single customer review yourself.
- Use the report tool for clear policy violations.
- Switch off Recommendations temporarily during spam waves; turn them back on when calm returns.
- A fast, human reply turns a bad moment into a trust signal for future buyers.
- Ask happy customers to share their stories to balance the feed.