Yes, you can delete your own Google review; removing others’ reviews requires reporting policy violations to Google.
Maybe you posted feedback in a rush. Or a customer left a jab that feels off. This guide lays out what you can do now, what takes patience, and what never works. You’ll see clear steps, the rules that matter, and proven ways to lower the damage while the case is reviewed.
Removing A Google Review: Options That Actually Work
Everything starts with who you are in this situation. Your path is different if you wrote the comment, if you manage the profile, or if you’re a third party who spotted a policy breach.
| Action | Who Can Use It | Where In Google |
|---|---|---|
| Delete or edit your own comment | The original reviewer | Google Maps “Your contributions” |
| Flag a comment that breaks policy | Anyone, including owners | Business Profile or Maps review card |
| Request removal with legal basis | People or businesses with rights at stake | Google Legal Removal Request |
| Reply to reduce harm | Business owners or managers | Business Profile dashboard |
| Ask the reviewer to revise | Business owners (via private outreach) | Off-platform, then user edits in Maps |
Delete Or Edit Your Own Review (Step By Step)
If you wrote the text and want it gone or updated, you can do that from Maps on desktop or phone. See Google’s official steps here: Add, edit, or delete a review. Here’s the short path.
Desktop
- Open Google Maps and sign in with the account that posted the comment.
- Open the menu, pick Your contributions, then open Reviews.
- Find the entry, click the three dots, and choose Edit review or Delete review.
Android Or iPhone
- Open the Maps app, tap Contribute, then open your profile and See all reviews.
- Open the item, tap the three dots, then choose Edit review or Delete review.
Edits replace the text while keeping the star rating unless you change it. Deleting removes the text and rating from the public page.
Flag A Comment That Breaks Policy
Anyone can report a review that crosses the line. Use the Business Profile reporting flow: Report inappropriate reviews. That includes spam, fake experiences, conflicts of interest, hate or harassment, off-topic rants, doxxing, or banned links and offers. Google checks reports and removes items that match the rules.
How To Flag
- Open the Business Profile on Search or Maps.
- Find the review, click the three dots, and pick Report review or Flag as inappropriate.
- Select the closest reason and submit. Add context if the form allows it.
What Counts As A Removable Violation
- Spam or fake content: repeated posts, copy-paste patterns, or reviews about a place the person never visited.
- Conflicts of interest: reviews from current or former staff, owners, or direct rivals.
- Off-topic content: comments about politics, labor disputes, or personal attacks unrelated to a customer experience.
- Harassment or hate: slurs, threats, or smears aimed at a person or group.
- Restricted or illegal content: requests for money, gifts, or perks in exchange for a review; links to malware or banned items.
- Personal data: posting addresses, phone numbers, emails, or other identifying data without consent.
One clear report often does the job. For tougher cases, owners can also use the Business Profile dashboard to track review reports and escalate when new evidence appears.
What Stays Up Even If You Disagree
Not every harsh comment breaks the rules. Google leaves up opinions about wait times, pricing, product selection, or staff demeanor, even when you feel they’re unfair. Typos, a missing detail, or a blunt tone don’t meet the removal bar. The right move in these cases is a calm reply and service recovery offline.
Legal Paths When Rights Are At Stake
Some cases need a legal route, such as clear defamation, trademark misuse, or court-ordered takedowns. Google reviews these through a separate form. Use this path with care and with documents that back your claim, such as a judgment or a police report when relevant. During review, keep your public reply short and factual to avoid drawing more eyes to the claim.
Write A Reply That Lowers The Impact
A measured response can soften the hit while you wait on a review check. Aim for three short lines.
A Handy Template
“Thanks for sharing this. We take your note seriously and would like to make it right. Please reach us at [email/phone] with your visit date so we can help and verify the details.”
This tone shows care without repeating claims. Skip usernames, medical or order details, or anything that exposes private data. Keep names and identifiers out of your reply.
Build A Strong Case Before You Flag
Strong reports point to facts, not feelings. Gather:
- Time and date: when the review was posted and what happened that day on your end.
- Records: booking logs, call notes, or POS receipts that show whether the person interacted with you.
- Patterns: bursts of new five-star or one-star posts from new profiles, or wording that matches other pages.
- Screenshots: proof of off-platform threats, offers, or harassment.
Save everything in a folder so you can re-submit if new posts appear or if the first report misses context.
Timing, Appeals, And Realistic Expectations
Reports don’t move at a fixed speed. Many are checked within days. Some take longer, especially when more facts are needed. You might get a result with no extra questions, or a request for more detail. If a clear breach remains, submit again with fresh evidence. If the review stays up and the content is opinion-based, shift energy to service fixes and outreach that earns new, genuine feedback.
When Asking A Customer To Revise Makes Sense
When the issue stems from a fixable mistake, reach out politely. Offer a direct line, resolve the problem, then ask if they’d like to update their post. Don’t offer discounts, gifts, or perks tied to ratings or edits. That crosses policy lines and can trigger account action.
Second Table: Policy Grounds And Best Proof
| Policy Ground | Typical Signals | Best Proof To Submit |
|---|---|---|
| Spam or fake | Boilerplate text, new accounts, copy-paste across places | Screenshots of pattern, links to matching posts |
| Conflict of interest | Staff or rival ties, owner replies from same account | HR records, LinkedIn screenshots, domain ties |
| Off-topic | Rants about politics, lawsuits, or unrelated events | Brief note tying the text to non-customer issues |
| Harassment or hate | Slurs, threats, insults toward a person or group | Screenshots, timestamps, any police case number |
| Personal data | Addresses, phones, emails, order numbers | Screenshot of exposed data; reason for privacy risk |
| Illegal content | Malware links, sales of banned items | URL captures, security tool output |
Practical Scenarios And The Right Move
A Mistake In Service, Now Fixed
Reply, share a direct line, fix the issue, and invite the person to try again. After the fix, a gentle ask to update the post is fine. No incentives tied to edits.
A Fake Review Blitz
Document timing and wording patterns. Flag each item. If waves keep coming, pace reports, then post one brief reply noting you’re aware of spam and working with the platform.
Owner Steps Inside Business Profile
If you manage the listing, you have extra tools. You can reply, report, and track review status from one place. Here’s a clean workflow that saves time.
- Sign in to the Business Profile manager and pick the location.
- Open the Reviews tab to see recent posts, star trends, and report status.
- Filter by rating to spot streaks that suggest spam bursts or astroturfing.
- Reply to calm frustration on legit posts. Keep replies short and skip any details that reveal private info.
- Flag items that fit a policy ground. Add a neat, plain description. Avoid long essays.
- Check back in a few days. If a clear breach remains, submit again with fresh context.
Common Myths That Waste Time
Mass-Flagging Makes Removal Instant
Ten reports don’t beat one well-documented report. The review team looks at evidence and policy, not headcounts. Spend time on proof and clarity, not on rallies.
Reply Length Changes The Outcome
Long replies don’t sway policy checks. Write three clean lines, offer a direct line, and move on. Keep your energy for the steps that change results.
Threats In A Public Reply Help Your Case
Threats can backfire and drive more attention to the claim. Keep replies neutral and push any sensitive talk to a private channel.
New Five-Star Posts Can Balance A Spam Wave
Asking staff, family, or regulars to post in response to a one-star blitz is risky. Conflicts of interest and incentives are against policy. Earn new reviews the right way by fixing the root issue and asking real buyers to share real experiences with no strings attached.
Data Hygiene That Pays Off
Strong record-keeping helps both policy reports and legal steps. Set a weekly routine. Export review data, capture screenshots of odd streaks, log outreach attempts, and save receipts tied to real transactions. When you can show direct ties, your report reads like a case file instead of a complaint.
Build a short internal checklist: who gathers receipts, who writes the report, who replies on the public page. Clear roles speed things up and reduce mistakes.
How This Guide Was Compiled
The steps above align with Google’s public help pages and policy pages. We checked process details on editing or deleting your own entry, on reporting reviews that break the rules, and on what the platform treats as off-limits content. We also reviewed the legal request page to understand when a takedown needs formal documents.