No, Page owners can’t delete Facebook reviews—only report rule-breaking ones, reply, or turn off Recommendations.
If you manage a Facebook Page and a harsh rating shows up, your options are to report it when it breaks rules, respond publicly, ask the customer to edit or remove their own post, or disable the Recommendations feature. This guide walks through each route with clear steps for desktop and mobile, plus a policy-safe game plan for handling feedback without hurting your Page’s visibility.
What You Can And Can’t Do With Facebook Ratings
Facebook calls its review feature “Recommendations.” People can tap Yes/No, add text, and publish that to your Page. Admins and editors don’t get a delete button for feedback left by others. The platform keeps reviewer voice intact, and removal only happens when the post breaks rules or when the reviewer pulls it down.
Admin Actions Vs Outcomes
| Action | Available? | Where It Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Delete a customer’s review | No | Not supported for Page admins |
| Report a rule-breaking recommendation | Yes | From the review’s menu on desktop or mobile |
| Reply publicly | Yes | Under the review on your Page |
| Ask reviewer to edit or remove | Yes | Direct message or comment request |
| Turn off Recommendations | Yes | Page settings (Templates & Tabs or equivalent) |
| Hide single review without reporting | No | Not supported; visibility is all-or-nothing via feature toggle |
Deleting A Review From A Facebook Page: What’s Possible
There’s no admin control to remove a customer’s post. The only paths that make a review disappear are: the reviewer deletes it, or Meta removes it after a report. If the content includes spam, hate, harassment, threats, scams, or similar violations, use the built-in reporting flow. Facebook’s help pages specify that you can report Recommendations that don’t follow the rules, and reviewers may face moderation when posts cross the line. Reference: report a Recommendation and the overview of Community Standards.
How To Report A Rule-Breaking Recommendation
Desktop Steps
- Open your Page and go to the Reviews/Recommendations section.
- Find the post. Click the … menu near the review.
- Select the reporting option shown (wording can differ by Page experience).
- Choose a reason that matches the issue (spam, harassment, hate, scams, etc.).
- Submit. Keep screenshots and order IDs or dates on hand in case Meta requests details.
Meta reviews reports against its rules. If the post violates standards, moderation can remove the content or apply penalties to the account. See the help article on reporting Recommendations and the policy overview mentioned above.
Mobile Steps (iOS/Android)
- Open the Facebook app, visit your Page, and tap Reviews (or Recommendations).
- Locate the post, tap the … menu.
- Tap the option to report the recommendation.
- Pick the matching reason and send the report.
The mobile help entry confirms the reporting path for Recommendations.
When Reporting Works—and When It Doesn’t
Reports work when a review clearly breaks rules. A tough but fair opinion usually stays up. Claims about poor service, pricing, wait times, or product quality rarely qualify for removal on their own. Content with slurs, threats, doxxing, scams, or spam patterns has a better chance of being taken down under Meta’s policy set. You can scan the high-level policy summary here: Community Standards.
Turn Off Recommendations If You Need Breathing Room
In edge cases—review bombing, spam waves, or an ongoing dispute—you can hide the entire Recommendations feature. This removes the Reviews tab from public view and stops new posts while the toggle is off. Several industry guides describe the setting path; Meta’s help content also notes that admins can switch Recommendations on or off in Page settings.
Where To Find The Toggle
The exact labels vary by the “new Pages experience,” but the pattern is similar:
- Go to your Page → Settings → Templates and Tabs (or a similar tab layout).
- Locate Reviews or Recommendations and switch it off.
Guides that track the current interface confirm this all-or-nothing control for visibility.
Reply Strategy That Calms Tension
Even if a post feels harsh, a measured reply signals that your team is listening. Keep it short, factual, and solutions-oriented. Offer a clear next step: a direct line to support, a refund path when applicable, or a manager email. Avoid arguments. If the customer responds positively, they may edit or remove the post on their own.
Template Replies You Can Adapt
- Service issue: “Thanks for flagging this. We’d like to fix it. Please DM your order number so we can sort it today.”
- Delay or wait time: “We ran behind on Monday and missed expectations. We’re adjusting staffing for that slot next week. DM and we’ll make this right.”
- Product defect: “Not the experience we aim for. We’re sending a replacement. DM the best address and we’ll confirm shipment.”
Ask The Reviewer To Edit Or Remove Their Post
Many customers will adjust a review after a fair fix. Send a polite DM and keep it simple. Lay out what changed, share a direct link to their post, and ask if they’d consider updating it. Never offer rewards for edits. Incentives tied to reviews can run afoul of platform rules in some regions.
When a post includes hate, bullying, or violent threats, report it. The policy overview for publishers outlines these categories in plain language. See: policy categories. If the content is clearly abusive or spammy, the report may lead to removal.
Proof Checklist Before You File A Report
Give moderators context so they can act fast. Gather the following:
- Screenshots of the review, with timestamps visible.
- Any matching messages from the same profile that show threats, slurs, or scams.
- Order IDs, chat logs, or visit dates to confirm facts if the post alleges false claims.
- Links to duplicate spam posts or bot-like activity patterns.
Report Reasons And Typical Outcomes
| Reason Chosen | What Reviewers Check | Common Result |
|---|---|---|
| Hate or harassment | Slurs, insults, targeted abuse | Removal or warning if confirmed |
| Violence or threats | Calls for harm, intimidation | Removal; stronger penalties possible |
| Spam or scams | Copy-paste patterns, links to fraud | Removal; account action if repeated |
| False engagement | Coordinated “review bombing” signals | Case-by-case; mixed outcomes |
| Graphic content | Shocking media in reviews | Removal if verified |
Policy enforcement varies by case and evidence. Meta’s help pages describe the reporting flow, and the policy pages lay out categories used in reviews.
If You Disable Recommendations, What Changes?
When the feature is off, visitors won’t see the Reviews tab, can’t add new posts, and existing posts won’t show publicly. Your Page loses social proof during this period, which can reduce trust signals for new visitors. Use this only when needed—during an attack, a spike in spam, or while legal counsel handles a dispute. Third-party guides confirm that admins can switch this off in settings.
Reputation Tactics That Work Long Term
Set Up Response Rules
- Reply to every new recommendation within one business day.
- Route hot cases to a manager with a direct inbox.
- Use a short approval queue for refunds or credits to avoid back-and-forth.
Encourage Real Customers To Share Feedback
Send a clean review link after support tickets close. Add a small card at checkout with a QR code that points to your Page’s Reviews tab. A steady flow of real-world posts drowns out one-off negatives.
Audit Patterns Quarterly
Tag reviews by topic—staff, product, shipping, wait times—then fix the top two root causes. Publish those fixes in replies where relevant. New readers notice progress.
Common Myths About Facebook Reviews
“An Admin Can Remove Any Review”
There’s no removal button for admins. Only policy-based moderation from Meta or the original author can make a post disappear. The help content on reporting Recommendations makes this clear.
“Turning Off Recommendations Deletes Old Posts”
It hides them. When you toggle the feature back on, they reappear unless Meta removed them for a rules violation. Third-party guidance on switching off reviews explains the visibility change.
“All Negative Reviews Break Rules”
Not true. A tough but honest experience usually stays up. Only content that matches a policy category has a real shot at removal. See the policy overview for reference.
Step-By-Step: Full Playbook For A Bad Review
1) Check If It Breaks Rules
Scan for slurs, threats, doxxing, or obvious spam. If yes, file a report from the review’s menu. Keep a short internal note with links and screenshots.
2) Reply Publicly With A Fix
Own the issue and offer a next step. Avoid legal talk in comments. Move details to DM once the customer responds.
3) Follow Up In DMs
Share what changed and give a direct contact. After resolution, ask if they can update the post. Keep the ask polite and pressure-free.
4) Decide On The Toggle
If you’re seeing a wave of spam or a pile-on from non-customers, flip the Recommendations feature off for a short period. Bring it back when the thread calms down.
Where To Learn The Rules You’re Reporting Under
Meta’s help pages summarize reporting and policy coverage in plain language. Use these two as your base references:
Those entries reflect how to report a review and the behavior categories that moderation checks.
Quick Reference: Desktop Vs Mobile Actions
Find, Report, Reply, Or Disable—At A Glance
| Task | Desktop | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|
| Find Reviews tab | Page → Reviews/Recommendations | Page → Reviews/Recommendations |
| Report a review | Review → … → Report | Review → … → Report |
| Reply publicly | Type reply below review | Type reply below review |
| Disable Recommendations | Settings → Templates and Tabs → toggle off | Settings → Templates and Tabs → toggle off |
Final Word: What Works Best
Since admins can’t remove customer posts outright, the winning combo is fast replies, fair fixes, and accurate reports when a review crosses a clear line. Keep a short playbook for your team, track patterns, and reserve the feature toggle for emergencies. The result is steady reputation growth without policy trouble.