No, you can’t delete someone else’s Facebook review; you can report violations, reply, ask for an edit, or hide the Reviews tab.
Getting slammed by an unfair post on your Page stings. The good news: you still control the outcome. With the right playbook you can reduce the damage, surface your side, and, where rules allow, get problem posts taken down. This guide walks you through the exact paths Facebook supports, plus practical templates and settings that keep your reputation steady.
Can You Remove Negative Facebook Reviews? Rules That Apply
You don’t have a delete button for posts written by others. Removal happens only when a post breaks platform rules or when you switch off the Reviews/Recommendations feature for your Page. Facebook’s help pages confirm that you can report a Recommendation that violates policies; if it’s found to breach standards, it’s removed. That’s the official path. Everything else is about replies, edits, and visibility controls.
Your Fast Options At A Glance
Pick the action that fits the situation. Use this table to choose quickly.
| Action | What It Does | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Report The Review | Sends it to Facebook for policy review and removal if it breaks rules. | Fake orders, hate speech, threats, spam, off-topic attacks. |
| Public Reply | Shows your side, sets expectations, offers a fix. | Real customer issue you can resolve or clarify. |
| Request An Edit | Ask the reviewer to update their post after you fix the issue. | Service or product mistake already corrected. |
| Hide Reviews Tab | Removes the Reviews section from view on many Page setups. | Short-term triage during spam waves or review bombing. |
| Gather Fresh Positives | Dilutes an outlier with new, real feedback. | Ongoing reputation lift; after fixes go live. |
When A Post Breaks The Rules: Report It
Policy-breaking content can be removed. Here’s the official route Facebook lists for business Pages:
- Open your Page’s Reviews/Recommendations section.
- Find the post. Tap or click the three dots on that item.
- Choose Find support or report recommendation and follow the prompts to submit.
Facebook’s help article outlines this process for Recommendations posted to business Pages. Start from the Reviews area, open the menu on the offending post, and report. Source: Report a Recommendation.
What Commonly Qualifies
- Hate speech, slurs, or threats.
- Graphic, adult, or illegal content.
- Spam bursts, phishing links, or fake orders.
- Harassment, doxxing, or personal attacks.
Posts in these buckets are candidates for takedown after review. The reporting flow is the only path to removal for content written by others.
When It’s A Real Complaint: Win The Response
Many low-star posts come from real friction: delays, a missed call, a product defect. Respond with speed and clarity. Use this template and tweak the tone to match your brand:
Public Reply Template
“Thanks for sharing this. We’re sorry for the trouble with [issue]. We can fix this. Please DM your order number so we can sort a replacement/refund right away. If you’re open to it, we’ll post an update here once it’s resolved.”
Why This Works
- Ownership: you acknowledge the issue without arguing facts in public.
- Path to fix: you give a clear next step outside the glare of comments.
- Follow-through: you circle back with a brief update when it’s closed.
Ask For An Edit After You Fix It
Once the customer confirms a resolution, message them politely: “If your experience feels different now, an updated post would help others.” Many people will adjust their feedback when the problem is solved. Keep it light; you’re asking, not pressuring.
Hide Or Turn Off Reviews (When Needed)
If you’re under a spam wave or a short-term crisis, you can remove the Reviews tab from public view in many Page configurations. Typical path: go to Page settings, open Templates and Tabs, find Reviews, and toggle it off. Third-party how-to guides outline the same steps.
Note: Facebook’s interfaces change. Some sections and templates offer fewer toggles than others. If you don’t see a Reviews switch, you may be on a layout that limits removal; rely on reporting and replies in that case. (The reporting route remains available.)
Evidence Pack: Improve Your Odds On Reports
When you submit a report, context helps moderators. Prep a short note with any proof you can share if you’re asked to provide more info:
- Order or ticket numbers that don’t exist (fake orders).
- Screenshots of harassment or slurs in the post.
- Internal logs that show no customer record for the reviewer.
- Links in the post that lead to scams or malware.
Stay factual and brief. The goal is to show a clear policy violation. Official reporting steps are documented in the Facebook help article linked earlier.
Reply Playbook For Common Scenarios
Mixed-Up Order Or Delay
“Thanks for flagging this. We’ve checked and see a delay with carrier [name]. We can reship today or refund — your call. DM what works and we’ll wrap this up.”
Service Visit Went Wrong
“Sorry your appointment didn’t meet the mark. Our lead tech will call today to make it right. If a redo or refund helps, we’ll do that. We’ll update this thread after the call.”
Reviewer Wasn’t A Customer
“We can’t find a record under this name. If we’re missing it, please DM an order or ticket number so we can fix this fast. If this isn’t about our business, we’ve sent a report.”
Pro Tips That Lift Your Ratings Over Time
- Ask at the right moment. After a successful delivery or solved ticket, share a short direct link to your Page’s Reviews section.
- Make it easy. Pin a “Share your experience” post on your Page.
- Close the loop. When you fix something, post a tiny update under the original thread.
- Train for speed. Aim to respond within a business day; faster is better.
Deep Dive: What You Can And Can’t Do
Use this quick reference to avoid dead ends and focus on actions that work.
| Goal | Allowed Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delete someone else’s review | Not available | Only policy-breaking content can be removed by Facebook after a report. |
| Remove a fake/spam post | Report via post menu | Use Find support or report recommendation. |
| Stop new feedback temporarily | Hide or disable Reviews tab | Toggle off in Templates & Tabs on many Page layouts. |
| Fix a real mistake | Reply + resolve + request edit | Keep proof in DMs; ask for an update once settled. |
| Lower the impact of an outlier | Gather fresh positives | Ask recent customers for feedback after good outcomes. |
Exact Steps: How To Report A Bad Post On Your Page
- Go to your Page and open the Reviews/Recommendations section.
- Find the item, tap the three dots.
- Pick Find support or report recommendation.
- Select the reason (spam, hate, harassment, etc.).
- Submit and monitor your Support Inbox for updates.
These steps mirror the instructions Facebook publishes on its help center for business Pages.
How To Hide The Reviews Tab (If Your Layout Supports It)
- Open your Page as an admin.
- Choose Settings → Templates and Tabs.
- Find Reviews and switch it off.
Multiple step-by-step guides show this same toggle path. If your template lacks the switch, focus on reporting and responses while you sort out the root cause.
Policy Link You’ll Want Handy
Bookmark the official help article for reporting Recommendations. It’s the quickest way to get policy-breaking content reviewed and removed: report a Recommendation.
Triage Plan For A Spam Wave
Coordinated attacks (sometimes called “review bombing”) can spike in minutes. Use a simple three-step routine:
- Contain: Flip the Reviews tab off if your Page supports it.
- Report: Submit each spam item through the reporting flow.
- Communicate: Post a short note on your Page stating you’re handling a spam incident and customer service is open by phone or email.
Keep Your House In Order
- Proof on file: Keep shipping logs, call notes, and ticket IDs. These help if Facebook requests more detail.
- Clear contact paths: Pin your best support channel so unhappy customers reach you directly.
- Balanced replies: Skip sarcasm. Short, calm, and solution-oriented wins readers’ trust.
FAQ-Style Clarifications (No Extra Sections Added)
Can I Remove A Post I Wrote?
Yes. If you, as a customer, posted on someone else’s Page and want it gone, open the post and delete your own content. Business owners can’t delete posts written by other people unless they break rules and get removed after a report.
Do Old Ratings Come Back If I Re-Enable Reviews?
When the Reviews tab is switched back on in Templates and Tabs, prior items usually return, based on how the feature works across documented guides. Use this as a temporary shield, not a permanent solution.
Finish Strong: A Short Checklist
- Is it spam or abusive? Report it.
- Is it a real service miss? Reply, fix, and ask for an update.
- Under attack? Hide the Reviews tab while you file reports.
- Back on track? Invite fresh feedback from recent customers.
Official instructions for reporting Recommendations: Facebook Help Center. Step-by-step examples for turning off the Reviews tab are documented by reputable service guides such as HubSpot’s tutorial.