How to remove a Google review (and when you can't)
The short answer
You cannot delete a Google review yourself. You can report it, and Google removes it only if it breaks its content policy, such as fake, spam, off-topic or abusive reviews. A review that is honest but unfair stays up. Reply to it, and add newer good reviews.
By Reputant · Updated 2026-10-30 · 6 min read
Can I delete a Google review myself?
No. Per Google's own help page, owners can only report a review for removal, and only reviews that violate Google's policies are eligible. A review you simply dislike or disagree with does not qualify, and Google does not take sides in disputes between a business and a customer.
The reviewer can edit or delete their own review, and Google can remove one that breaks its policy. Nobody else can, including you, the person who runs your Google profile, and any company that says it can do it for you.
Reputant cannot remove reviews either. No software can. What it does is show every review in one place and help you reply to them, which is covered further down.
What will Google actually remove?
Google lists what is not allowed on its prohibited and restricted content page. In plain words, these are the ones that matter for a local business.
| Type of review | What it means | Likely to be removed? |
|---|---|---|
| Fake engagement | Not based on a real visit, paid for, or posted from several accounts by one person | Yes, if Google can confirm it |
| Conflict of interest | Written by an owner, employee or relative, or tied to a contract | Yes |
| Incentivized reviews | Posted for a discount, gift or to get a negative review taken down | Yes |
| Off-topic | Politics, personal rants, or not about the place | Often |
| Spam or advertising | Promotions, links or contact details | Yes |
| Harassment or hate | Threats, doxxing, attacks on a person or group | Yes |
| Personal information | Names, numbers or details shared without consent | Often |
| Profanity and obscenity | Used to offend | Often |
| Honest but harsh | A real customer says you were slow, rude or overpriced | No |
| Wrong but sincere | A real customer remembers it differently | No |
Page wording and enforcement change, so read the current policy before you file. The last two rows are the most common reason people are disappointed.
How do I report a Google review?
These are the steps from Google's help page on flagging reviews. Menu names change now and then.
- Sign in to the Google account that manages your Business Profile.
- Open your profile and select Read reviews.
- Find the review and select the report (flag) icon beside it.
- Choose the reason that fits, such as spam, off-topic or profanity.
- Select Send report. Google reviews it, which typically takes several days.
- Check the result in Google's Reviews Management Tool. It shows whether a decision is pending, no violation was found, or the report was escalated.
What if Google says no violation was found?
Google allows a one-time appeal for eligible reviews, through the Reviews Management Tool, up to ten reviews at a time. Per the same help page, you get an email with the result.
If you appeal, be specific. Pick the reason that matches the policy, and do not pile on several reasons that do not fit.
What do I do if the review stays up?
Most bad reviews stay. That is normal, and a calm response does more good than a fight. A few things work.
- Reply publicly and briefly. Google's reply guide says replies appear under the review and the reviewer is notified, so they may update it. Use the examples in how to respond to negative reviews.
- Fix the problem if the complaint was fair, and tell the customer privately.
- Ask recent happy customers for a review. A rolling flow of new ones moves a single old review down the list. Start with review request templates and the Google review QR code.
- Read how to get more reviews overall in how to get more Google reviews.
What should I never do to get a review removed?
Do not pay a company that promises to delete reviews. It cannot, and some of them post fake reviews of their own, which can get your profile in trouble.
Do not offer money or a refund in exchange for a changed review. Google lists incentivized reviews and reviews posted to get a negative one removed as violations of its policy.
Do not write fake positive reviews yourself or ask staff to. Do not threaten the reviewer with a lawsuit you do not intend to bring.
Are fake reviews illegal in the US?
Since 2024 the FTC has a rule against fake reviews. According to the FTC's announcement, it bans reviews from people who do not exist or never used the business, paying for reviews of a set sentiment, undisclosed insider reviews, and using baseless legal threats or intimidation to take down negative reviews. The FTC can seek civil penalties against knowing violators.
That helps you in two ways. A fake review about you may be reportable to the FTC as well as Google. And you must not do the same to others.
What are the rules in Canada?
The Competition Bureau treats misleading claims in promotions as deceptive marketing, and its guidance on false or misleading representations says civil penalties and criminal charges are possible. Fake or paid reviews can be a form of that.
If you believe a competitor is posting fake reviews about you or themselves, you can report to the Bureau as well as to Google. This is general information, not legal advice. If a review is defamatory or you plan to threaten action, talk to a lawyer first.
Should I reply before or after I report?
Report first if the review clearly breaks a rule, then reply. The two do not cancel each other, and a reply keeps the page looking looked-after while Google decides.
If the review is removed, your reply goes with it, so keep the reply short and do not spend an evening on it. If the review stays, the reply is what readers will judge you on.
Whatever you write, do not name the reviewer as a liar and do not confirm they were a customer. Stick to a calm line such as "We cannot find a record of this visit, please contact us so we can look into it."
What should I gather before I report?
A clear report is a faster report.
- A screenshot of the review with the date and the reviewer's name.
- The exact policy reason it fits, in a sentence.
- Proof it is fake, if you have it, such as no customer by that name.
- Your reply, if you have already made one. It does not hurt your report.