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05 December 2025
Team Up
Review
Has an unfair comment just appeared on your Google Business Profile ? Is it false, defamatory or posted by someone who is not even a real customer ?
Are you wondering how to delete a Google review legally while respecting Google’s rules ?
👉 You are right to be concerned, and here is why :
According to IFOP x GuestSuite, 92 % of consumers read customer reviews before choosing a business or service provider, and 87 % use Google to evaluate local businesses according to BrightLocal.
A single negative review, even a fake one, can :
There are several simple methods to delete Google reviews : reporting them, contacting Google Support or reducing the impact of problematic reviews.
This guide explains clearly how to effectively remove reviews :
The answer is yes, but under certain conditions !
Google does not offer a “Delete” button for business owners. However, the platform allows you to :
Be thorough when managing the reviews on your Google Business Profile. Certain personal information (names, photos, private data) can also be removed upon request through your Google account.
Google’s rules clearly define the cases in which Google agrees to delete a review :
👉 [See Google’s official Help policies]
If a review falls into one of these categories, you absolutely have the right to request its removal… and here is a tip : do not wait !
Reasons to request the removal of a review : insulting remarks, targeting an employee by name, disclosure of personal data.
Probability : Medium – Google may remove the review if the comments are considered defamatory.
“I was very disappointed : 40 minutes of waiting and a lukewarm dish. I won’t come back.”
Reason : a subjective opinion based on a real experience; no hateful content or personal information.
Probability of removal : Low – Google considers this review legitimate.
“Avoid this place, it’s a scam ! The waitresses are idiots, the manager is a thief. I will delete your profile myself !”
Reasons : hateful language, personal attacks, threat to delete the business profile.
Probability : High – it matches Google’s criteria for harassment and inappropriate reviews.
Enter your business name in Google Maps to access your business profile.
Go to the “Reviews” tab to view all the comments left by your customers.
Locate the review in question within the list of Google reviews associated with your profile.
👉 Make sure it is indeed the problematic review before reporting it.
Click the ⋮ (three dots) icon to the right of the review, then select “Report review” from the dropdown menu.
Select the option that best matches your situation among the reasons provided by Google :
Click on “Submit a report”. You will receive an acknowledgment confirming that your request has been received.
Processing time : 2 to 7 business days depending on moderation workload.
Go to https://myaccount.google.com and log in with the account associated with your business profile.
Open Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) from your browser.
In the dashboard, click on your profile, then on “Manage business” or “View profile” depending on the interface displayed.
Open the “Reviews” section to display all the comments left on your Google Business Profile.
Locate the comment you want to have removed.
On the right side of the review, click the report icon (⚠️) or the “Report review” menu to open the reporting form.
Select the reason that best matches your situation :
You can also request removal from your mobile or tablet if you are logged into your Google account.
Remember to confirm the removal in the validation message !
If you manage multiple locations or receive a large volume of abusive reviews :
This method is useful when you want to quickly remove all problematic reviews that violate Google’s policies.
If a review is inappropriate, it is crucial to act as soon as possible !
A harmful negative review can repel potential customers and lower your Google rating, damaging your online reputation.
Report the review quickly via Google Maps or your Google account to limit its impact.
Want to reach 4.5 stars on your Google Business Profile ? Or go from 3.8 to 4.2 ?
Good news : you can know exactly how many 5 star reviews you need to get there !
👉 [Test our Google Reviews Calculator for FREE]
What to do if Google refuses to delete a review ?
Respond publicly by calmly stating the facts
As a last resort, you can ask Google to delete your account if your business profile is compromised.
⚠️ Warning : permanently deleting your profile also removes your positive reviews !
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject : Appeal – Request for deletion of a non compliant Google review
Hello,
I am contacting you again regarding a review posted by [Author’s name or review link], visible on our Google Business Profile.
This review contains unauthorized personal information and violates Google’s policies.
We therefore request its immediate removal, in accordance with Google’s content policy.
Waiting for your reply,
Best regards,
[Name]
[Position]
[Business name]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The CNIL reminds you that you must respect freedom of expression and personal data protection.
79 % of Internet users trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations (BrightLocal 2023).
To strengthen your online reputation :
Some platforms also help reduce the impact of unfair reviews by generating automated responses or improving your visibility in search engines (via local SEO).
Deleting an unjustified Google review is important. But multiplying positive reviews is what truly makes the difference.
👉 According to a Harvard Business School study, increasing a business’s average rating by 1 star can lead to a 5 to 9 % increase in revenue.
Up Review is a complete solution designed for local businesses that want to increase local visibility and reassure potential customers.
With its all in one interface, you can :
Result : more authentic customer reviews, a higher Google rating and a stronger brand image.
Yes. If you posted the review yourself, you can delete it directly. Log into your Google account, find your review in your contribution history, then click the three dots and select “Delete review”.
Three parties can remove a review : the author can delete their own review, Google can delete non compliant reviews after they are reported, and in rare cases, a court order can force the removal of a defamatory comment.
To report a review, click the three dots next to the comment on your Google Business Profile or through Google Maps, then choose “Report review” and select the appropriate reason according to Google’s policies.
Processing usually takes 2 to 7 business days. Google has a moderation system that checks whether published content complies with its policies.
No. It is not possible to disable reviews on your business profile, except by permanently closing your listing (strongly discouraged). This would delete all reviews, including positive ones.
If Google refuses, you can : respond publicly by calmly explaining the facts, contact the author directly to request that they remove their review, or use Google’s appeal form. As a last resort, consult a lawyer.
Use Google’s dedicated form for managing multiple business listings. This method allows you to efficiently report abusive reviews in batches, which is especially useful if you need to remove problematic reviews across several locations.
Report the review by stating that it was posted by someone who has never visited your business. Fake reviews violate Google’s policies and can be removed if you provide evidence (no match in your reservation system, inconsistent dates, etc.).
No. Google generally does not notify users when a review is removed. The author will simply notice that their comment no longer appears on the listing.
No. A review cannot be removed simply because it is negative. Google reviews play an important role in transparency. Google only deletes reviews that violate its content rules.
Yes. You can contact support via the official appeal form. Explain why the review violates Google’s policies and provide concrete evidence : screenshots, proof the person is not a real customer, etc.
Yes. Reviews posted by competitors constitute a conflict of interest and violate Google’s rules. Report them by specifying the situation. A competitor’s review is usually removed after verification.
Nathanaël Butet, for the Up Review team ❤️
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