Thankfully, there are situations where Google may remove a review, provided it violates their policies. In this article, we’ll explain how to get a review removed from Google, the types of reviews Google will consider for removal, and the step-by-step process to request removal.

Google is committed to ensuring reviews are fair, honest, and useful to both businesses and customers. However, Google won’t remove a review simply because it is negative. They will only remove reviews that violate their Review Policy. Below are the main types of reviews that may qualify for removal:

1. Spam or Fake Content

Google removes reviews that are clearly spam or posted by bots, as well as fake reviews written by individuals with no genuine experience of the business.

Examples: Reviews that repeat the same content multiple times across different businesses, irrelevant reviews, or those left by fake accounts.

2. Offensive or Inappropriate Content

Google will remove reviews containing offensive language, hate speech, or explicit content that is deemed inappropriate for the platform.

Examples: Reviews that include profanity, racial slurs, threats, or offensive comments about individuals or groups.

3. Conflict of Interest

Reviews written by individuals with a conflict of interest are not allowed. This includes reviews posted by the business itself, employees, or competitors.

Examples: A business owner reviewing their own business, or an employee leaving a 5-star review without disclosing their relationship to the company.

4. Misleading or Irrelevant Reviews

Reviews that are irrelevant to the business or its services can be flagged for removal.

Examples: Posting a review about a different business, commenting on unrelated topics, or leaving a review based on second-hand information (like a friend’s opinion rather than a personal experience).

5. Illegal or Dangerous Content

Reviews promoting illegal activities or containing content that encourages harm, such as violence or illegal behaviour, can be flagged for removal.

Examples: Reviews suggesting unlawful activity or making threats of harm to individuals or property.

6. Personal Information

Reviews that include personal information such as addresses, phone numbers, or any private data about individuals other than the reviewer can be removed.
Examples: Posting an employee’s personal contact details or sharing someone’s full name without permission.

7. Advertising or Promotional Content

Google does not allow reviews that are advertising other businesses or containing promotional content unrelated to the review.
Examples: A review promoting a third-party service, product, or website, or offering discounts for another business.

8. Off-Topic or Irrelevant Content

Reviews must focus on the business and the experience. Google will remove reviews that are off-topic or irrelevant.
Examples: Someone ranting about a personal experience unrelated to the business, or commenting on political or social issues with no connection to the company.

1. Genuine Negative Feedback

If a review is a genuine reflection of a customer’s experience, even if it’s negative, Google won’t remove it unless it violates the terms. Criticism or complaints that are relevant to the business, service, or product are allowed.

Examples: “The service was slow, and the food was cold.”

2. Honest Mistakes

If a customer makes an honest mistake but the review is still based on their experience with the business, Google is unlikely to remove it.

Examples: A customer who misinterprets a situation but is otherwise sharing a truthful account.

3. Disagreements with Policies or Prices

Reviews that criticise the policies, pricing, or decisions made by a business are allowed, as long as they don’t violate Google’s policies.

Examples: Complaints about a company’s return policy or dissatisfaction with pricing are generally not removable.

4. Subjective Opinions

Google does not remove reviews that are subjective in nature. A reviewer is allowed to share their opinions, and whether or not you agree with their perspective is not grounds for removal.

Examples: “I didn’t like the decor” or “The atmosphere wasn’t what I expected.”

Step by Step guide

1. Sign in to Your Google Account
Make sure you’re logged into the Google account associated with your business and sign in.

2. Go to Your Google Business Profile
Search for your business on Google Search or Google Maps and open your business profile here: https://business.google.com/

3. Find the Review You Want to Remove
Scroll to the Reviews section of your profile and locate the specific review you want to flag.

4. Flag the Review for Removal
Click the three dots in the top right corner of the review and select “Flag as inappropriate.”
You’ll be redirected to Google’s review reporting tool, where you can choose the specific reason why the review violates Google’s policies.

5. Submit Your Request
After selecting the appropriate reason, submit your request. Google will review the flagged content and determine whether it breaches their guidelines.

6. Monitor Your Request
Google typically takes a few days to review flagged content. While there is no guarantee that the review will be removed, you’ll be notified if any action is taken.

Contact us today and let’s have a chat about what you’re wanting to achieve and how we can help you reach those goals.