You can delete a Google review you wrote yourself, but you cannot delete reviews others wrote about your business
If you posted a review on Google and want to remove it, you can do that through your Google account in a few minutes. The process is the same whether you reviewed a restaurant, a plumber, a doctor, or any other business. You go to your review, click delete, and it disappears from Google within hours.
If someone else wrote a review about your business and you want it gone, that is a different situation. You cannot delete it yourself. You can ask Google to remove it if it violates their policies — for example, if it contains hate speech, sexual content, or false claims about illegal activity — but Google makes the final call, and most reviews stay up even if you disagree with them.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete your own Google review by finding it in your profile, clicking the three dots, and selecting delete.
- Deleted reviews disappear from the business listing within a few hours, though your account history may show you reviewed that business.
- You cannot delete reviews written by other people, even if you own the business.
- Google removes reviews only if they break specific rules like containing hate speech, spam, or claims of illegal activity.
- If a review violates Google's policies, you can report it through the business listing, and Google will investigate.
How to find and delete your own review
Open Google Maps or go to Google Search and find the business you reviewed. Scroll down to the reviews section. Look for your review — it will have your name and profile picture next to it. Click the three vertical dots (called a menu button) on the right side of your review.
A small menu will pop up with options. Click "Delete review." Google will ask you to confirm. Click delete again, and your review is gone. It usually takes a few hours to disappear from the business listing, though it may show in your own review history that you reviewed that business at some point.
Deleting a review from your Google profile
You can also delete reviews from your Google profile directly. Go to your Google account, click "Manage your Google Account," then click the "Reviews" tab at the top. You will see all the reviews you have written.
Find the review you want to delete and click the three dots next to it. Select "Delete review." Confirm the deletion. This method works the same way as deleting from the business listing — the review disappears from Google within a few hours.
What happens after you delete a review
Once you delete a review, it no longer appears on the business listing or in search results. Other people cannot see it. However, Google may keep a record in your account that you reviewed that business, even though the actual review text is gone. This does not affect anything — it is just internal record-keeping.
If you delete a review and then change your mind, you can write a new review for the same business. Google will treat it as a separate review. You are not limited to one review per business.
When you cannot delete a review (because you did not write it)
If someone else wrote a negative review about your business, you cannot delete it yourself. You have two options: you can respond to the review publicly through Google, or you can report it to Google if it breaks their rules.
To respond, click "Reply" under the review. Your response appears next to the review and shows potential customers that you are aware of the issue and taking it seriously. This is often more effective than trying to remove the review, because the response stays visible.
Reporting a review that violates Google's policies
Google removes reviews only if they violate specific policies. These include hate speech or slurs, sexual content, spam or fake reviews, claims that a crime was committed, personal information like someone's home address, and reviews that are not actually about the business.
To report a review, click the three dots next to it and select "Report review." Choose the reason it violates policy. Google will investigate, but they do not always remove reviews even when reported. A review that is straightforward negative or unfair usually stays up, because Google considers honest opinions protected speech.
If you own the business, you can also flag reviews through Google Business Profile. Sign in to your business account, go to the reviews section, and report reviews that break the rules from there. Google takes reports from business owners seriously, but the outcome depends on whether the review actually violates their policies.
Why Google keeps most negative reviews up
Google's policy is to keep reviews up unless they break specific rules. A review that is harsh, unfair, or based on a bad experience is still allowed. Google treats this as honest feedback, even if the business owner disagrees.
This means you cannot remove a review just because it is negative or because you think it is wrong. The reviewer's opinion is protected. Your best response is to reply publicly, improve the issue the reviewer mentioned, and let positive reviews build up over time to balance out the negative ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a review someone wrote about my business?
No, you cannot delete reviews written by other people. You can only respond to them publicly or report them to Google if they violate policies like hate speech or spam. Most negative reviews stay up even if you report them, because Google considers honest opinions protected.
How long does it take for a deleted review to disappear?
A deleted review usually disappears from the business listing within a few hours. It may take up to 24 hours in some cases. Your own review history may still show that you reviewed the business, but the actual review text will be gone.
Can I delete a review I wrote years ago?
Yes, you can delete any review you wrote, no matter how old it is. Go to your Google profile, find the review in your reviews tab, and delete it the same way you would delete a recent review.
What if I wrote a review by accident?
Delete it the same way you would delete any review. Find it in your profile or on the business listing, click the three dots, and select delete. There is no penalty for deleting reviews you posted by mistake.
Can Google force me to delete a review I wrote?
Google can remove your review if it violates their policies, but they cannot force you to delete it yourself. If your review breaks rules like containing hate speech or spam, Google will remove it without asking permission first.