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How to remove a Google review, and when you can’t

The short answer

You can’t delete a Google review yourself, but you can report it. On your Business Profile, choose Read reviews, then Report next to the review, pick a reason and send it. Google only removes reviews that break its policies, not ones you disagree with, and the check typically takes several days. For the rest, a calm public reply is your best move.

A bad review stings, and most of the “we’ll remove it” offers you’ll get aren’t worth your money. Here’s what Google says it will and won’t do.

Updated November 5, 2026. We make CoveDesk, which also looks after Google profiles, websites and reviews for small businesses. What this page says about other companies comes from their own pages, linked below.

How to report a review

  1. Go to your Business Profile.
  2. Select Read reviews.
  3. Next to the review, select Report.
  4. Choose the reason, such as spam or profanity.
  5. Select Send report, then check its status in Google’s Reviews Management Tool.

Google says (opens in a new tab) a review typically takes several days to evaluate.

What Google will and won’t take down

What’s likely to qualify
The reviewWorth reporting?
Spam, or a fake review about an experience that didn’t happenYes
Profanity, harassment or hateYes
Personal information about you or your staffYes
Off-topic, or advertisingYes
A real customer who’s unhappyNo: Google says not to report a review just because you disagree with it
A star rating that seems unfairNo

Being targeted by someone demanding money over negative reviews? Google has a separate route for extortion, so use it, and don’t pay.

What not to do

  • Don’t pay or offer a discount to change or remove a review. Google says incentives like that are strictly prohibited (opens in a new tab).
  • Don’t pay a company that promises removal. They use the same report button you do.
  • Don’t argue in public. Other customers read your reply more closely than the review.

What works instead

Reply calmly, say what you’ll do and take it offline. Then get more honest reviews from your happy customers, so one bad one matters less.

Common questions

Can a business delete a Google review?
No. You can report it, and Google removes it only if it breaks its policies.
How long does it take Google to remove a review?
Google says evaluation typically takes several days. You can check on it in the Reviews Management Tool.
What if the review is fake?
Report it, and choose the reason that fits. If you can’t find the person in your records, say so in a calm public reply as well: “We can’t find a record of this visit. Please call us so we can help.”
Can I pay someone to remove a bad review?
We’d advise against it. Nobody gets special treatment from Google, and incentives to remove negative reviews are prohibited.
Can the customer remove it?
Yes, a reviewer can edit or delete their own review. You may ask once you’ve fixed the problem, but don’t offer anything in exchange.
How do I reply to a bad review?
Thank them, say what you’ll do and offer a way to talk. The reply templates give you wording for common situations.

Sources

What this page says about other companies comes from their own websites, read on November 5, 2026:

Prices and terms change, so check each company’s website before you buy. Company names are the trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify their services; none of them is affiliated with or endorses CoveDesk. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.

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