You can delete a Google review you wrote yourself, but you cannot delete reviews other people wrote about a business
Google lets you remove any review you posted to your own Google account. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you reviewed a restaurant, a plumber, a doctor's office, or any other business. You delete it from your Google profile, not from the business's page — Google removes it from everywhere at once.
If someone else wrote a review about a business you own or manage, you cannot delete it yourself. You can flag it to Google if it violates their policies, or you can respond to it publicly. That is a different process, covered in the section below.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete any review you personally wrote by going to your Google profile and finding the review in your activity history.
- Deleting your review removes it from the business's Google page and from your own profile permanently.
- If someone else wrote a negative review about a business you own, you cannot delete it, but you can flag it or respond publicly.
- Google takes 24 to 48 hours to remove a flagged review if it breaks their rules, though some violations are caught faster.
How to delete a review you wrote
Start by going to Google Maps or Google Search — it does not matter which one. Sign in to the Google account you used to write the review. If you are not sure which account, check your email for a notification from Google saying "You reviewed [business name]."
On Google Maps, tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Your contributions. On Google Search, go to myactivity.google.com, click the menu on the left, and select Reviews. You will see a list of every review you have posted.
Find the review you want to delete. Click or tap the three dots next to it, then select Delete review. Google will ask you to confirm. Click Delete again. The review disappears from the business's page and your profile immediately, though it may take a few hours to vanish from Google's search results.
What happens after you delete a review
Once you delete a review, it is gone permanently. You cannot undo the deletion. If you change your mind later, you can write a new review, but it will be a separate entry with today's date.
The business owner will not receive a notification that you deleted your review, but they may notice it is missing if they monitor their reviews regularly. Deleting a review does not affect your Google profile or account in any other way.
If you want to edit a review instead of deleting it
You do not have to delete a review to change it. If you wrote something you want to correct or update, you can edit it instead. Go to your contributions the same way — through your profile or myactivity.google.com — find the review, tap the three dots, and select Edit review.
You can change the star rating, rewrite the text, or add new information. The edited review keeps its original date, so people will see it was updated. This is useful if your experience with a business changed or if you want to add details you forgot the first time.
Flagging or responding to reviews you did not write
If you own or manage a business and someone posted a review that is false, abusive, or violates Google's rules, you can flag it. Go to the business's Google page, find the review, and click the three dots next to it. Select Flag as inappropriate. Google will review it and decide whether to remove it.
Google removes reviews that contain hate speech, sexual content, spam, or personal information like phone numbers or addresses. Reviews that are simply negative or critical — even if you disagree with them — usually stay up. Google's policy is to let honest opinions stand, even bad ones.
You can also respond publicly to any review on your business page. Click Respond under the review and type a message. Your response appears next to the review for all customers to see. This is often more effective than flagging, because it gives you a chance to explain your side or offer to fix the problem.
Common reasons Google removes flagged reviews
Google has specific rules about what reviews can stay. Reviews get removed if they contain threats, slurs, or language targeting someone's identity. Reviews that are clearly spam — like a competitor posting fake negative reviews or a business posting fake positive ones — also get removed.
Reviews that include contact information, addresses, or other personal details are removed for privacy reasons. Reviews that are off-topic — like someone reviewing a restaurant's plumbing instead of the food — may be removed. Reviews that are just links or advertisements without actual content get removed too.
Reviews that are simply negative, unfair, or based on a bad experience usually stay, even if you think they are wrong. Google does not remove reviews because a business owner dislikes them. The review has to actually break a rule.
What to do if a flagged review is not removed
If you flagged a review and Google decided not to remove it, you have limited options. You can flag it again if new information comes to light — for example, if the person who wrote it admits they lied, or if you have proof the review is false. Include that evidence when you flag it the second time.
You can also contact Google directly through your business profile. Go to your business page, click the menu, select Get support, and describe the problem. Google's support team may review the decision, though they often reach the same conclusion as the automated system.
Responding publicly to the review is usually your best option. Explain what actually happened, offer to make things right, and show other customers that you take feedback seriously. A thoughtful response often does more to protect your reputation than getting the review removed would.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete someone else's review of my business?
No, you cannot delete reviews written by other people. You can only flag reviews that break Google's rules — like those containing hate speech, spam, or personal information — and ask Google to remove them. If the review is honest but negative, it will stay up.
How long does it take Google to remove a flagged review?
Google usually reviews flagged content within 24 to 48 hours. Some violations, like obvious spam, are caught faster. If Google decides the review does not break their rules, it stays up. You can flag it again if you find new evidence that it violates policy.
Will the business know if I delete my review?
The business will not get a notification, but they may notice the review is missing if they check their page regularly. Deleting a review does not send any alert to the business owner or affect your Google account otherwise.
Can I delete a review if I forgot my password?
You will need to sign in to your Google account to delete a review. If you forgot your password, go to accounts.google.com, click Sign in, and select Forgot password? Follow the steps to reset it. Once you are signed in, you can delete the review normally.
What if I want to delete all my reviews at once?
Google does not have a bulk delete option. You have to delete each review individually by going to your contributions and clicking the three dots next to each one. If you have many reviews, this takes time, but there is no faster way to do it through Google's interface.