How Can I Delete A Review On Google? Complete Guide

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How can I delete a review on Google?”, you’re not alone. Maybe you posted a review and had a change of heart, or you’re a business owner dealing with a fake or unfair review. Either way, Google reviews can seriously impact public perception, and it’s important to know how to manage them. In this complete guide, we’re breaking it all down in simple steps that are easy to follow.

Why Google Reviews Matter More Than You Think

Before we jump into how to delete a Google review, let’s talk about why this even matters. Google reviews are basically word-of-mouth on steroids. People trust them, and they can influence everything from a restaurant choice to whether someone clicks your business listing or not. If your business is local, a bad review can actually cost you traffic, leads, and money. That’s why knowing how to manage reviews, good or bad, is crucial.

How to See My Google Reviews

Let’s say you posted a review, and you’re not even sure where it went. Here’s how to find it:

1. Open Google Maps or Google Search.
2. Make sure you’re signed in with the account you used to leave the review.
3. Click on your profile icon in the top right.
4. Go to “Your Contributions” and then “Reviews.”
   

You’ll see a list of all the reviews you’ve written. From there, you can decide whether to edit or delete any of them.

How Can I Delete a Review on Google?

So you found the review. Maybe it was too harsh, or you left it for the wrong business. No judgment. Here’s how to delete it:

1. Head to Google Maps.
2. Log in with the Google account that wrote the review.
3. Click your profile icon → “Your contributions” → “Reviews.”
4. Find the review you want to remove.
5. Tap the three-dot menu and hit “Delete review.”
6. Confirm, and you’re done!
   

That’s the simplest way to handle it if you posted the review and want it gone.

Can You Remove Google Reviews If You’re a Business Owner?

This is where it gets tricky. No, business owners can’t delete reviews themselves—even if the review is fake, rude, or unfair. But don’t worry, you’ve still got options.

How to Remove Bad Reviews from Google My Business

If a review goes against Google’s review policies (like if it’s spam, offensive, off-topic, or fake), you can report it. Google might remove it after a review. Here’s how to remove bad reviews from Google My Business:

1. Log in to your Google Business Profile.
2. Go to “Reviews.”
   Find the review in question.
   Click the three-dot menu and select “Report review.”
3. Choose the reason that fits best (spam, offensive, not based on real experience, etc.).
4. Submit and wait for Google to investigate.
   

This process doesn’t guarantee removal, but it’s the best first step.

What Happens After You Report a Google Review?

After you report a Google review, it gets sent to their moderation team. They check whether the review breaks their content rules. If it does, poof—it’s gone. If not, it stays.

How Long Does it Take?

Usually, a few days. But in busy periods, it might take up to a week or more.

Can You Report More Than Once?

Yes, and if the review is really shady, getting multiple people to flag it can help.

How to Delete a Google Review from Someone Else

You might be wondering how to delete a review on Google that someone else wrote about your business. Short answer? You can’t. 

Only the person who posted the review or Google itself can remove it. That’s why reporting is your main tool here. If it’s a real customer who had a bad experience, your best move is to respond kindly and professionally.

How to Remove Google Reviews That Are Fake or Spam

Some reviews are just obviously fake, like from someone who’s never been a customer or from a competitor trying to sabotage you. Here’s how to remove fake reviews:

1. Log in to your Google Business Profile.
2. Go to “Reviews.”
3. Find the review in question.
4. Click the three-dot menu and select “Report review.”
5. Select “Conflict of interest” or “Spam” as your reason.
6. If Google doesn’t take it down, reach out to Google Business Support.
   

Google does take spam seriously, especially if there’s a pattern or clear proof it’s fake.

How to Delete Google Review Responses

Okay, let’s flip it. You replied to a review, maybe in frustration, and now you want to delete or change that response. Here’s how to delete it:

1. Log in to Google Business Profile.
2. Click “Reviews.”
3. Find your reply under the original review.
4. Click the three-dot menu and select “Delete” or “Edit.”
   

You can reword it, tone it down, or remove it altogether.

How to Look Up Reviews Quickly on Google Reviews Search

Want to see what people are saying about your business or your competitor’s? Here’s how to do a Google reviews search:

1. Go to Google and type: [business name] reviews site:google.com
2. Or go straight to Google Maps and search for the business.
3. Scroll to the “Reviews” tab and filter by keywords, star rating, or recency.
   

You can even use Google reviews search by name if you’re trying to find reviews written by a specific person (if their name is public).

How to Remove Google Reviews Through Legal Action (Extreme Cases)

If a review is defamatory, threatens harm, or includes sensitive info, you may have legal grounds to demand its removal. But this is rare and expensive. Here’s what you would need to do:

1. Consult a lawyer who handles online defamation.
2. Gather evidence that the review is false and harmful.
3. File a legal complaint or court order.
4. Submit it to Google’s legal removal request form.
   

Only go this route if it’s serious. For most cases, reporting or replying is faster and cheaper.

What If Google Won’t Delete the Review?

It happens. Sometimes Google won’t remove a review even if it feels unfair. Here’s what you can do instead:

1. Respond publicly and professionally

Explain your side, thank the reviewer, and show future customers you’re reasonable.

2. Get more good reviews

Ask happy clients to leave positive feedback; it pushes the bad ones down and builds trust.

3. Monitor reviews regularly

Don’t let one bad review surprise you. Stay on top of your online reputation weekly.

Final Thoughts on Deleting Google Reviews

So, how can I remove a review on Google? If you wrote it yourself, it’s easy—just log in and hit delete. If someone else wrote it and you’re the business owner, you can’t remove it directly, but you can report it. Some get taken down, some don’t. But what you can always do is respond professionally and boost your good reviews to protect your reputation.

No matter your situation, staying active and alert with your Google reviews is one of the smartest moves you can make, especially if you’re growing your presence locally. Contact us today to see how our digital marketing Hamilton services can make a difference in your business!