How to Hide Google Reviews: A Step-by-Step Guide

How you hide Google reviews depends on whose reviews they are. If they’re reviews you wrote, you can delete or edit them: in Google Maps, tap your profile picture > Your contributions (or the Contribute tab > View your profile) > Reviews, tap the three dots next to a review, and choose Delete review. You can also limit who sees your contributions in your Maps profile settings. If they’re reviews of your business, Google doesn’t let owners hide or remove reviews they don’t like, but you can report reviews that break Google’s policies and reply publicly to the rest.

This guide covers both situations step by step, plus what Google will and won’t remove, and how to handle negative reviews effectively.

Part 1: Hide or delete reviews you wrote

Delete a review on your phone

1. Open the Google Maps app.
2. Tap your profile picture, then Your profile or Your contributions (menu names vary by version).
3. Open the Reviews tab.
4. Tap the three dots next to the review and choose Delete review, then confirm.

Delete a review on a computer

1. Go to maps.google.com and sign in.
2. Click the menu (three lines) > Your contributions > Reviews.
3. Click the three dots next to the review and choose Delete review.

Edit instead of deleting

Choose Edit review from the same menu to change the rating or text, for example if a business fixed a problem.

Limit who sees your contributions

In Google Maps, open your profile, tap Edit profile or Profile settings, and look for options to restrict your profile or hide your contributions from your public profile. Depending on the setting and your version, reviews may still appear on business pages, but people won’t be able to browse all your reviews from your profile. Your reviewer name and photo come from your Google Account.

Part 2: Handle reviews of your business

Report a review that breaks policy

Google removes reviews that violate its policies, such as spam, fake engagement, off-topic content, hate speech, harassment, conflicts of interest (like reviews by competitors or employees), and personal information.

1. Sign in to the Google Account that manages your Business Profile.
2. Search for your business name on Google or open it in Maps, and open Reviews in your profile manager.
3. Find the review, click the three dots, and choose Report review (or Flag as inappropriate).
4. Pick the reason that fits and submit.
5. Track the report’s status in Google’s Reviews Management Tool, where you can also appeal if the review isn’t removed.

What Google won’t remove

• Negative reviews that describe a real experience, even if you disagree.
• Reviews that are short or lack detail but don’t break policy.
• Reviews you ask to be removed simply because they hurt your rating.

Never pay for review removal services that promise results, and don’t post fake positive reviews; both break Google’s policies and can lead to penalties on your profile.

Respond to reviews

• Reply politely and quickly, thank the customer, and offer to resolve the issue offline.
• Keep replies factual and avoid sharing customer details.
• Good responses can reassure future customers more than hiding a review would.

Get more genuine reviews

Share your Business Profile’s review link with happy customers. More recent reviews make an older negative one less prominent. Don’t offer incentives for reviews, which Google prohibits.

Related: Change the cover photo on Google Business Profile.

Related: What happens to deleted Google reviews.

Frequently asked questions

Can I turn off reviews on my Google Business Profile?

Generally no. Reviews are part of Business Profiles, though Google may temporarily restrict new reviews during unusual activity.

How long does it take Google to review a reported review?

It can take several days. Check the status in the Reviews Management Tool.

Will deleting my review notify the business?

No. The review simply disappears from the business’s page.