Google Reviews play a major role in how customers find and choose your business. They influence local search visibility, credibility, and buying decisions — often before someone ever visits your website. So, when a negative review appears, it’s completely understandable to want it removed.
Here’s the reality: business owners don’t have direct control over deleting reviews. But you do have options. And when handled correctly, reviews can become a strength rather than a setback.
Let’s walk through what’s possible and what actually works.
The short answer is no. Business owners cannot directly delete reviews left by customers on their Google Business Profile. Google intentionally limits this control to protect the integrity of its review system and ensure reviews remain authentic.
However, Google will remove reviews that violate its policies. Google explains this clearly in its official documentation on how to report inappropriate Google reviews, which outlines what qualifies for removal and what does not.
Google may remove a review if it violates its content policies. Common examples include reviews that:
These standards are defined in Google’s prohibited and restricted content guidelines for reviews, which Google uses when evaluating removal requests.
If a review violates Google’s policies, you can report it directly through your Google Business Profile.
Google outlines this process step by step in Google’s official guide to flagging inappropriate reviews.
For additional context on what removal looks like in real-world situations, WPBeginner’s explanation of Google review removal helps small business owners set realistic expectations.
Practical tip: Keep screenshots and notes explaining why the review violates policy. This can be helpful if you need to follow up or escalate.
Most negative reviews don’t qualify for removal — even when they feel unfair. In these situations, your response often has more impact than the review itself.
When a review doesn’t violate policy, responding professionally is often the most effective approach.
Google encourages this directly in its guidance on best practices for responding to customer reviews, noting that thoughtful engagement helps build trust with potential customers.
Strong responses:
Remember, you’re not just replying to one reviewer — you’re speaking to every future customer reading that exchange.
A strong review profile isn’t built on perfection. It’s built on consistency, transparency, and responsiveness. Research highlighted in Vendasta’s analysis of how online reviews influence buyer trust shows that consumers often trust businesses more when they see a realistic mix of positive and negative feedback.
A proactive review strategy helps you:
This is where many businesses choose support. IGV’s review management services help business owners stay proactive without feeling overwhelmed, ensuring reviews work for your business — not against it.
There is one important exception worth clarifying. If you wrote a Google review for another business, you can delete or edit it yourself.
Google explains how to do this in its official Google Maps guide for managing your own reviews. This option applies only to reviews you personally wrote — not reviews left on your business profile.
Negative reviews can feel personal, but they don’t have to define your business. The most successful businesses focus on:
Handled the right way, Google Reviews become a credibility builder — not a liability.
If you’d like help creating a review strategy that protects your reputation and supports long-term growth, the IGV team is here to help.
