Google Reviews: How to Remove Them (And What You Should Know)

Google Reviews can be a powerful tool for building trust and driving traffic to your business—but what happens when a review is false, inappropriate, or damaging? At Ignite Digital Marketing, we often get asked: “Can I get this Google review removed?” The answer is… sometimes. While it is possible to flag and remove reviews that violate Google’s policies, the process is limited and can be frustrating. Let’s break down how it works, what your options are, and what to do if you’re stuck with a review you don’t deserve.

Why You Can’t Just Delete a Review

The first thing to understand is this: businesses can’t delete Google reviews on their own. Reviews are user-generated content, and Google owns the platform. Even if a review is unfair, one-sided, or seems suspicious, it won’t be removed unless it violates Google’s Review Policies.

That means you’re stuck with legitimate negative feedback—even if it’s frustrating. However, if a review crosses the line into spam, fake content, offensive language, or irrelevant information, you may have a case.

What Types of Reviews Can Be Removed?

Here are some common reasons a review might qualify for removal under Google’s policy:

Spam and fake content: Reviews that seem automated, copied, or posted by someone who never interacted with your business.
Conflict of interest: Reviews left by competitors or former employees.
Offensive or inappropriate content: Hate speech, harassment, threats, or profane language.
Off-topic reviews: Comments that have nothing to do with the actual customer experience (e.g., political rants or personal opinions unrelated to your business).
Impersonation: Reviews left by users pretending to be someone else.

If a review fits one of these categories, you can begin the removal process.

The Process: How to Flag a Review for Removal

Log into your Google Business Profile
Go to the "Reviews" tab
Find the review you want to report
Click the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the review
Select "Report Review"
Choose the reason that best applies

After submitting, Google will review the report, which can take a few days to a few weeks. If Google finds that the review does violate their policies, they’ll remove it. If not, it stays.

Unfortunately, Google doesn’t give much explanation when a review isn’t removed—which can be incredibly frustrating for business owners.

What If Google Won’t Remove It?

If Google rejects your removal request, you have a few options:

Respond publicly: Use a professional and calm tone. A well-crafted response can show future customers your side of the story and demonstrate great customer service.
Contact Google support: In some cases, you can escalate the issue through Google Business Profile support or even use the small business support chat.
Legal action (rare cases only): If a review is defamatory or violates laws, you may be able to pursue legal removal—but this is expensive and time-consuming, and not typically worth it unless serious damage is being done.

What You Should Be Doing Instead

The best strategy isn’t to focus on removing the bad—it’s to focus on generating more of the good. A few negative reviews in a sea of five-star ratings won’t hurt you—in fact, they make your profile look more real.

At Ignite, we help clients build a steady stream of authentic, positive Google Reviews through smart email follow-ups, review request links, and training for frontline staff. The more happy customers you invite to share their feedback, the less power a negative review will have.

Need Help Navigating Google Reviews?

Managing your reputation online is tough—but you don’t have to do it alone. At Ignite Digital Marketing, we work with businesses to monitor reviews, improve ratings, and build trust where it matters most. Whether you need help disputing a bad review or creating a system to get more positive ones, our team is here to support you every step of the way.

👉 Let’s protect and grow your online reputation. Contact us today to get started!