How to Remove Negative Reviews from Your Google My Business (GMB) Profile

Introduction: Why Google Reviews Matter

Online reputation can make or break a business. With 92% of consumers reading online reviews before making a purchase, a single negative review can impact credibility, trust, and revenue. Whether it’s a fake review from a competitor or an unhappy customer venting frustration, negative reviews can tarnish your business reputation.

If you’re wondering “how to remove fake negative reviews from Google” or “how do I remove a negative review on Google”, this guide provides proven steps to remove misleading or fake feedback and improve your online presence.

Can You Remove Negative Google Reviews?

The short answer is: Yes, but only under certain conditions.

Google allows businesses to request removal of reviews that violate their content policies. However, genuine customer feedback—no matter how negative—cannot be removed unless it breaches these guidelines.

What Types of Reviews Can Be Removed?

Google has strict content policies. Reviews that violate these guidelines can be flagged for removal:

✅ Fake Reviews – Competitors or bots posting misleading feedback
✅ Spam & Promotional Reviews – Unsolicited ads or unrelated content
✅ Offensive & Abusive Content – Hate speech, harassment, or explicit language
✅ Conflicts of Interest – Reviews from employees or business owners
✅ Misinformation – Reviews containing false claims

If the negative review is legitimate but unfair, you can’t delete it—however, you can take action to minimize its impact.

How to Remove Negative Reviews from Google My Business

1. Flag the Review for Removal

If a review violates Google’s policies, follow these steps to request its removal:

1. Log in to Google My Business (GMB).
2. Go to Reviews and find the review you want to remove.
3. Click on the three-dot menu next to the review.
4. Select “Flag as inappropriate.”
5. Submit the report and wait for Google to review the request.

⏳ Review time: Google typically takes several days to weeks to assess flagged reviews.

2. Contact Google Support

If your flagged review isn’t removed within a reasonable timeframe, escalate the issue by contacting Google Business Support:

1. Visit Google Business Help.
2. Click “Contact Us.”
3. Choose “Fix a problem” → “Manage Customer Reviews.”
4. Explain why the review violates Google’s policies.
5. Provide evidence, such as proof that the reviewer was never a customer.

A Google Support agent will review your case and provide a resolution.

3. Respond Professionally to Negative Reviews

If the review is legitimate and can’t be removed, the best approach is to respond professionally.

✅ How to Respond to a Negative Review: A Template

Example:

“Hi [Reviewer’s Name], we’re sorry to hear about your experience. We strive to provide the best service and would love the opportunity to make things right. Please reach out to us at [Your Email/Phone] so we can resolve this issue. Looking forward to hearing from you.”

❌ What NOT to Do:

• Don’t argue or become defensive.
• Avoid deleting legitimate reviews (this can backfire).
• Don’t fake positive reviews to counterbalance negative ones—Google detects and penalizes this.

By responding professionally, you show potential customers that you care about customer satisfaction.

What If Google Doesn’t Remove the Negative Review?

If Google denies your request, here’s how to minimize the impact of negative feedback:

1. Generate More Positive Reviews

Encourage happy customers to leave authentic reviews to improve your rating.

✅ Send follow-up emails asking for feedback.
✅ Offer incentives (but never pay for reviews).
✅ Ask satisfied customers to share their experiences on Google.

Example Message to Customers:

“Thank you for visiting [Your Business Name]! If you had a great experience, we’d appreciate your feedback on Google. Your review helps others discover us!”

2. Optimize Your Google My Business Profile

A complete, well-maintained Google My Business profile can push negative reviews down by improving your overall rating.

✅ Keep business hours, contact info, and images updated.
✅ Add Google Maps on city pages to enhance location-based searches.
✅ Use SEO location keywords to rank higher for local searches.

Case Study: How a Business Recovered from Fake Google Reviews

A restaurant in Kuala Lumpur faced a sudden drop in ratings due to fake negative reviews. After flagging the reviews, Google removed 5 out of 7 fake posts. The business then:

✔ Collected 40+ new positive reviews
✔ Optimized their Google My Business profile
✔ Used location pages to boost local SEO

Result: Their rating improved from 3.8 to 4.6 stars, and their website traffic increased by 35% in three months.

FAQs: Everything You Need to Know

How do I remove a negative review on Google if it’s fake?

Flag it as inappropriate in Google My Business and provide evidence to Google Support.

How long does it take for Google to remove a review?

Google may take several days to weeks to review your request. If denied, escalate via Google Support.

Can I delete a review I left on another business’s page?

Yes, users can remove their own reviews by:

1. Logging into Google.
2. Navigating to “My Contributions” → “Reviews”
3. Clicking Delete Review on the selected review.

What if a competitor is posting fake reviews?

Document evidence and report it via Google Business Support. If unresolved, consider legal action.