How to remove a fake Google review, and what to do if Google won't

Which reviews Google will remove

Google says “only those that violate Google policies are eligible for removal” and asks owners not to report a review just because they disagree with it. Its Maps content policy covers, among other things:

• Fake engagement: reviews that don't reflect a genuine experience, including paid reviews and reviews posted to damage a competitor.
• Conflicts of interest, such as reviews from competitors or from current or former employees about their employer.
• Off-topic content that isn't about an experience at the business.
• Harassment, hate speech, profanity and personal information about someone.
• Spam and advertising.

A genuine customer's harsh but honest review isn't removable, even if it's unfair. That one needs a good reply, not a report.

How to report a review

From your Business Profile:

1. Go to your Business Profile and select Read reviews.
2. Next to the review, select Report.
3. Choose the reason that matches the policy it breaks, and send the report.

Or use Google's Reviews Management Tool, which also lets you track your reports: sign in with the account that manages the profile, choose your business, select “Report a new review for removal”, then report the review and pick a reason.

Check the status and appeal once

Google says review evaluation typically takes several days. In the Reviews Management Tool you'll see one of these statuses:

To appeal, open the tool, choose to check previously reported reviews, select “Appeal eligible reviews”, pick up to 10 reviews and submit the form. Appeals are one-time only, so include any evidence that the reviewer was never a customer, such as no matching booking or invoice.

Appeals were running slower than usual in October 2026, with Google staff saying processing times were extended due to high volume. Don't file duplicates: once submitted, no further action is needed.

If you're hit by a wave of fake reviews

If your profile suddenly gets lots of fake reviews, Google may step in automatically. In September 2026 it began emailing some owners to say it had detected a spike in spam reviews, removed them and temporarily paused new reviews, typically for a few days.

• Keep screenshots and dates of each fake review before reporting.
• Report each one with the matching reason, once.
• Never agree to pay anyone to remove reviews or to stop posting them.
• If someone threatens your business or the reviews are defamatory, speak to a solicitor or lawyer about your options.

When the review stays up

Reply calmly, once. Future customers read your reply as much as the review.

Then focus on what you control: ask every customer for a review, so one bad review is quickly outweighed by recent, genuine ones.