How to add, edit, or delete a Google Maps Review

Have you ever submitted a Google Maps review and instantly wished you hadn’t? Or had a change of opinion upon visiting the place a second time? You are not alone!

Managing reviews on Google Maps is much easier than you think, whether you want to leave a new review, edit an existing one, or completely delete a review.

This article will guide you through managing your Google Maps reviews across devices, as well as provide instructions on what to do if an issue arises.

Prerequisites & considerations

Understanding the fundamental requirements and restrictions before taking control of your Google Maps reviews is essential; it will ultimately save you time or, at the very least, prevent you from doing anything impossible. 

Required conditions

To add, edit, or delete a review on Google Maps, you must have an active Google account. It’s also essential to be signed into the correct account since reviews are always linked to your Google profile. 

Reviews are public and will display your public name, other reviews you’ve written, photos or videos you’ve uploaded, and location details related to your contributions.

Limitations & constraints

Google moderates all user reviews and removes any content that violates its policies, including spam, inappropriate content, hate speech, and fake reviews. Once removed for policy violations, reviews cannot be reinstated.  

Key limitations to remember:

• You cannot write anonymous reviews
• You cannot delete reviews written by others (only report them)
• When you edit a review, the date changes to show when the last edit was made
• Business owners cannot delete customer reviews unless they violate Google’s policies.

When not to delete (edit instead)

Deleting should be your last option. Consider editing instead when your experience has improved after a second visit, you want to add more context or photos, or if you notice a factual error in your original review. 

Editing maintains your contribution history and provides better awareness than deleting altogether. Did you know that in 2025, Google reviews drive 95% of consumer decisions? Appending your review updates to help businesses and consumers make better decisions.

How to add a Google Maps Review

Taking just a few minutes to post a review on Google Maps helps customers make an informed choice. It doesn’t matter if you are sitting at your desk or on the go; posting one is easy!

On desktop/web

Open Google Maps in your browser and sign in to your Google account. Here’s the step-by-step process: 

1. Open Google Maps and search for the business or place you want to review. 

2. Click the business name on the left panel. Scroll down and you’ll see an option “Write a Review”. Click on it. 

3. Select your star rating (1–5). Write your review in the text box. Add photos or videos if you want. And click “Post”.

After your review is published, you can edit it or change the ratings and pictures at any time. 

On Android/iOS (mobile app)

The mobile process is nearly identical but optimized for touchscreens: 

1. Open the Google Maps app. Make sure you’re signed in to your Google account. Search for the place or tap it directly on the map.

2. Tap the place name at the bottom to open its full page. Tap “review” and click on the empty star rating area. 

3. Choose your star rating by tapping the stars. Type your review. Add photos or videos if needed. Tap Post to publish.

How to edit a Google Maps Review

Your opinions can change, and Google allows you to edit your reviews at any time. Editing preserves your original contribution while keeping information current. 

On desktop/web

On your computer, open Google Maps. The editing process follows these steps:

1. Click Menu at the top left, then click “Your contributions”.

2. Now click on reviews, and you’ll see all your reviews that you’ve published. 

3. Find the review you want to modify. Click the three dots (…) next to your review, click more, and select “Edit review” from the dropdown. Make your changes to the star rating or text. 

4. Click “Post” to save your edits.  

On Android/iOS

On your Android phone, open the Google Maps app. 

1. On the bottom right side, you’ll see “(+) Contribute”. Click on it. 

2. Now click on your profile picture, and you’ll see all your reviews that you’ve published. 

3. Find the review that you want to edit and tap the three dots (…). Select “Edit review”. Make your changes. 

4. Tap “Post” to update. 

What changes are allowed & what to watch out for

You can fully edit your Google Maps review at any time. You can change your star rating, rewrite or shorten your text, and add or remove photos or videos. You can also delete your review completely if you no longer want it to appear on the business listing.

When you edit a review, Google updates the review date to reflect the most recent change to the original post date. To give readers the updated date of your review, and to differ from your current opinion.

How to delete a Google Maps Review

Sometimes, you need to delete a review because the business has closed, you reviewed the wrong location, or your feedback is no longer relevant. Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.

On desktop/web

Follow the same navigation path as editing, but choose the delete option:

1. Click Menu at the top left, then click “Your contributions”.

2. Now click on reviews, and you’ll see all your reviews that you’ve published. 

3. Locate the review you want to remove. Click the three dots (More) next to it. Select “Delete review”. 

4. Confirm the deletion when prompted. 

On Android/iOS

To delete a Google Maps review on your mobile device, open the Google Maps app and follow the same navigation path as editing, but choose the delete option. 

1. On the bottom right side, you’ll see “(+) Contribute”. Click on it. 

2. Now click on your profile picture, and you’ll see all your reviews that you’ve published. 

3. Find the review that you want to delete and tap the three dots (…). Select “delete review” and confirm deletion. 

Effects & consequences of deletion

Deleting a review has several immediate impacts:

• The review and rating no longer appear on the business listing
• Any photos or videos attached are permanently removed
• The review is deleted from your Google Maps contribution history
• You lose any Local Guide points earned from that review
• You cannot recover a review once it has been deleted. 

Reporting & handling reviews you didn’t write

When you encounter fake, offensive, or policy-violating reviews, Google provides reporting mechanisms. Understanding this process protects both consumers and legitimate businesses. 

When and how to report a review

A review should not be reported simply because you disagree with it or it is negative; there must be a violation of the platform’s guidelines for reporting. Legitimate reasons to report a review include: 

• Spam or Fake Content: The review is not based on a genuine experience.
• Hate Speech, Harassment, or Bullying: The review contains content that is discriminatory, threatening, or uses offensive language.
• Off-Topic Content: The review is a personal rant or political commentary that is unrelated to the actual business or customer experience.
• Conflict of Interest: The review was written by a current or former employee of the business, a competitor, or the business owner themselves. 
• Private Information: The review contains private or personally identifiable information about someone. 
• Illegal or Restricted: The review contains illegal or restricted content, such as promoting illegal acts or sexually or violently explicit content. 

The process of reporting a review: 

1. Open Google Maps, search for the business name, and find the review that you want to report. 
2. Click the three dots (More) next to the review. 
3. Select “Flag as inappropriate” or “Report review”. Choose the specific violation reason. 
4. Submit your report.

What happens after reporting

Once you submit a report, it will remain public while the moderation team evaluates it in accordance with their policies. This evaluation process could take a few days.

• If a violation is found, the review will be removed.
• If no violation is found, the review will remain online. 

You may be allowed to appeal the decision once in the platform management tools or by emailing support directly, if you have additional evidence.

For business owners: responding vs removing

Business owners face a decision point with every negative review and must consider whether to respond or pursue removal. Responding is greatly recommended as best practice, while removing a review is reserved for violations. So, what is the strategy:

Responding to reviews (Recommended)

Responding to reviews, both positive and negative, is an effective way to drive customer engagement and a valuable component in managing your online identity. It shows your customer that you are an attentive and responsive business manager. 

When to respond (most common):

• Negative reviews based on genuine experiences
• Constructive criticism that provides improvement opportunities
• Recent reviews where you can still address the customer’s concerns

How to respond:

• Acknowledge and thank the reviewer.
• Keep it professional: Refrain from using arguments or defensive language.
• Offer a solution or invite them to discuss the matter privately.

Example: “Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear about your experience. Please contact us directly at [your email/phone number] so we can make this right.”

Removing Reviews (Rarely Possible)

You cannot remove a review because it is negative or you disagree with its content. Reviews are intended to be a genuine reflection of customer experiences. Removal is only possible if the review violates the platform’s specific content policies.

When to pursue removal:

• Clear policy violations (spam, fake reviews, hate speech)
• Reviews from people who never visited your business
• Content that’s illegal or defamatory
• Competitor sabotage attempts

To attempt removal: use the “Report” or “Flag as inappropriate” options on the site. (If it’s Google, use the Google Business Profile Manager tab for Google reviews.) The moderation teams will review the report, and the final decision lies with them.

Troubleshooting & common issues

At times, reviews on Google Maps may not update the way you think they should. The majority of problems arise from logging into the wrong account, Google’s moderation policies, or the system’s need to process. Below are a few of the most common issues;

Review edit/delete option not showing

This typically occurs when logging into the wrong Google account. Switch to the account you wrote the review under and check again by going to Your contributions → Reviews. 

If that does not work, then Google may have removed the review for violating a guideline, and you no longer have the option to edit or delete it. 

Deleted review still visible

After you delete a review, it may take some time for that review to be removed from all components. You may not see it in your account, but it could still be included for other users or on another device for 24-48 hours. This issue may arise from caching and server delays. 

You can clear your browser/application cache or check in an incognito window to see if the review is still visible. 

Edits not reflecting

If you edit a review and the changes don’t show, Google may be reviewing it or has quietly filtered it. Reviews containing specific keywords, links, or problematic photos or videos may be held or hidden. 

Sometimes, a single rejected photo or video can make the whole review private. Try removing media or any links, save again, and wait a few hours before checking from a logged-out or incognito view.

Review disappeared/archived

A Google review may vanish or not show if Google flags it for spam or policy violations, or if the business profile has technical or listing issues. Once removed, it cannot be restored. Businesses can contact Google support if multiple reviews disappear simultaneously, but reinstatements are rare.

Wrap up

Once you know what can be deleted, edited, or fixed, handling your reviews on Google Maps is easy. Precise and updated reviews help reviewers make better decisions, and businesses gain an accurate representation of your experience. 

If you own a business, apps like WiserReview save time by collecting and managing reviews. You will no longer miss out on new reviews, which helps your reputation and builds trust quickly and easily.