Home / Blog / Remove Google Review Timeline: How Long Does It Take?

Remove Google Review Timeline: How Long Does It Take?


how long does it take Google to remove a review

Are you looking for remove Google review information? You’ve come to the right place.

How long does it take Google to remove bad reviews? The true but not-very-satisfying answer is: It depends.

Once a review has been flagged as inappropriate, its removal can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. An exact timeline cannot be estimated, as you can’t know how many other removal requests are queued in front of yours. It’s also not possible to predict if Google will consider the review to violate any particular guideline.

However, to make sure your request gets dealt with as quickly as possible, there are a few best practices to follow. 

Is It Possible To Remove Bad Reviews on Google?

A person typing on a laptop, focusing on managing customer reviews.

Defamatory Google reviews and complaints can have a devastating effect on any business. They can literally destroy reputations, impact sales and drive potential new customers away.

With the majority of consumers today relying on online reviews before making a decision, it’s important that most of what appears about you on the internet is positive — and true.

But since internet trolls are basically everywhere online, there’s little you can do to prevent negative content or fake Google reviews from being written about your company. In this context, it’s natural for business owners to wonder whether removing negative Google reviews is possible. And if it is, how long does it take for them to be removed?

While removing reviews from Google is possible, the content must violate Google guidelines in order to be taken down. For example:

  • The review is fake or spam
  • Its content is inappropriate
  • The reviewer is a competitor who tries to defame your business
  • The reviewer is a fake customer 
  • The review was written by a current or former employee

Here’s another consideration: Even if you’re happy with most of your reviews, some of your positive reviews can still disappear from Google. If you’re wondering, “Why was my Google review removed?” it’s probably because Google’s spam detection algorithm flagged it for removal.

How To Delete Google Reviews

A red flag sits on a table indicating it's time to remove Google review content.

Now, let’s discuss how to have a review removed:

  1. Sign in to your Google Business Profile account or search for your company on Google Maps.
  2. Identify the review you want to have removed and flag it as inappropriate.
  3. Provide evidence that proves the review violates Google’s policies.
  4. Submit the form when you’re finished.

And now for the big question: Is there a way to speed up the removal process? What happens if a week passes and the review hasn’t been removed yet?

Although no one has a direct answer to “How long does it take Google to remove a review?” you can try to take matters into your own hands. One approach is contacting Google’s support team. It can take them 24 hours or more to answer your request, so be patient.

Even if the support team refuses to remove the negative content or inappropriate reviews, you may still have some options.

What Happens When Your Violation Report Is Ignored?

A woman sits at a desk, hands on her head, looking frustrated at a laptop. The cluttered desk, with stationery and a red pencil case, echoes her stress as she focuses intensely on suppressing Google search results displayed on the screen.

Not all removal requests are honored by Google. Sometimes, there is not enough evidence to prove that the review violates Google’s policies and has grounds for removal. Other times, the line between a violation and what is considered allowed content is so thin that the review can be interpreted in more than one way. 

If you are willing to spend money on a lawyer, a court order may solve the issue. It’s possible that a judge will officially rule against the review content, forcing Google to remove it. However, lawyers are expensive, and lawsuits require a lot of time and patience.

The biggest problem is that the longer you leave negative content available for everyone to see online, the more damage it can do to your company’s reputation. On top of that, even if you try to respond to the review yourself and politely ask the person who wrote the content to remove it, they might refuse you. 

Still, it’s smart to publicly respond to negative reviews, even if you plan on having some of them removed in the future. Your current and potential customers will see that you’re an active part of the business and are willing to solve conflicts. This can positively impact your reputation.

Removing Google Reviews With Net Reputation

Knowing what to do when you receive negative reviews on Google can save your business’s image and reputation. But many times, trying to solve things by yourself can turn into a never-ending struggle. 

The best way to stay on top of your online content — whether that’s reviews, social media posts or forum discussions — is to constantly monitor the internet for mentions of your name or brand. This will give you a chance to address negative information before it reaches the masses. 

It’s also important that you produce a steady flow of positive content to suppress negative reviews and other damaging information.

At NetReputation, we provide a broad range of services to individuals and businesses who want to create, grow or repair their digital reputation. Whether you’re prioritizing your personal or professional online reputation, our solutions and team of experts can help.

Our ORM services include content removal, review management, branding, content creation and more. It’s time to take back control of how people perceive you online so you can attract the opportunities you deserve.

Speak with an expert by calling us at 844-461-3632 or filling out the form below.

Request a Free Consultation

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • By Submitting you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
NetReputation was founded in 2014 by Adam Petrilli, a results-driven leader dedicated to empowering individual and business success on the web. Our award-winning process and team of online reputation management specialists allow us to remove, suppress, repair, and monitor your online presence. Within our first two years, we were recognized by some of the world’s leading business publications for our company growth. Today, NetReputation operates offices in Sarasota, Florida; and Kansas City.

Leave a Comment