Can you delete Google reviews?
The short answer: your own reviews yes, others' no. But you can report non-compliant reviews to Google. Here's who can report, which violations count and how it works.
Can you delete Google reviews?
You can delete your own Google reviews, but not those of others. Third-party reviews cannot be removed directly – but you can report non-compliant reviews to Google, for example for a lack of customer contact, fakes or insults. Google reviews each report and decides independently. There is no guarantee.
Your own reviews you delete yourself in seconds; third-party reviews can only be challenged via a report to Google – where Google alone decides.
The key difference: a review you wrote yourself can be deleted at any time in your Google account. You have no direct access to third-party reviews.
What you can do with third-party reviews: report them to Google if they violate the guidelines. Google reviews and decides – no one can guarantee removal.
With Sternehero you report non-compliant reviews on your business profile efficiently: you select, confirm the lack of customer contact, and the software submits the report.
Your own or a third-party review – what's possible?
The decisive difference when it comes to deleting Google reviews.
| Your own review | Third-party review | |
|---|---|---|
| Direct deletion possible? | Yes, in your own Google account | No, not directly |
| What's possible instead? | Delete directly | Report to Google if non-compliant |
| Who decides? | You |
Which reviews you can report
These violations of the Google guidelines can be submitted for reporting.
No customer contact
The review is from a person who was never a customer.
Fake review
Forged or bought review without a real experience.
Insult / abuse
Disparaging statements without factual basis.
Conflict of interest
Review from competitors or former employees.
Spam / advertising
Advertising, links or off-topic content.
False facts
Demonstrably untrue claims about your business.
How does reporting work?
- 1
Connect your profile
You connect your Google Business Profile.
- 2
Select the review
You select the non-compliant review.
- 3
Confirm no customer contact
You confirm that there was no customer contact.
- 4
Report & track
The software submits your report to Google – you track the status.
Related questions
How can I delete a Google review?
You delete your own review in your Google account. You cannot delete a third-party review yourself, only report it to Google if it violates the guidelines.
Can a business delete Google reviews?
No. Even as the owner of the business profile you cannot delete other people's reviews yourself – only Google and the person who wrote the review can. As a business you can, however, report non-compliant reviews; Google checks the report and decides independently about removal.
Can you delete Google reviews without a reason?
No. Google only removes reviews that violate the guidelines. Simply not liking a review is not enough. But you can report any non-compliant review.
Who is allowed to report a Google review?
Anyone who discovers a non-compliant review – especially affected businesses. With Sternehero you report reviews on your own business profile efficiently.
How long does Google take to decide?
Google reviews many reports automatically and often decides within minutes – in individual cases the review takes a few days.
What happens if Google does not remove the review?
The review stays online. You can respond to it publicly and factually and collect more genuine reviews to strengthen your profile.
Does reporting cost anything?
Reporting directly on Google is free. With Sternehero you use credits from €7 per credit for more efficient bulk reporting. Three free credits to start.
Do you manage several businesses?
Agencies report reviews for their clients centrally and under their own brand – with the Pro white-label plan.
Further reading
Google Review Policy Violation: The 9 Reasons and 3 Checks Before Every Report
9 official violation reasons with concrete violation / non-violation examples, 3 checks before every report, a manual-vs-self-service comparison and 2 practical use cases.
Reporting a Google Review: The Complete Self-Service Guide for 2026
A 5-step guide: all 9 official violation reasons, escalation via the Google Transparency Center and when a self-service tool noticeably reduces the workload.
Defamatory Criticism & Inadmissible Google Reviews: What You Can Report
Where does permissible criticism end and reportable defamatory criticism begin? The value-judgement/factual-claim distinction, a comparison table and the step-by-step reporting route.
Spotted a non-compliant review? Report it now.
Start with three free credits and report non-compliant reviews directly to Google.
Report a review nowSternehero is a software tool and does not provide legal services within the meaning of the German Legal Services Act (RDG). The decision to remove a review lies solely with the respective platform.
Related pages
Delete a Google review? Here's how to report it
The complete guide: when a review breaks the rules and how to report it to Google.
Learn moreGet a Google review removed: options compared
Self-service reporting, lawyer or agency – process, timing and cost range at a glance.
Learn moreGoogle review removal cost
What removal really costs – and how to report policy-violating reviews yourself, affordably.
Learn more