--- title: "Google reviews not showing" url: https://reviewsnot.com/showing-on-google/ summary: "A review was left on your Google Business Profile and you cannot see it: the six causes Google documents, and which of them you can fix." published: 2026-10-02 updated: 2026-10-02 author: "Jack Stovell" publisher: "Adapt Progress Evolve Limited" language: en-GB --- # Google reviews not showing A review was left on your Google Business Profile and you cannot see it: the six causes Google documents, and which of them you can fix. ## Quick answer Most often the review is still being checked against Google's policies, which can take a few days. If it was removed for breaking a policy, Google won't restore it. ## Check this first - [ ] Search your business name on Google Maps on a phone, signed out. - [ ] Sort reviews by Newest. - [ ] Ask the customer whether the review shows on their own profile. - [ ] Check whether you merged or reinstated your profile recently. ## Causes ### The customer's app is out of date - Status: Fixable - You can sort this yourself. - Older phones or software can stop a review from submitting. Google recommends updating to the latest version of Maps. - Fix: Ask the customer to update Google Maps and post again. - Source: [About missing or delayed reviews — Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/10313341?hl=en-GB) ### Your category doesn't allow reviews - Status: Fixable - You can sort this yourself. - Reviews are permanently off for profiles categorised as schools for ages 6–18. - Fix: If that category is wrong for you, change your business category. - Source: [About missing or delayed reviews — Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/10313341?hl=en-GB) ### It's still being checked - Status: Check first - Usually resolves itself. Check, then wait. - Reviews are checked to make sure they comply with Google's policies. Google says this can take a few days. - Fix: Wait a few days, then look again. - Source: [About missing or delayed reviews — Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/10313341?hl=en-GB) ### You recently merged two profiles - Status: Check first - Usually resolves itself. Check, then wait. - After a merge, Google says it can take a few days for reviews from both profiles to show on Search and Maps. - Fix: Wait a few days after the merge. - Source: [About missing or delayed reviews — Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/10313341?hl=en-GB) ### Google has paused reviews - Status: Platform’s call - Only the platform can change it. Report or appeal. - Google may temporarily turn off user content, including reviews, for some profiles or business categories. - Fix: Wait for Google to lift it. If your profile was reinstated and reviews are missing, contact Google support. - Source: [About missing or delayed reviews — Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/10313341?hl=en-GB) ### It broke a policy and was removed - Status: Can’t be fixed - The platform’s rules say no. We say so plainly. - Google says reviews removed for policy violations won't be restored. - Fix: Nothing to do. Make sure your review requests never offer incentives or filter by rating. - Source: [About missing or delayed reviews — Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/10313341?hl=en-GB) ## If the problem is a review you want removed 1. Go to your Business Profile 2. Select Read reviews 3. Next to the review you'd like to flag, select Report 4. Select the reason to flag the review 5. Select Send report Google says review evaluation typically takes several days. In the Reviews Management Tool a report shows as 'Decision pending' until it is evaluated, and you can appeal up to 10 eligible reviews. Source: [Report inappropriate reviews on your Business Profile — Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/4596773?hl=en-GB) Checked 2026-10-02. A customer says they left a review and you cannot find it. Not in Search, not on Maps. Most often the review is still being checked against Google's policies, and Google says that can take a few days. That is the usual answer and it mostly needs waiting out. The other case is a review that was removed for breaking a policy: Google will not restore those, so there is nothing to fix. The checklist below rules out the quick explanations first. After it, the causes are sorted by who can actually act on them — you, the customer, or Google. ## From the same studio Ours: made by the same studio that runs this site. - [ReviewNudge](https://reviewnudge.app/): Use a plain, honest review request: no incentives, no rating filter. ReviewNudge's free request builder writes one for text, WhatsApp or email. - [ScriptGrain](https://scriptgrain.com/): ScriptGrain writes replies in your own tone of voice. ## Related - [All my Google reviews have disappeared](https://reviewsnot.com/all-my-google-reviews-disappeared/) - [Why a Google review was removed](https://reviewsnot.com/why-a-google-review-was-removed/) - [How to report a fake Google review](https://reviewsnot.com/report-a-fake-google-review/) ## Sources - [About missing or delayed reviews — Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/10313341?hl=en-GB) - [Report inappropriate reviews on your Business Profile — Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/4596773?hl=en-GB) ## Questions people ask ### How long does Google take to show a new review? Google says the policy check can take a few days. ### Can I get a removed review back? Not if it was removed for a policy violation: Google says those won't be restored. ### Why did my reviews disappear after merging profiles? Google says it can take a few days for reviews from both profiles to show after a merge. ### Why are my reviews not showing on Google Maps? Maps and Search show the same reviews, so the causes on this page are the causes there too. The one Maps-specific thing worth doing is updating the app: Google says older phones or software can stop a review submitting. ### Only some of my reviews are missing. Is that different? No. A partial gap is usually the policy check catching the newest ones, or a merge that has not finished displaying both profiles' reviews.