If a few days have passed since you reported a review to Google and it still hasn’t been removed, you might be wondering, what’s taking so long? Here’s the thing when you report a review, the removal time can vary based on many factors. Usually a review removal request takes up to 5 business days to be processed, while in some instances it can take up to several weeks.
Expected Timeframes For Google Review Removal
The timeline for Google to review and remove a flagged review depends on the violation type, the reason for the report and the volume of reports Google is processing at the time. Here’s a quick overview of the expected timeframes for 2025/2026.
Automated Removals (24 to 48 Hours) 🚀
When a review clearly violates Google’s guidelines, for example content that contains harassment or hate speech etc is often picked up by Google’s algorithm filters and removed within a day or two.
Complex Removals (Up to 60 days) 📜
When legal is action is taken, Google will take longer to review removal requests. Especially if the review contains damaging or sensitive information. Due to the involvement of legal teams, in such situations cases can take up to 60 days to process.
Standard Removals (3 to 5 Business Days) 🔍
Most Google review removal requests are processed within 3 to 5 business days. However, in some cases, the process may take longer if the review needs to be manually assessed to determine whether it violates their content guidelines.
Volume Of Reports 📈
Sometimes, Google may experience setbacks if there is a backlog of reports that need to be reviewed manually by an employee. On average, this can cause a delay of up to a few weeks, depending on the queue and the time needed to process your removal request.
Keep Tabs On Your Reported Review
01.
Track The Status
You can track your reports in the Google review management tool. Although, Google will send you an email when a decision is made on your flagged review.
02.
Request Denied?
Did Google reject your review removal request? You can still challenge the decision, but be sure to present a strong case as to why you believe review violates Google’s guidelines.
03.
Patience Is Key
The removal process can vary for each case and there is no guaranteed timeframe, so it’s important to give Google sufficient time to review your report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Google review removal request say “decision pending”?
When a Google review removal report is marked as “decision pending,” that means Google is still reviewing the request to determine whether the review violates its content guidelines.
I reported a review but Google says there’s no policy violation, what should I do?
You may have the option to appeal again, if you believe the review should be removed and have a strong enough reason. To check if you’re eligible, visit your Google reviews management tool dashboard.
If I get my customers to report a review, will Google take it down faster?
Unfortunately, even if you have multiple customers report a review it won’t speed up the removal process. However, if the review does violate Google’s guidelines, it will eventually be removed.
Final Thoughts
The time it takes to get a reported review removed is unpredictable to say the least. The context of the review matters the most as if it does violate Google’s content guidelines, it will definitely be addressed. You need to understand there are different stages to the process and yes sometimes it can be slow if there is a high volume of reports. However, there are a few factors that can influence the speed of a removal, such as if the review is inappropriate. While waiting to hear back from Google can be frustrating, they just want to ensure all removal requests are processed in order.