Why Are Google Reviews Missing?

Many businesses have reported that Google reviews are disappearing or that their total review count has suddenly dropped. This isn’t just affecting a few businesses—reports suggest this is a global issue.

  • Google has confirmed that this is a bug, not a removal of reviews.
  • The actual reviews still exist, but the count is displayed incorrectly.
  • Google is actively working on a fix, though no timeline has been provided.

If your business has been affected, here’s what you need to know.

What’s Happening with Google Business Reviews?

If you’ve noticed that your Google Business Profile (GBP) reviews have disappeared or your total review count has dropped, you’re not alone. Businesses worldwide have reported a sudden decrease in their total number of reviews, and many are understandably concerned about the impact on their reputation.

A Google employee has confirmed that this is a known issue, stating that the reviews haven’t been removed but that the total review count is displaying incorrectly. Google has assured business owners that they are actively working on a fix.

Google’s Official Statement

A Google employee has provided an update in an official forum, stating:

“We’re aware of an issue affecting some Google Business Profiles, causing some profiles to show lower-than-actual review counts due to a display issue. The reviews themselves have not actually been removed. We’re working hard to resolve this and restore accurate review counts as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and will share updates as they become available.”

Google has also reminded businesses that some reviews may have been removed for policy violations (such as spam), but this particular issue appears to be a bug rather than an enforcement action.

What’s Happening & Who’s Affected?

Are reviews actually being deleted?
No—Google has confirmed that the reviews still exist, but the total count is incorrect due to a bug.

Which reviews are affected?
Reports suggest that 5-star reviews are being impacted the most, causing businesses’ overall ratings to drop unfairly.

Is this happening worldwide?
Yes—businesses across multiple industries and locations have reported the same problem.

Will Google fix this?
Yes—Google has acknowledged the issue and stated they are actively working on a resolution.

How Does This Affect Your Business?

Your Google reviews are a crucial part of your online reputation, helping attract new customers, build trust, and improve your local SEO rankings. If your review count has dropped, this could:

  • Reduce customer trust – Potential customers may see fewer reviews and think your business lacks credibility.
  • Lower your local SEO performance – Reviews are a ranking factor for Google Search & Maps.
  • Distort your overall rating – If 5-star reviews disappear, your rating could drop, affecting conversions.

While this issue is frustrating, the good news is that Google is working on a resolution, and reviews are not permanently lost.

If you’re looking to learn more about why reviews are so essential for your business success, check out our article on the importance of online reviews and how they help build trust, and visibility.

If you’re looking for ways to showcase your Google reviews effectively on your website, read our guide on Why and How You Should Display Google Reviews on Your Website.

What Should You Do If Your Reviews Are Missing?

At this point, the best course of action is to wait while Google works on a fix. Since reviews still exist but aren’t being counted correctly, they should reappear once Google resolves the issue.

However, if you notice that your reviews are completely missing from your profile, you may need to escalate the issue.

How to Report Missing Reviews to Google

If your reviews are permanently gone, you can submit a support request to Google. Before doing so, make sure to gather:

  • Number of missing reviews
  • When the issue started
  • Names of reviewers whose feedback disappeared
  • Screenshots of the missing reviews (if available)

You can submit a support request in Google’s help centre.

Read more about the process of recovering lost Google reviews.

FAQ: Common Questions About Missing Google Reviews

Is Google Deleting Reviews?
No, Google has confirmed that this is a display bug. The actual reviews still exist, but the total count is incorrect.
That being said, Google does regularly remove reviews that violate its policies. If a review has disappeared permanently, it may have been removed due to:

  • The review was flagged as spam or fake.
  • Temporary removal due to system updates.
  • Your Google Business Profile is new or has a duplicate listing.
  • The reviewer’s account is inactive.
  • The review contained embedded links.

Google has confirmed a bug affecting review counts, but the reviews themselves have not been deleted. (10th February 2025)

If your reviews are gone completely, you can submit a support request to Google with relevant details. Read our guide on recovering Google reviews.

Many reports suggest that 5-star reviews are being affected the most by this bug, though Google has not provided details on why.

Google has acknowledged the problem but has not provided a timeline for a fix.

Need Help with Your Online Presence?

We understand how frustrating this situation is, and we’re keeping a close eye on updates from Google. While there’s no immediate fix available, we’ll share any new information as soon as it’s announced.

If you’re looking to strengthen your digital marketing strategy, improve your Google rankings, or grow your online visibility, our SEO agency in London is here to help. We specialise in national and local SEO, to help businesses stand out online.

Get in touch today to see how we can help your business thrive.

Last updated: 13th February 2025 1:13 pm

Update: Google Review Count Bug Fix Rolling Out

Reports indicate that Google has started rolling out a fix for the review count bug, although an official confirmation is still pending. Businesses are now seeing their review numbers increase again, with reports confirming that the issue is improving.

Some reports from the Google Business Profile Forums include:

  • “The issue has been resolved for us and our review count is (nearly) back to where it was.”

  • “I got back 11 out of the 30 on the tally count.”

  • “Finally, a slow trickle on the up! About 1-2 added every few minutes.”

  • “Yes, I got a few back but not all of them. Hopefully, they will all be back by tomorrow.”

While the fix is in progress, it may take some time for all businesses to see their correct review count restored. We recommend keeping an eye on your Google Business Profile and monitoring for further updates.

We will continue to track this issue and provide additional updates as they become available.