Google has now resolved the issue that caused some Google Business Profiles to display an incorrect review count. If your review total was lower than expected, you should see the correct number restored on your profile.
Victoria Kroll, Operations Manager at Google, confirmed on 13th February 2025 that most affected profiles now display accurate ratings and reviews. However, some profiles may still show a temporarily lower count, which should recover to pre-issue levels in the coming days.
"Most affected profiles now display accurate ratings and reviews. However, while we have made significant progress, some profiles may still experience a temporary lower count. These profiles should recover to pre-issue levels over the next few days. No reviews were unpublished due to this issue. If your review count does not return to the level it was before this issue in the next few days, please contact support."
Victoria Kroll, Operations Manager at Google
⚠️ If your review count does not return to the level it was before this issue within the next few days, contact Google Support.
Original Post
Google Business Profile (GBP) reviews are essential for building credibility and trust. They influence rankings, shape customer perception, and play a key role in attracting new business.
Recently, many business owners have reported that their total number of reviews is dropping unexpectedly. Some have also noticed changes to their overall rating, with negative reviews appearing to have more weight than before.
Understandably, this has caused concern. While Google does remove some reviews as part of its spam prevention efforts, this current issue is different.
A known issue is affecting some Google Business Profiles, causing review counts to display incorrectly. Google has officially acknowledged the problem:
"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 on this thread as they become available."
Victoria Kroll, Operations Manager at Google
To follow the latest updates on this issue, visit Google’s official support thread here: GBP Review Count Known Issue Update
Have My Google Reviews Been Deleted?
No, your reviews are still there. This is a display issue, NOT a removal. Your reviews have not been deleted or filtered out. They are just not appearing correctly on your profile.
This issue is not related to Google’s review spam detection process. The reviews still exist, and once Google resolves the issue, the correct review count should be restored.
What Should You Do If Your Google Reviews Are Missing?
While this issue is frustrating, the best approach is to stay patient and follow these steps.
1. Keep a Record of Your Google Reviews
Take screenshots of your Google reviews and save them for reference. This will help you track changes once Google resolves the issue.
2. Continue Generating Google Reviews
Keep asking customers for reviews. Even if some are not displaying correctly right now, they will still be counted once Google fixes the issue.
3. Do Not Contact Google Support
Since Google has officially confirmed that this is a known issue, submitting a support request will not speed up the fix. Instead, keep an eye on Google’s official support thread.
4. Follow Google’s Guidelines
If you have had reviews removed in the past, it may have been due to a policy violation. While this current issue is unrelated, it is always a good idea to comply with Google’s guidelines.
We understand how frustrating it is to see your hard-earned reviews disappear or fluctuate. Reviews take time and effort to generate, so seeing inaccurate numbers on your profile can be stressful.
The good news is that this is just a temporary glitch. Your reviews are not gone, and Google will restore the correct numbers once the issue is fixed.
In the meantime, continue delivering great service, asking for customer feedback, and keeping your Google Business Profile updated. If you want expert help to manage and optimise your Google Business Profile, book a 15-minute discovery call today!