Google Reviews Bug Feb 2025! Missing Reviews on Local Listings

Businesses worldwide have reported missing Google reviews, and Google has acknowledged a bug affecting local listings. Many business owners have seen their review counts drop suddenly, impacting their online reputation and search visibility. While Google is working on a fix, businesses need to understand what is happening and how they can respond.

Click here to see what users are saying on the official Google support forum.

What’s Happening with Google Reviews?

• Reviews are disappearing from Google Business Profiles.
• Some businesses see a significant drop in total review counts.
• Many affected reviews are legitimate and do not violate Google’s policies.
• Google has confirmed this as a bug, but there is no timeline for a fix.\

Possible Causes of Reviews Not Showing Up

1. A Technical Issue (Confirmed Feb, 2025)
   • Google’s system is incorrectly displaying review counts.
   • Some users report that reviews exist but are not counted.
2. Automated Filtering Errors
   • Google’s AI moderation may be removing legitimate reviews.
   • Businesses suspect increased enforcement of fake review policies.
3. Policy-Related Removals
   • Google removes reviews that violate content policies.
   • Some businesses worry legitimate reviews are being mistakenly flagged.

Impact on Businesses

• Loss of customer trust and reduced credibility.
• Lower local search rankings, affecting visibility.
• Frustration among businesses relying on organic customer feedback.

How to Check for Missing Reviews

1. Use the Google Maps API or third-party tools to verify reviews.
   • JC Wilkins had this to say, “I pulled the reviews down directly from our GMB API and then separately from Google Maps through Outscraper. All the reviews are there. So it doesn’t seem that they’ve been “removed” by Google, just filtered from showing. Can send that spreadsheet if interested.“
2. Compare past review counts with current numbers.
3. Check if the reviews still appear under individual customer profiles.

What Businesses Can Do

1. Report the Issue
   • Submit a support request to Google Business Profile support.
   • Provide a Case ID to track updates.
2. Monitor Updates
   • Follow Google’s forums and official announcements.
   • Stay informed through industry news sources.
3. Encourage New Reviews
   • Continue asking satisfied customers to leave feedback.
   • Diversify review platforms to reduce reliance on Google.

Google’s Response and Next Steps

Per Joy Hawkins, Google has acknowledged the issue and is actively investigating. While a resolution is expected, there is no official date for when reviews will be restored. Businesses should document their missing reviews in case Google provides a recovery option.

Conclusion

This issue is widespread, and businesses are not alone in facing it. While Google works on a fix, reporting the issue, tracking updates, and continuing to collect reviews are the best steps businesses can take.

Keeping customers informed and maintaining trust should be the priority until the problem is resolved.