Many business owners don’t just wonder how to remove reviews, but also how to completely delete their Google Business Profile so it no longer appears on Google Maps or in search results.
The truth is that deleting a profile isn’t always as simple as it sounds. In this article, we explain all the official options, lesser-known alternatives, and the considerations you should keep in mind before taking this step.
🔑 Official options to “delete” a profile
- Mark as “Permanently closed”
- The profile remains visible but shows as closed and no longer accepts new reviews.
- Over time, it loses visibility, although it doesn’t disappear entirely.
- Request profile deletion
- You can request it from the admin panel.
- Google doesn’t always remove the profile: often, it simply unpublishes it and leaves a “Permanently closed” notice.
- Report the business as “Doesn’t exist”
- Any user can suggest on Google Maps that a business doesn’t exist.
- If enough users confirm it, Google may permanently remove the profile.
🔒 Lesser-known strategies
- Change the name and address
Google will request reverification. If you don’t complete it, the profile gets suspended and stops appearing. - Remove categories and key data
A profile without a category, opening hours, or contact details loses visibility. In some cases, Google may even deindex it. - Report policy violations
Flag profiles with keywords in the business name, duplicates, or fake locations.
Request a merge with another profile
If there are two profiles for the same business, you can ask Google to merge them.
🚫 What doesn’t work
- Deleting the profile from your account: you’ll lose access, but the profile remains online.
- Ignoring it: Google keeps it active as long as it considers the information useful to users.
👉 In summary: the fastest way to “disappear” a profile is to force reverification (by changing details) and not complete it. For definitive removals, the most effective method is to report it as a duplicate or non-existent.
What about the reviews?
Deleting a profile doesn’t guarantee that the associated reviews will disappear. In fact, these reviews often remain visible elsewhere in Google’s results. If your main concern is negative or fake comments, the best approach isn’t deleting the profile but reporting policy-violating reviews and actively managing them.
👉 Here’s a complete guide: How to remove and report reviews on Google
👉 You can also read more about whether it’s possible to disable Google reviews.
Final thoughts
Deleting a Google Business Profile doesn’t always mean disappearing from Google. Sometimes the profile is just marked as closed or loses visibility but remains accessible.
That’s why, before deciding, it’s worth considering whether managing your reviews and optimizing your profile to attract customers would be more beneficial.
At OPINAS, we already help over 200 businesses —restaurants, clinics, hotels, workshops— improve their online reputation with more real reviews and automated AI-powered responses.
👉 If you want to take the next step and manage your Google profile professionally, contact us and we’ll guide you through the entire process.
