2025-02-14 | Home » Blog » How Long Does Google Take to Post a Review

How Long Does Google Take to Post a Review

By Saad Malik Saad Malik

How Long Does Google Take to Post a Review

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If you have ever left a Google review or asked a customer to share feedback about your business, you might have wondered, “How long does Google take to post a review?” The short answer is typically within a few minutes to a couple of days. However, there are instances where it can take longer. In this post, we’ll explore the usual timeline for Google to publish a review, common reasons for delays, and recent issues (like the Google reviews count bug) that have caused many small businesses unnecessary stress.

The Usual Timeline: When to Expect Your Google Review to Appear

1. Typical Posting Time

Under normal conditions, a Google review can appear on your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) anywhere between a few minutes and 48 hours after a user posts it. This time window allows Google to:

  1. Filter for spam or policy violations
  2. Check for suspicious or automated activities
  3. Ensure compliance with Google’s content guidelines

2. Google’s Automated Checks

Google employs automated filters to detect spam, fake reviews, and policy-violating content. If a review appears suspicious (for example, containing banned or inappropriate language, or coming from an account flagged for spammy behavior), Google may hold or remove it altogether.

Pro tip: Make sure your customers write authentic, policy-compliant reviews. Encouraging honest feedback fosters trust and helps avoid moderation delays or removals.

Why Some Reviews Take Longer (or Don’t Appear at All)

1. Account History and Trust Signals

  • New Google accounts: Reviews from newly created Google accounts may face extra scrutiny, which can delay publishing.
  • Sparse activity: If a Google user has very little activity history (few or no reviews written), Google’s filters might hold the review to check authenticity.

2. Potential Policy Violations

Google explicitly forbids reviews that are spammy, off-topic, harassing, or contain inappropriate content. If a review includes any such red flags:

  • The review may be delayed while Google checks it.
  • The review may be hidden or removed entirely, if found violating policy.

Want to learn more? Check out our dedicated post:
Understanding Google Review Policies: A Guide for Businesses

3. Technical Glitches and Bugs

Even the most sophisticated systems can experience hiccups. Though it’s rare, Google Maps and Google Business Profile can face bugs that temporarily delay or miscount reviews. One such example occurred recently, leaving many businesses unsure if their reviews disappeared.

Google’s Recent Review Count Bug: What Happened?

In early February 2025, a widespread bug caused Google Business Profiles to show fewer reviews than the actual count. This caused alarm for countless businesses that rely on social proof to attract potential customers. However, no reviews were permanently removed—the issue stemmed from a display error, not a review removal problem.

Timeline of the Bug

  • Mid to late January 2025: Businesses noticed that their total review count wasn’t matching the actual number of reviews on the profile.
  • Early February 2025: Google acknowledged the bug and started working on a fix.

Google’s Official Statement

According to a post by Victoria Kroll from Google:

“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.”

Current Status

While Google says it has fixed most of the issues, a small subset of profiles may still be experiencing temporary anomalies in their review count. If the count on your Google Business Profile is still incorrect after a few days, Google advises contacting their support team.

Important: Keep in mind that your actual reviews (and the text within them) are not disappearing. The issue is strictly with how the total number of reviews is displayed.

How Do You Know if Your Review Is Delayed vs. Removed?

  1. Check your notifications: If you posted the review, look for a confirmation email or check your Google Maps contribution profile to see if it’s listed.
  2. Confirm with the reviewer: If a customer claims they left a review, ask them for a screenshot of their posted review.
  3. Observe the timeline: If it’s only been a few hours (or even a day), the review could still be in Google’s moderation queue.
  4. Look for known issues: Occasionally, Google experiences bugs (like the recent review count glitch). Check resources such as Google’s support forums or official statements to confirm.

What to Do if Your Review Still Isn’t Showing Up

  1. Wait 48-72 hours: Give Google’s systems time to catch up.
  2. Contact Google Support: If it’s been more than a few days and you suspect a technical issue, reach out to Google Business Profile Support for assistance.
  3. Re-check Google’s Review Policies: Ensure the content of the review doesn’t violate any rules.
  4. Inspect for spam triggers: Words or phrases that look suspicious might cause delays. Encourage reviews written in a natural, authentic tone.

Tips to Prevent Review Delays or Disappearances

  1. Educate Customers on Best Practices: Provide a short, friendly guideline for writing helpful reviews (e.g., “mention details about your experience, remain civil and honest, avoid inappropriate language”).
  2. Avoid Incentivizing Reviews: Offering gifts or money for five-star reviews violates Google’s policies and can lead to bulk removals or penalizations.
  3. Stay Updated on Google’s Announcements: Follow reputable SEO news sites or Google’s own forums to catch wind of any bugs or changes.
  4. Diversify Your Review Sources: While Google is crucial, encourage customers to leave feedback on other platforms (Yelp, Facebook, industry-specific review sites) to minimize risk from a single point of failure.

Quick Recap of Key Points

  • Most Google reviews post within hours to a couple of days.
  • Delays occur due to moderation filters, policy checks, or suspicious activity.
  • Major bugs (like the February 2025 review count glitch) can cause temporary display issues.
  • If a review hasn’t appeared after 72 hours, you may want to contact Google Support.
  • Ensure your review content and your customers’ reviews comply with Google’s policies to avoid permanent removal.

Explore More on Reviews and Local SEO

If managing Google reviews is just one part of your online reputation strategy, you might find our other blog posts helpful:

You can find an entire library of review response examples, online reputation management tips, and Google My Business tutorials in our Blog Archive. Whether you need guidance on tackling a 1-star takedown or best practices for celebrating 5-star praise, there’s a post for you.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to Google reviews, patience and vigilance go a long way. Generally, you can expect new reviews to appear within a few hours to a couple of days. If there’s a notable delay, it often comes down to filters, policies, or technical glitches. By staying informed about Google’s guidelines, monitoring your Google Business Profile closely, and keeping open lines of communication with your customers (and Google Support when necessary), you can navigate the occasional review hiccup and maintain a strong online presence.

Remember: The recent review count bug might have alarmed you if your review total didn’t match what you expected. Rest assured, the actual written reviews are usually still there. Keep monitoring your profile, and if any discrepancy continues beyond a few days, contact Google Support. In the meantime, continue fostering genuine, policy-compliant reviews—your reputation depends on it!


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