Yes—but only under certain conditions. Yelp does not allow businesses to delete reviews just because they are negative. However, you can report, dispute, or minimize the impact of unfair or fake reviews.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
✅ Which types of Yelp reviews can be removed
✅ How to report and request removal of unfair or fake reviews
✅ What to do if Yelp refuses to remove a review
✅ How to respond to negative reviews professionally
1. Can You Remove a Bad Yelp Review?
Yelp has strict content guidelines that determine which reviews can be removed. You cannot remove a review simply because you don’t like it, but you can dispute it if it violates Yelp’s policies.
Reviews That Can Be Removed:
Fake Reviews – Left by bots, competitors, or people who never visited your business.
Inappropriate Content – Includes hate speech, threats, offensive language, or personal attacks.
Conflict of Interest – Reviews written by business owners, employees, or competitors.
Off-Topic Reviews – Irrelevant comments (e.g., political opinions or personal complaints unrelated to the service).
Promotional Reviews – Reviews left in exchange for payment, discounts, or incentives.
Multiple or Duplicate Reviews – If the same person leaves multiple negative reviews using different accounts.
Reviews That Cannot Be Removed:
⚠️ Genuine Negative Feedback – Even if unfair, real customer experiences will not be removed.
⚠️ Old Reviews – As long as they follow Yelp’s guidelines, older reviews will remain.
⚠️ Subjective Opinions – If a customer simply didn’t like your service, their review stays.
2. How to Report & Remove a Bad Yelp Review
If a review violates Yelp’s guidelines, you can report it for removal. Here’s how:
Method 1: Report the Review to Yelp
1️⃣ Log in to your Yelp Business Account
- Visit Yelp for Business.
2️⃣ Find the Bad Review - Go to your business page and locate the review.
3️⃣ Click the “Report Review” Button - Select the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the review.
- Click “Report Review”.
4️⃣ Choose a Reason for Removal - Select the violation category (e.g., fake, inappropriate, off-topic).
5️⃣ Submit the Report & Wait for Yelp’s Response - Yelp will review the case, which can take several days to weeks.
✅ If Yelp agrees, the review will be removed.
❌ If Yelp rejects your request, the review will remain.
Method 2: Contact Yelp Support for Review Disputes
If reporting the review does not work, you can escalate your request:
Use Yelp’s Support Form:
- Go to the Yelp Support Page.
- Select “Business Owner Help”.
- Explain why the review should be removed.
Email Yelp Directly:
- Send a detailed request with screenshots and evidence to feedback@yelp.com.
Contact Yelp on Social Media (Faster Response):
- Twitter (X): @Yelp
- Facebook: @YelpForBusinessOwners
Pro Tip: If multiple people report the review, it may increase the chances of removal. Ask employees or customers to flag the review as well.
3. What If Yelp Won’t Remove the Bad Review?
If Yelp refuses to remove the review, you can reduce its impact with these strategies:
1️⃣ Respond to the Review Professionally
A well-written response can neutralize a negative review and show potential customers that you care.
✔ Stay calm and professional – Avoid being defensive.
✔ Acknowledge the issue – Apologize if necessary.
✔ Offer a solution – Show you are willing to resolve the complaint.
✔ Encourage private discussion – Provide a phone number or email.
Example Response:
“Hi [Reviewer’s Name], we’re sorry you had a bad experience. Our goal is to provide excellent service, and we’d love to make this right. Please contact us at [email/phone] so we can discuss a solution. Thank you for your feedback!”
Why This Works:
Even if the review stays, a professional response makes your business look trustworthy.
2️⃣ Push Down the Bad Review with Positive Reviews
The best way to minimize a bad review’s impact is to get more positive reviews:
✅ Ask satisfied customers to leave Yelp reviews – Send polite review requests via email, SMS, or in person.
✅ Encourage happy customers to post on Yelp – Offer reminders, but DO NOT incentivize (Yelp prohibits review incentives).
✅ Deliver outstanding service – Happy customers naturally leave good reviews.
Pro Tip: More recent, positive reviews will push the bad review down, making it less visible.
3️⃣ Use Yelp’s Review Filter to Your Advantage
Yelp’s algorithm automatically filters some reviews if they seem suspicious (e.g., from new accounts or inactive users).
Encourage real customers to fully complete their Yelp profiles before reviewing.
Avoid fake reviews – Yelp detects and hides them.
Engage with customers on Yelp – Responding to reviews can increase visibility of positive feedback.
4️⃣ Take Legal Action (Last Resort Option)
If the review is defamatory, false, or harmful, legal action might be an option.
✔ Send a cease-and-desist letter – If a competitor or ex-employee is leaving fake reviews, legal action may stop them.
✔ File a defamation lawsuit – Only consider this if the review is clearly false and damaging.
✔ Get a court order for removal – If successful, Yelp may be required to delete the review.
⚠️ Warning: Legal action can be expensive and may attract negative publicity. Use this approach only in extreme cases.
4. How to Prevent Bad Yelp Reviews in the Future
Deliver excellent customer service – Happy customers rarely leave bad reviews.
Encourage private feedback – Ask customers to share complaints directly before they go public.
Monitor your Yelp reviews regularly – Address issues before they escalate.
Train employees – Teach staff how to handle customer complaints professionally.
Pro Tip: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews organically—this helps bury negative reviews over time.
Final Thoughts
Bad Yelp reviews can be frustrating, but they don’t have to ruin your business. Here’s what to remember:
✅ You CAN remove fake, inappropriate, or off-topic reviews by reporting them.
✅ You CANNOT remove legitimate negative reviews—but you can respond professionally.
✅ If Yelp won’t remove the review, bury it with positive feedback.
✅ A professional response can make your business look better, even with bad reviews.
Dinesh K Verma is an experienced SEO strategist and WordPress expert with over 12 years of industry experience. He specializes in creating optimized, user-friendly websites that drive traffic and conversions. As the founder of SEOBallia.com, Dinesh shares his expertise through insightful articles and practical guides. His mission is to empower businesses and individuals to achieve online success.