Are you writing a review on Google Maps, and it happens that only you are seeing the review, and no one else can see your review? So you are not alone. Unpublished reviews are a common circumstance, and understanding their causes can help you avoid future disappointment. Let us know some of the reasons behind it in this post. Maps user-generated content policy; Before we start writing reviews on Google Maps, let's make sure we know the rules! Google has a set of strict policies for reviews, aimed at maintaining a reliable and helpful platform for users. These policies cover content, format, and user behavior: Content: Reviews should be relevant to the place being reviewed and focus on the user's experience. Off-topic, offensive, promotional, or inaccurate content will be removed. Format: Reviews should be well-written, free from excessive profanity or slang, and avoid personal attacks or threats. User Behavior: Google monitors suspicious activity, including fake reviews, spamming, or coordinating with businesses to manipulate reviews. Reasons for Unpublished Reviews: Now, let's explore the reasons why your review is falling into the shadows: Violating Google Maps Policy: The most common reason is violating one of the policies mentioned above. Please look over your draft carefully and make sure it aligns with Google's guidelines. (If contains Personal Photos, Screenshots, or Stolen pictures) Triggered Spam Filters: Google uses automated filters to detect spam and potentially fake reviews. Certain keywords or phrases might trigger these filters, even if your review is genuine. Need for Verification: If Google finds your review unusual or suspicious, it might be held for verification. This could happen if it's your first review, it's for a place far from your usual location, or you've had previous reviews flagged. Technical Issues: In rare cases, technical glitches can cause even valid reviews to disappear. Read more here; How reviews on Google Maps work What to Do if Your Review is Unpublished: Don't give up! Here are some steps you can take: Review the Policy: The most common reason. Did your review contain anything listed above? A quick review against the policy might reveal the issue. Check Review Status: Go to your Google Maps profile and check the "Reviews" tab. Unpublished reviews will show a status like "Not Posted" or "Pending." Appeal the Decision: If your review flagged for policy violation, you can contest it. Click "Appeal" next to the review and follow the instructions. Edit and Resubmit: If you suspect spam filters, try rephrasing without altering the core message, avoiding suspicious keywords. For Local Guides: Please write your issue here in this official Local Guides community thread. Unpublished reviews and photos on Google Maps. By understanding the reasons behind unpublished reviews and taking the appropriate steps, you can ensure your voice is heard on Google Maps.

Jan 29, 2024

A Guide to Unpublished Reviews on Google Maps.

27K Views124 Upvotes

Are you writing a review on Google Maps, and it happens that only you are seeing the review, and no one else can see your review? So you are not alone. Unpublished reviews are a common circumstance, and understanding their causes can help you avoid future disappointment.

Let us know some of the reasons behind it in this post.

Maps user-generated content policy;

Before we start writing reviews on Google Maps, let's make sure we know the rules! Google has a set of strict policies for reviews, aimed at maintaining a reliable and helpful platform for users. These policies cover content, format, and user behavior:

Content: Reviews should be relevant to the place being reviewed and focus on the user's experience. Off-topic, offensive, promotional, or inaccurate content will be removed.
Format: Reviews should be well-written, free from excessive profanity or slang, and avoid personal attacks or threats.
User Behavior: Google monitors suspicious activity, including fake reviews, spamming, or coordinating with businesses to manipulate reviews.

Reasons for Unpublished Reviews:

Now, let's explore the reasons why your review is falling into the shadows:

Violating Google Maps Policy: The most common reason is violating one of the policies mentioned above. Please look over your draft carefully and make sure it aligns with Google's guidelines. (If contains Personal Photos, Screenshots, or Stolen pictures)
Triggered Spam Filters: Google uses automated filters to detect spam and potentially fake reviews. Certain keywords or phrases might trigger these filters, even if your review is genuine.
Need for Verification: If Google finds your review unusual or suspicious, it might be held for verification. This could happen if it's your first review, it's for a place far from your usual location, or you've had previous reviews flagged.
Technical Issues: In rare cases, technical glitches can cause even valid reviews to disappear.

Read more here; How reviews on Google Maps work

What to Do if Your Review is Unpublished:

Don't give up! Here are some steps you can take:

Review the Policy: The most common reason. Did your review contain anything listed above? A quick review against the policy might reveal the issue.
Check Review Status: Go to your Google Maps profile and check the "Reviews" tab. Unpublished reviews will show a status like "Not Posted" or "Pending."
Appeal the Decision: If your review flagged for policy violation, you can contest it. Click "Appeal" next to the review and follow the instructions.
Edit and Resubmit: If you suspect spam filters, try rephrasing without altering the core message, avoiding suspicious keywords.
For Local Guides: Please write your issue here in this official Local Guides community thread. Unpublished reviews and photos on Google Maps.

By understanding the reasons behind unpublished reviews and taking the appropriate steps, you can ensure your voice is heard on Google Maps.

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Last edited Mar 27, 2024

All Replies (10)

Tejal Chhaya

Jan 29, 2024

Thank for sharing this wonderful information with us.

Danson Fu

Mar 27, 2024

I do highly appreciate your patience with me kind sir. Now I could use this information to help my grand kids. Now if you wish can you inquire help with Python arcade? I have issues when using python arcade it just randomly crashes at random times.

Thank you for your help

Yours sincerely, Danson Fu

Danson Fu

Mar 27, 2024

Hello this is Danson Fu, why haven't you replied yet, pls reply back

Last edited Mar 28, 2024

Kayleigh T

Feb 16, 2024

I don't have any that say 'unpublished'. But if I look for my reviews from another Google account I can't find them

John Myers 6909

Mar 3, 2024

Hello, I believe it’s because you have written IN CAPITAL LETTERS if you edit your review and change the capital letters to lower case letters it should resubmit and automatically approve/ publish. Google bots will think you are shouting if you put words in CAPITAL LETTERS and it would assume the shouting words are rude words. You’re welcome 😉

Danson Fu

Mar 28, 2024

John what is the answer to my quetion, please am I retired marine specialist and I am lost in the seaing, please do the helping to my python arcade question for my grandchildren

Last edited Mar 28, 2024

Halfman

Feb 19, 2024

Contact Google Support:

If all else fails, reach out to Google Maps support for help.

so, how do I do it? there is no info on how to reach support, only this forum is available if I search

Scorpions

Diamond Product Expert•Original Poster

Happy to Help

Feb 19, 2024

Write a post here on this community.

If you Local Guide then write on www.localguidesconnect.com

User 13404978774911816078

Feb 29, 2024

I believe many Maps users are experiencing at least the 4 of the same specific problems with Maps after last update. Some state they did rpost as instructed by GOOGLE on this forum. But no response no assistance. See user reviews in GOOGLE"S very own Play Store. It's too bad. Like many others I've used Maps for years. Waze is the superior option now at to tp point b from point a. I do not understand how GOOGLE has such disregard and disinterest in the opinions of their customers who use and RELIED ON many GOOGLE apps. GOOGLE'S RELIABILITY Rating is suffering due to their choice to ignore valid requests for assistance. They were given a fair chance to correct the problems. By GOOGLE'S choosing to do nothing they've answered the question about their priorities. It's not customers.

User 13404978774911816078

Feb 29, 2024

Borrowing a line from the second paragraph above "Google has a set of strict policies for maintaining a reliable and helpful platform for users"

Ii do not believe GOOGLE "policies" are FOR their users benefit "providing a reliable and helpful platform". Helpful is not a word I'd associate with GOOGLE these days. Recent "Updates" have only resulted in "more bugs" with more complaints from customers and limited constructiive responses from GOOGLE and rotating auto responses with very basic actionable responses ie clear cache/uninstall and reinstall with no resolution of users issues. It behooves GOOGLE TO put as Much or MORE EFFORT at achieving some degree of customer satisfaction versus writing paragraphs explaining the whys and whats regarding unpublished user submitted reviews. There's so many unresolved issues yet the updates continue typically adding to the problem pile with no decrease in the already reported and re-reported ongoing problems with functionality and RELIABILITY. Please listen to the consumers. Thank you for your time and consideration.

MohammadFahad Puthawala

Mar 1, 2024

What if someone does fake reviews? How to remove them? There's no option for us to remove, only the review owner can delete it. Even reporting the reviews doesn't work!

Last edited Mar 1, 2024

Scorpions

Diamond Product Expert•Original Poster

Happy to Help

Mar 1, 2024

There is only option is report it.

Alexbnb

Mar 2, 2024

My google map review in no longer visible to public since 07/2023. I didn't make any improper content. Google map has sent me "Thank you for your contribution" multiple times. I've also filed a number of request/complaint but never heard back. I used my spare account to post the same review, which is visible immediately. Just don't want to give up my account which has been used for more than a decade. Can you help with it? Thanks

Scorpions

Diamond Product Expert•Original Poster

Happy to Help

Mar 2, 2024

Kindly make new post

John Myers 6909

Mar 3, 2024

Also your review will not publish if ANY word is in CAPITAL LETTERS. Googles bot will assume you are shouting in your review and it will assume those shouted words to be rude words. So it will sit on pending but won’t tell you why.

I made this mistake once then I went back and edited the review so it was all lower case, my review was published immediately. Good luck!

Neil McGonigle 7473

Mar 6, 2024

Something is very wrong. I am level 7 local guide with 8 million views and 100s of reviews. Now I can only post reviews without photos from my Pixel 7. No idea why? Started two weeks ago. I can still post reviews with photos from windows or from my old pixel 5 phone. So clearly this is not a blocked account or an issue with my account. I even logged in as an alternate google account and I could then post from my pixel 7 a review with a photo. so it is not my phone. It's something on my account that is only impacting my pixel 7 google reviews. I can post with no images, but if I add an image it just gets stuck saying either "posting" indefinitely, or violation. If I post the same review identically with same photo from windows, or from my pixel 5, no issue. Wondering if I should factory reset my phone but that would be a huge inconvenience and no guarantee it will help. I have a google one support case opened as I am a paid subscriber but its been quiet for days now. No idea what to do next. just waiting indefintely is not really a plan as I use google reviews a lot. I might need to just start using my pixel 5 instead. camera not as good. Wish someone could advise. This just makes no sense. same review can be posted with image from pixel 5 and windows from this google account. If I use pixel 7, it won't post photos. same photos that work on pixel 5. weird.

Scorpions

Diamond Product Expert•Original Poster

Happy to Help

Mar 7, 2024

Hi Neil

Can you make a query in the "How-Tos" section in the Local Guides Connect?
Here is the link.

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/bd-p/localguide/label-name/How-tos

Neil McGonigle 7473

Mar 15, 2024

This started working again after 2 weeks. I've been in touch with Google one support constantly and sent logs from the device.. I'm not sure what's changed but I can now post photos to my reviews on this pixel 7.. It's like me device was banned from posting images for two weeks and suddenly it's ok again. But my account was fine as I could post photos on reviews on windows and pixel 5 without issue during the two weeks. The support team recognise something was going on and will investigate and fix in future updates. That's all I've got. Very odd one.

Scorpions

Diamond Product Expert•Original Poster

Happy to Help

Mar 15, 2024

Visit official Local Guides community releted perks.

www.localguidesconnect.com

gary.mail.feed

Mar 28, 2024

Hi,

I posted my first review and it shows Published, however, I'm the only person who can see it.

Here is the review: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7PKgMhDfeWJjHmzT7

Here's the text, which is very positive:

I would like to highly recommend Vegas Valley Ironworks for the following reasons: Price, Customer Service, Responsiveness, and Timeline. Tricia provided one of the smoothest experiences I've had here in LV. She came out and provided a written quote on the spot, it was less expensive than the major player in town, had better and more modern selection, and a shorter timeline for install. The gate was ready 20% sooner than the communicated timeline, and was installed at a time of my choosing. They took the old gate without any surcharge (the popular co wanted to charge for this). I had a slight adjustment that I requested and they were out right away to take care of it (I wanted a spring installed). Most importantly, Tricia was great to work with, always available and responsive via text and Seth provided service kindly and cared about the quality of install.

I reviewed the Rules / Top Post of this community page, however, I don't see any that apply other than perhaps "Need for Verification". However, no one has reached out to me for this.

What needs to happen to get this published so others can see it?

Thanks

Last edited Mar 28, 2024