How To Delete Photos From Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile photos give potential customers a first impression, may impact your local search rankings, and can even get featured prominently in AI-driven search features, such as Google's image carousel results and sections in AI-organized SERPs.

But not all GBP images have a positive impact. Outdated or low-quality images can mislead customers or hurt their perception of your business. Plus, since Google allows users to upload their own images to GBP listings, including with reviews, there's always the risk of someone else adding an irrelevant, inappropriate, or even malicious image to your listing.

This is why it's so crucial for local businesses and SEO professionals to know how to remove photos from Google Business Profile, in addition to understanding the importance of and best practices for optimizing your GBP photos.

Everything You Need To Know When You Want To Delete Photos From Google Business Profile

Can You Remove Photos From Google Business Profile?

The good news is that yes, if you or someone on your Google Business Profile account management team uploaded the image, you can remove it easily. These include photos added through the business dashboard by owners or managers. Deleting these types of images is straightforward and only takes a few clicks.

Pro Tip: If your team manages multiple locations, regularly audit your GBP photos across all listings to ensure everything remains current and high quality.

Can I Remove Customer Photos From Google Business Profile?

Google doesn't allow business owners to directly delete photos uploaded by customers, even if they're unflattering, low quality, or irrelevant.

However, you can report customer photos to Google for removal if they violate any of Google's user-generated content policies. Examples of violations include:

• Images that are irrelevant to your business (e.g., photos of unrelated products, people, pets, or places).
• Copyrighted images lifted from your website or another source.
• Inappropriate content (nudity, offensive language, violence, hate symbols, etc.).
• Spammy or misleading photos (such as fake interiors or edited images meant to misrepresent).

Google will review your report and decide whether to take the photo down. This process isn't immediate, but valid reports often result in the image being removed within a few days.

Note: Avoid abusing the image reporting feature. Google won't remove a photo just because you don't like how it looks!

When Should You Remove Photos From Google Business Profile?

Removing certain photos from your GBP listing helps ensure that you present your business in the most accurate and professional light possible. Here are some common scenarios where removing or replacing a photo is a good idea:

• Outdated or irrelevant photos: Images from a previous location, before a major renovation, or showcasing services or products you no longer offer can mislead customers and lead to bad experiences.
• Low-quality visuals: Blurry, dark, or poorly composed photos can make your business look unprofessional. Replacing them with clear, well-lit, high-resolution images can significantly improve first impressions.
• Inappropriate or policy-violating content: Photos added by users that include:
• Inaccurate representations of your business.
• Offensive or inappropriate content.
• Deliberately harmful material (e.g., edited images with defamatory text overlays).
• Photos added as part of a spammy or fake review attack.

• Stolen or duplicate content: Sometimes users upload images scraped from your website or copied from another business, which can be grounds for reporting under Google's guidelines.

Pro Tip: Set a reminder to periodically review your GBP photo section for user uploads and flag any problematic content before it affects your brand perception.

How To Remove Photos From Google Business Profile

Deleting Photos From Google Business Profile if an Account Manager Uploaded Them

If you (or someone on your team with manager or owner access) uploaded a photo, you can delete it directly through your Google Business Profile by following these steps:

1. Log in to the Google Account that manages your business.
2. Go to your Google Business Profile.
3. In the business profile dashboard, click "Photos."
4. Browse to the photo you want to remove. You can use the tabs (e.g., By owner, Interior, Exterior) to help locate it.
5. Hover over or open the photo, then click the trash can icon or three-dot menu.
6. Select "Delete" to confirm.

Once deleted, the photo will be removed immediately from your public listing.

Removing Customer Photos From Google Business Profile

Remember that you cannot delete customer-uploaded photos directly, but you can flag them for removal if they violate Google's content policies (e.g., if they're irrelevant, offensive, spammy, or misleading). Here are the steps to report a customer photo:

1. Go to your Business Profile in Google Search or Google Maps.
2. Select "Photos" and then "View all photos."
3. Scroll through your profile photos and locate the one uploaded by a customer that you want to report.
4. Click on the photo to open it in full view.
5. Click the flag icon or the three-dot menu, then choose "Report a problem."
6. Select the most appropriate reason for your report (e.g., "Spam").
7. Submit the report. You may be asked for additional details, depending on the reason.

Wait for Google's review. If the image violates their policies, it will typically be removed within a few days.

Pro Tip: If you're dealing with multiple suspicious or harmful photos (especially as part of a fake review attack), consider contacting Google support directly for further assistance. You can also report user profiles you suspect of adding photos with malicious intent.

Wrapping Up

Photos play a significant role in how your business is perceived in local search, so make sure to keep your GBP listing up to date with high-quality, relevant images, and don't forget to review customer uploads and report them if they violate any of Google's content policies.

Ultimately, knowing when and how to remove photos from Google Business Profile helps you maintain a polished image and reinforces your reputation and local search performance.