Google Maps separates review controls, profile visibility, profile identity, and uploaded media. To change a review you wrote, open Your contributions, select Reviews, and use the review’s More menu to edit or delete it. On Android, profile visibility is controlled separately under Profile picture > Settings > Location and privacy. You can also customize your Maps name and picture, or remove photos and videos you uploaded. These settings do not make reviews anonymous: Google states that all reviews are public and that anonymous reviews are not supported.
Which Google Maps setting do you need?
Start with the outcome you want. A review, your public profile, your profile name and picture, and a photo or video are different types of contributions, so changing one does not automatically change the others.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Goal | Desktop path | Android path | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edit or delete a review you wrote | Menu > Your contributions > Reviews > More |
Contribute > View your profile > See all reviews > More |
Reviews are public. Editing changes the displayed post date. |
| Restrict profile discoverability | The cited Google guidance is Android-specific; it does not establish a desktop path. | Profile picture > Settings > Location and privacy, then turn on the restricted-profile switch |
This is a profile-visibility control, not a promise that reviews become private. |
| Change your Maps name, picture, or bio | Desktop-specific details are not established in the cited profile guidance. | Contribute > View your profile > Edit profile |
Google says the profile name, picture, and bio appear on the profile. |
| Delete a photo or video you uploaded | Menu > Your contributions > Photos > More > Delete this photo |
The cited help does not state one fixed current Android path; use the profile and media controls shown in your app. | You can remove only media added through your own account. Search copies are removed, but local and synced copies are not. |
| Deal with someone else’s inappropriate content | Use Google’s report workflow. | Use the in-app report controls and track the report there. | Reporting requests a moderation decision; it does not guarantee removal. |
Google can change navigation labels between app versions. If a label differs slightly, look for the same destination—your profile, reviews, photos, or Location and privacy—rather than assuming the setting has been removed.
Edit or delete a Google Maps review
You can change or remove reviews posted from your own account. Google documents separate computer and Android routes in its Google Maps review help and its Android variant.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
On a computer
- Open Google Maps and select Menu.
- Choose Your contributions, then Reviews.
- Find the review you want to change.
- Open the More menu beside that review.
- Select Edit review to revise the text or rating, or select Delete review to remove it.
When you edit a review, Google updates the date displayed as the review’s post date. The edit is therefore not only a text change: readers may see a newer post date after you save it.
On Android
- Open the Google Maps app and tap Contribute. Google’s Contribute-tab guidance describes this area as the place to reach contribution actions and your profile.
- Tap View your profile.
- Tap See all reviews.
- Open the More menu beside the review.
- Choose Edit review or Delete review, then follow the confirmation prompts.
The exact placement of Contribute or the More icon can vary with the current Android app layout, but the documented destination remains your profile’s complete review list.
What editing or deleting does not change
Google’s review guidance states, “All reviews are public and anyone can find what you add.” It also states, “You’re unable to add an anonymous review.” Those rules apply whether you leave a review unchanged, edit it, or publish a new one. Editing is not a way to turn an existing review into a private note, and deleting a review is different from restricting your profile.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Reviews are also subject to Google’s content policies. Google says reviews removed for policy violations are not reinstated. Editing a review does not create an exemption from moderation; a revised review can still be evaluated under the same rules. If a review disappeared because Google removed it for a policy violation, the review controls cannot restore it.
Can you make Google Maps reviews private?
No setting described by Google turns Maps reviews into anonymous or fully private posts. The practical control available in the cited Android guidance is a restricted-profile switch. It changes profile discoverability, so treat it as a boundary around your profile rather than as a privacy guarantee for every review.
Turn on restricted profile visibility on Android
- Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture.
- Tap Settings.
- Open Location and privacy.
- Turn on the switch that restricts your profile.
Google documents this route in Control who finds your Google Maps contributions. The wording is Android-specific; the cited guidance does not provide a matching desktop sequence, so do not assume that the same switch exists in the desktop website’s menus.
Understand the privacy boundary
- Profile restriction governs how people find or view your Maps profile and contributions as a profile-level setting.
- Google still describes reviews as public and does not support anonymous reviews.
- Restricting the profile does not erase reviews, ratings, photos, or videos you previously posted.
- If your goal is to remove a particular review, use the review’s own Delete review control instead.
Because Google’s public-review rule and the restricted-profile switch address different layers, do not tell readers that enabling the switch makes their reviews private. The accurate description is that it limits profile discoverability while the review system remains public under Google’s stated policy.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Change the name, picture, or bio shown on your Maps profile
Google Maps has profile-identity controls separate from your review editor. On Android, Google’s profile help says you can edit your profile and choose a custom Maps name and picture instead of using the name and picture on your Google Account.
Android steps
- Open Google Maps and tap Contribute.
- Tap View your profile.
- Tap Edit profile.
- Change the available profile details, such as your Maps name, picture, or short bio, and save the change.
What other people can see
Google says the profile name, picture, and bio always appear on the profile. A custom Maps name or picture gives you a separate public identity for Maps; it does not make the profile blank or make contributions anonymous. Choose identity details with that visibility in mind.
The cited profile article provides Android-specific instructions. It does not establish a desktop sequence with identical labels, so avoid presenting a computer path as if Google had documented one. On a computer, use the profile controls that are actually displayed in your current Maps interface rather than relying on an older menu name.
Remove photos and videos you posted to Google Maps
Media has its own contribution library. Deleting an uploaded item from Maps removes the Maps/Search copy, but it does not act as a file-delete command for every place the item may also exist.
Recommended Free Tools
Desktop deletion steps
- Open Google Maps and select Menu.
- Choose Your contributions.
- Open Photos.
- Find the photo or video and open its More menu.
- Select Delete this photo, then confirm.
These labels and the ownership limitation are documented in Google Maps’ photo and video help. The control is for media added through your own account; it is not a tool for deleting another person’s upload.
Android deletion
Google’s cited media guidance does not give one fixed, current Android click path. In the app, open your profile and the media or photos area, select your own item, and use the available More or delete control. Because Android navigation can change, verify the labels shown on your device before confirming deletion.
Where the deleted file remains
- Google removes the contribution from Google Maps and Google Search.
- The original file remains in your device’s gallery unless you delete that local copy separately.
- If the file was backed up to Google Photos, the backed-up copy is not removed by deleting the Maps contribution.
- If the file was synchronized to Google Drive, the Drive copy is not removed by the Maps action.
Deleting a Maps contribution therefore addresses its public Maps and Search presence, not every local or synchronized copy. Check those other locations separately if your objective is to remove the file everywhere.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Report content posted by someone else
You cannot use your own contribution controls to delete another person’s review, photo, or video. For disputed or inappropriate material, use Google’s report process instead of presenting the item as yours.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHow reporting works
- Open the contribution or profile that contains the problem.
- Use the available report option and select the reason that best describes the issue.
- Submit the report.
- Use Google’s reporting area in the app to track the report status when that option is provided.
The Maps User Contributed Content Policy Help explains that Google makes the moderation decision. Google may remove or reinstate content regardless of whether a report is accepted, so a submitted report is not a promise that the contribution will disappear.
Report versus delete
| Situation | Correct action | Who decides the result? |
|---|---|---|
| You wrote the review | Edit or delete it from Your contributions. | You control your own edit or deletion, subject to Google’s policies. |
| You uploaded the photo or video | Delete it from Your contributions > Photos or the corresponding app media area. | You control the Maps contribution; local, Google Photos, and Drive copies require separate actions. |
| Someone else posted the content | Submit a report through Google’s contribution-policy workflow. | Google’s moderation system and reviewers decide whether to remove or reinstate it. |
What to check before changing a contribution
Take a moment to identify the account that owns the item. Maps only exposes edit and delete controls for contributions made through the signed-in account. If a review, photo, or video is missing from your list, switching accounts may solve the mystery; reporting is appropriate only for content posted by somebody else.
If the wording, rating, or date matters, copy the existing text or save a screenshot before editing. Google changes the displayed post date when a review is edited, and deleting a review or media item is a substantive change rather than a temporary hide. Keep any evidence you may need for a business dispute, warranty claim, or personal record before confirming.
Use the correct platform instructions. Desktop Google Maps and the Android app do not necessarily expose the same labels, and a guide written for one platform may not translate directly to the other. Do not install a third-party tool or pay for a service to perform these actions: the controls are built into Google Maps, and no physical product is required.
Troubleshoot missing changes and confusing controls
A deleted photo still appears
Google says a media deletion can take several minutes to update. If the item still appears in Your contributions, close and reopen that area of Maps. This refresh step addresses a stale display; it does not delete copies stored in your phone gallery, Google Photos, or Google Drive.
The review date changed after editing
This is expected. Google documents that editing updates the date shown as the review’s post date. If the original date matters to you, save your own record before editing; the displayed date is controlled by the edited contribution.
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
You expected profile restriction to hide a review
Recheck the goal of the setting. The Android switch under Settings > Location and privacy restricts profile discoverability. Google’s separate review guidance still says reviews are public and anonymous reviews are unavailable. To remove a review, return to Your contributions > Reviews and delete that review.
You cannot find the menu shown in a guide
Google’s help pages are platform-specific, and app navigation can change. Confirm that you are using the intended platform, then look for the destination rather than an identical icon position: Your contributions on desktop, or Contribute > View your profile on Android. The cited instructions do not establish identical desktop and Android labels for every setting.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A review or contribution disappeared without your deleting it
Google moderates user contributions and says it does not reinstate reviews removed for policy violations. A missing contribution can therefore reflect a moderation action rather than a local display problem. Editing the text is not a guaranteed way to restore a contribution that Google removed under its policies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical decision checklist
- Need to correct wording or a rating? Open the review in Your contributions and choose Edit review.
- Need the review gone? Use Delete review; profile restriction is not a substitute.
- Want less profile discoverability on Android? Use Profile picture > Settings > Location and privacy, while remembering that Google still describes reviews as public.
- Want a different public identity? Edit the Maps name, picture, or bio from your Android profile. Those details appear on the profile.
- Want a photo or video removed? Delete your own Maps upload from the Photos contribution area. Then check local and synchronized storage separately.
- Concerned about someone else’s content? Report it and track the report; only Google decides whether it is removed or reinstated.
- Seeing stale media after deletion? Allow several minutes, then close and reopen Your contributions.
Keeping these controls separate prevents the most common mistake: using a profile setting to solve a review problem, or expecting a Maps deletion to erase copies stored outside Maps.
Frequently asked questions
How do I delete a Google Maps review?
On desktop, open Menu > Your contributions > Reviews, open the review’s More menu, and choose Delete review. On Android, use Contribute > View your profile > See all reviews, then open More beside the review and choose deletion.
How do I edit my Google Maps review?
Use the same desktop or Android route, but select Edit review. Remember that Google changes the displayed post date when you save an edit.
Can I make my Google Maps reviews private?
Google says reviews are public and anonymous reviews are not supported. Android’s restricted-profile switch can limit profile discoverability, but it should not be described as making the reviews themselves private.
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Can I use a nickname on Google Maps?
On Android, Google lets you choose a custom Maps name and picture instead of your Google Account name and picture. The name, picture, and bio still appear on your Maps profile, so the change provides a different public identity, not anonymity.
What happens to a photo when I delete it from Google Maps?
Google removes the contribution from Maps and Search. It does not remove the original from your phone’s gallery, a backup in Google Photos, or a synchronized copy in Google Drive.
Can I remove someone else’s review or photo?
No. Use Google’s report option and choose the reason that applies. Google decides whether to remove or reinstate the content, and submitting a report does not guarantee removal.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Why does a deleted photo still show?
Allow several minutes for the change to propagate, then close and reopen Your contributions. A stale Maps display is separate from copies stored in other apps or on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I delete a Google Maps review?
On desktop, go to Menu > Your contributions > Reviews, open More beside the review, and choose Delete review. On Android, use Contribute > View your profile > See all reviews, then More beside the review.
Can I make my Google Maps reviews private?
No. Google says reviews are public and anonymous reviews are not supported. Android’s restricted-profile switch limits profile discoverability but does not promise private reviews.
Does editing a review change its date?
Yes. Google documents that editing updates the displayed post date.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What happens when I delete a Maps photo or video?
The Maps and Google Search copies are removed. Copies in your device gallery, Google Photos, or Google Drive remain unless you delete them separately.
Can I delete another person’s contribution?
No. Report the review, photo, or video through Google’s reporting workflow. Google makes the moderation decision and may remove or reinstate the content.
The Bottom Line
Use Your contributions to edit or delete your own reviews and desktop media, use Android’s profile settings to limit discoverability, and treat identity changes as public profile changes—not anonymity. Report other people’s content instead of trying to delete it, and remember that Maps deletion does not erase local or synced copies.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
