Suspended, disabled or restricted
- Suspended or disabled: the profile no longer shows on Google Maps, or you can no longer manage it. A message says so in your dashboard.
- Restricted: it stays visible, but Google limits some features. After fake reviews, for example, Google can block new reviews for a while, hide existing ones, or show customers a warning that fake reviews were removed.
The usual causes
- Keywords in the name: "Roma Pizzeria London cheap delivery" instead of "Roma Pizzeria". The name must be your trading name, as on your sign and papers.
- An address that breaks the rules: a home address shown although you visit customers, a virtual office, a coworking space without a reception, a PO box. A tradesperson who works at customers' places must hide the address and set a service area.
- Several profiles for the same business, or one per service.
- Repeated edits of the name, address or category, especially right after verification.
- Fake reviews, bought, swapped or rewarded.
- A category or website that does not match the real business.
Before you appeal: fix it
An appeal without a fix almost always fails. Restore the exact trading name, correct or hide the address, remove duplicates or ask for them to be merged, take keywords out of a stuffed description. Only then appeal.
Appeal, step by step
- Signed into the owner account, open the help page "Fix suspended or disabled profiles" and start the appeals tool.
- Pick the profile: the tool shows the reason and a link to the policy. Read it before writing anything.
- Submit the appeal, then add your evidence when the tool offers it. Prepare it beforehand: some steps are time-limited.
- Wait for the email, without new appeals and without editing the profile meanwhile.
Evidence that works
The golden rule: the name and address must be identical on the documents and on the profile.
- Company registration in your country (trade register extract or equivalent).
- Licence or permit when your trade requires one.
- A recent bill (electricity, water, internet) in the business name at the profile's address.
- Shopfront photos showing the sign and the street number, and ideally a short video from the street to the inside.
Mistakes that make it worse
- Creating a new profile during the suspension.
- Sending several appeals in a row, or editing the profile during the review.
- Paying someone who promises a "guaranteed" reinstatement: they use the same form as you.
- Sending documents whose name or address differs from the profile, even slightly.
Keep it from happening again
- One name, your trading name, with no city or slogan.
- Change the address, name or category only when it is true, one thing at a time.
- Keep at least two trusted managers on the profile, including you.
- Get reviews only through honest requests: see how to get more Google reviews.
Starting over? Our guide to creating a Google Business Profile avoids the mistakes that lead to a suspension.