How to delete an outdated Google review, or dispute a spammy review of your business

Google reviews aren't forever — you can delete any review you've written.Deleting a Google review you wrote is quite simple, you just have to know where to start.For those who own a business and are dealing with a false or spammy review, you can flag it to Google for removal. However, keep in mind that a negative (but accurate) review is not subject to removal under Google's policies.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.Writing reviews, it seems, is a part of our culture. You go somewhere, have a strong reaction to it, and in the spirit of information sharing, you write a Google review.But what if things change？ For example, what happens if there's a new owner and now it's a totally different place, or they took your favorite item, the one you heavily featured in your review, off the menu？ Or, say you own a business that has its own series of reviews, and someone writes something that's patently untrue about your business. What do you do？Depending on who you are, that's when deleting a review, or disputing it, is a solid course of action. In either case, here's how you should proceed:How to delete a Google review you wroteYou'll have to use the desktop version of your Google account, rather than a mobile device, to delete your review.1. Go to maps.google.com.2. Click the Menu button (three stacked lines in the top left corner of the screen).3. Click “Your Contributions,” then go to “Reviews.”4. Click the three dots next to the review you want to delete, and then select “Delete Review.”How to flag (or dispute) an inappropriate or fraudulent review of your establishmentIf someone wrote a review of your business that just isn't true, or otherwise violates Google's review policies, you can flag that review as inappropriate. There are several ways to do it:Flagging reviews on desktop1. Sign into Google My Business.2. If you have several listings, you'll have to select the correct location.3. Click “Reviews” within the menu.4. Find the review you want to flag, click the three vertical dots next to it, and select “Flag as inappropriate.”Flagging reviews on mobile1. Open your My Business app.2. Go to “Customers” and then “Reviews.”3. Find the offending review, tap the three vertical dots next to it. and tap “Flag review.”Flagging reviews through Google maps1. Go to maps.google.com.2. Find your business listing.3. Go to the review you want to flag.5. Tap the three vertical dots (“more”) and then click “Flag as inappropriate.”Keep in mind that it can take several days for the review to be removed once you've flagged it. If your business is hospitality-based, it's also important to be aware that third-party hotel reviews can't be flagged, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the review in question. Additionally, Google says that it routinely checks for spam in reviews, and automatically removes any spam-filled reviews.According to the company, “Google doesn't get involved when merchants and customers disagree about facts, since there's no reliable way to discern who's right about a particular customer experience.” So it's a good idea to thoroughly review Google's review policies before flagging. A few prohibited review contents include: spam and fake content, off-topic reviews, illegal content and sexually explicit and offensive content.Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:How to write a Google review, and become a 'Local Guide' for your areaHow to change your Google username's display in GmailHow to drop a pin on Google Maps from your desktop or mobile appHow to make a brochure on Google Docs for your company or cause