How to Delete a Photo from Google My Business

Got an old, unflattering, or just plain wrong photo on your Google Business Profile? You’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through every step, whether you're trying to delete photos you’ve uploaded yourself or tackle those tricky images added by customers. We'll cover everything from simple clicks to the professional strategies you need to keep your online storefront looking its best.

Why Your Google Business Profile Photos Matter More Than You Think

Before we get into the how-to, let's touch on the why. Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business or GMB) is often the very first visual interaction a potential customer has with your brand. They search for "coffee shop near me," and your profile pops up. What do they see? The name, the rating, the location... and the photos.

Crisp, high-quality, and relevant photos build instant trust and professionalism. They tell a story about what it's like to walk through your doors, use your product, or work with your team. On the flip side, a low-quality, outdated, or just plain bad photo can send the wrong message. It might be...

• An old storefront photo showing previous branding or a defunct phone number.
• A blurry or poorly lit image that makes your space look uninviting.
• A photo of an employee who no longer works with you.
• Irrelevant images from a one-off event years ago.
• Worse, a misleading or negative photo uploaded by a user that doesn't accurately represent your business.

Keeping your photo gallery clean and current isn’t just about vanity, it’s a fundamental part of local SEO and online reputation management. So, let's get that gallery cleaned up.

The Easiest Fix: How to Delete a Photo You Uploaded

Let's start with the most straightforward scenario: removing a photo that you or someone on your team added to the profile. This process is simple and gives you direct control over your brand's self-published images. You can do this from either a desktop browser or the Google Maps app.

On Your Desktop or Laptop Browser:

Most business owners manage their profiles from their primary workstation, so this is often the most common method.

1. Sign In and Find Your Profile: First, make sure you’re logged into the Google account that manages your Business Profile. Then, simply go to google.com and search for your exact business name. You should see a management panel appear right in the search results.
2. Access Your Business Photos: In your management panel, look for an option like "Edit profile" or buttons that say "Add photo," "See photos," or similar. Click on "Edit profile" and then select the "Photos" tab.
3. Select the Photo to Delete: You'll see several photo categories, such as "By owner," "Logo," and "Cover." Browse through your uploaded photos ("By owner" is the most common place) until you find the one you want to remove. Click on it to open it in a larger view.
4. Find the Trash Can Icon: In the top-right corner of the photo preview, you'll see a trash can icon. This is your delete button. Click it.
5. Confirm Deletion: Google will ask for confirmation. A pop-up will appear, asking if you’re sure you want to delete the photo. Click "Delete."

That’s it! The photo will be removed from your public gallery. Sometimes it can take a few minutes for the change to be visible across all of Google, so don't worry if it doesn't vanish instantly.

On Your Mobile Device (Using the Google Maps App):

If you're managing your business on the go, using the Google Maps app is the easiest way to handle photo management.

1. Open Google Maps: Launch the Google Maps app on your phone. Make sure you are signed into the correct Google account.
2. Go to Your Business Profile: Tap your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner. From the menu that appears, select "Your Business Profiles."
3. Select the Correct Profile: If you manage multiple businesses, choose the one you want to edit.
4. Navigate to Photos: On your business profile dashboard, you should see several buttons. Swipe to find and tap on "Photos."
5. Locate and Open the Photo: Scroll through your uploaded photos to find the one you want to erase. Tap on it to open it.
6. Delete the Image: Just like on desktop, you'll see a small trash can icon in the top right corner. Tap it, and then confirm that you want to delete the photo.

Managing your own photos is within your control, but what about the images uploaded by customers? Those require a different approach.

The Tricky Part: How to Remove a Photo Added By a Customer

You’ve found an unflattering, irrelevant, or even offensive photo showing up on your profile, and you check the source: it was added by a customer. This situation is frustrating because there’s no big, shiny "Delete" button for you to press. You can’t directly control User-Generated Content (UGC) in the same way you control your own uploads.

However, you're not powerless. Your only option is to report, or "flag," the photo to Google. A team at Google will review the report, and if the photo violates their policies, they will remove it. The key here is setting the right expectation: reporting a photo does not guarantee its removal. Success depends entirely on whether it breaks a specific Google rule.

When Can Google Remove a Customer Photo?

Google won't remove a photo just because it's unflattering or you don't like it. The photo must violate Google Maps' content policies. Common valid reasons for removal include:

• Off-Topic: The photo has nothing to do with your business or the customer experience there (e.g., a selfie that doesn't show your location, or a picture of their pet).
• Spam or Fake Content: Blatant advertising, duplicates, or nonsensical images.
• Illegal or Restricted Content: Images depicting illegal acts, copyrighted material without permission, or other restricted content.
• Offensive Content: Images containing obscene gestures, profanity, or other explicit material.
• Harassment or Hate Speech: Photos that personally attack individuals, contain discriminatory language, or are threatening.
• Personally Identifiable Information: Photos that reveal private information like credit card numbers or personal IDs.
• Blurry or Poor Quality: While more subjective, if an image is so dark, blurry, or disoriented that it's unhelpful, it has a chance of being removed.

How to Report a Customer Photo (Step-by-Step)

The process is similar on a computer and a mobile device.

1. Find the Photo: Navigate to your Business Profile on Google Search or Maps. Go to the "Photos" section and find the image uploaded by a customer that you wish to report.
2. Look for the Flag Icon: Click on the image to view it. In one of the corners (usually the top right), you will see a small flag icon. This is the "Report a problem" link.
3. Click the Flag and Select a Reason: When you click the flag, a form will pop up asking you to identify the problem. You’ll be presented with a list of options that directly correlate with Google’s content policies. Choose the reason that best fits your situation, such as "Not a photo of this place," "Spam," or "Hateful or violent content."
4. Submit Your Report: Fill out any additional details if required and submit your report.

After you submit, the report goes into a queue for a Google employee to review. This process can take a few days or sometimes longer. Unfortunately, Google typically does not notify you of the outcome. The best way to check is to periodically revisit your profile to see if the photo has been removed.

Proactive Strategies for Your Google Business Photos

Simply deleting or reporting bad photos is a reactive approach. The best-in-class business owners are proactive, using their photo gallery as a powerful marketing tool. Here are a few strategies to take control of your visual narrative.

1. The Dilution Strategy: Flood Out the Bad with the Good

What if you reported a photo, but Google didn’t remove it? Your best move is to bury it. Upload 10 to 15 new, high-quality, perfectly optimized images. Post pictures of your smiling team, the bright interior of your shop, happy customers using your product, and beautiful shots of what you sell. Because Google's photo algorithm often prioritizes showing newer and more engaging photos first, your new, professional images will push the negative photo so far down the gallery that most users will never see it.

2. Regularly Audit Your Photo Gallery

Set a calendar reminder every quarter to perform a quick photo audit. Click through your own photos and the ones uploaded by customers. Ask yourself:

• Does this collection of photos accurately reflect my business today?
• Are there old logos, branding, or layouts that need to be removed?
• Is every photo clear, well-lit, and professional?

A quick 15-minute check-in every few months prevents your profile from becoming stale or outdated.

3. Your Logo & Cover Photo: The Swap-and-Delete Trick

Have you tried to delete your main logo or cover photo and realized you can’t? This is a common point of confusion. Google requires you to have an active logo and cover photo, so it won’t let you delete the current ones. The solution is simple: you have to replace it first.

First, upload your new logo or cover photo and set it as the primary image. Once the new photo is active, the old one will be moved to your general photo gallery as a regular "By owner" image. From there, you can easily delete it using the steps we covered earlier.

Final Thoughts

Managing your Google Business Profile photos, whether you’re removing outdated ones yourself or flagging inappropriate customer images, is a simple but essential part of maintaining a strong and professional online presence. By keeping your visuals current, accurate, and high-quality, you ensure that the first impression a potential customer has of your brand is always a great one.

We know that managing your visuals isn't limited to Google, it extends across every social platform where your brand lives. Consistency is key. That's why we built Postbase to streamline managing all your content, from social media scheduling and analytics to engagement, in one clean, reliable place. It lets you focus on building your brand without fighting with your tools.