How to report fake or abusive app reviews to Apple and Google
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Neither store removes a review just because it is negative. Both remove reviews that break their rules. Here is how to report one, and what qualifies.
App Store: Report a Concern
- In App Store Connect, open the review and choose Report a Concern. The reviewer is not notified (Apple Developer: Ratings, reviews, and responses).
- Guideline 5.6.3 (Discovery Fraud) says manipulating any element of the App Store customer experience, such as charts, search, reviews or referrals, is not permitted (App Store Review Guidelines (5.6.1, 5.6.3, 5.6.4)).
Google Play: flag and report
- In Play Console, go to Monitor and improve > Ratings and reviews > Reviews.
- Find the review, select the flag icon, then Report.
A specialist reviews the report, usually within a few business days. Only reviews that violate the Comment Posting Policy are removed. A review that was checked and not removed can't be reported again, and there is a daily limit on reports; when you hit it, wait 24 hours (Play Console Help: Report inappropriate reviews).
What Google treats as a violation
The Comment Posting Policy lists, among others (Google Play: Comment Posting Policy):
- Fake or misleading reviews, and the same content posted repeatedly or from multiple accounts.
- Off-topic content that isn't about the app.
- Ads, links, phone numbers or other promotion.
- Conflicts of interest: reviews written for money, products or services, or about a business the reviewer owns or works for.
- Personal information, and illegal, sexually explicit, hateful or offensive content.
Play Console Help also says new ratings can be held for about 24 hours, and publishing can be paused when Google detects suspicious activity (Play Console Help: View and analyze your app's ratings and reviews).
Before you report
- Note the review ID or date, the rating, and which rule it breaks. A report that says "this is unfair" is not a policy reason.
- If the review describes a real problem, reply instead. Other users read your reply.
- Never answer fake reviews with your own fake positive ones. Both stores prohibit it (Play Console Help: Ratings, Reviews, and Installs policy, Apple guideline 5.6.3).
Sources
- Apple Developer: Ratings, reviews, and responses
- App Store Review Guidelines (5.6.1, 5.6.3, 5.6.4)
- Play Console Help: Report inappropriate reviews
- Google Play: Comment Posting Policy
- Play Console Help: View and analyze your app's ratings and reviews
- Play Console Help: Ratings, Reviews, and Installs policy
Related guides
- How to reply to App Store reviews: Apple's rules
- Google Play review replies: policy and the 350-character limit
- How to respond to 1-star reviews after a bad app update
- All app developer guides
Questions
Can I get a negative app review removed?
Only if it breaks the store's rules. Google removes reviews that violate its Comment Posting Policy; Apple lets you report a concern about a review in App Store Connect.
Is the user told when I report their App Store review?
No. Apple says the reviewer is not notified when you report a concern.
How long does Google take to check a reported review?
Google says a specialist usually reviews it within a few business days.
Can I report the same Google Play review twice?
No. Once a reported review has been checked and not removed, it can't be reported again.