Google confirmed a frustrating problem on August 24, 2026. When a suspended Google Business Profile (GBP) gets reinstated, some of its reviews come back missing. Google says it is aware and working on a fix, but there is no release date. Business owners who just won their appeal are opening a profile that is technically live, yet their hard-earned review history is gone.
This matters far more than it looks. Reviews are a top ranking signal and a trust signal in the local pack. A profile that loses Reviews drops in credibility right when it should be recovering. Here is what is happening, what you can do now, and how to protect your reviews before the next suspension.
What Google Actually Said
Local SEO consultant Amy Toman flagged the issue. Google acknowledged it. The key points:
- Google is aware. This is a known, confirmed problem, not something you imagined.
- A fix is in progress. Google is actively working on a resolution.
- There is no timeline. Google has not said when the fix will land.
- Action item. If you have a support ticket, reply to the email and tell Support your reviews are missing. This keeps your issue attached to your original case.
The fix is coming, but it is not here. In the meantime you need a plan.
Why Losing Reviews Hurts a Reinstated Profile
Your GBP went through the worst possible event a local listing can face: a suspension. You appealed, you won, and Google let you back in. That alone shakes trust with customers who saw your listing vanish or go dark.
Losing reviews on top of that compounds the damage. Here is why:
- Reviews are a ranking factor. Google weighs review count, rating, and freshness in local results. A profile with fewer visible reviews loses ground to competitors who kept theirs.
- Reviews are a trust signal. New customers judge your business partly by how many people vouched for you.
- Review velocity matters. If Google restored the profile but not the reviews, your on-page history looks flat compared to before.
None of this is your fault. But you still have to manage it.
What To Do Right Now (Action Checklist)
You cannot force Google to fix the bug faster, but you can protect your position.
1. Reply to Your Support Ticket
If you have an open support ticket from the appeal, open the email thread and write back. State clearly that your profile was reinstated but your reviews are missing. Include the count if you know it. Keep everything in one thread so Google Support can see the connection and your case stays documented.
2. Snapshot Your Current State
Take a screenshot of your profile now. Record your current review count and rating. Note the date. If reviews come back later, you have proof of what changed and when. If they do not, you have a baseline for a follow-up case.
3. Keep Collecting New Reviews
Do not pause your review flow while you wait. A reinstated profile needs fresh signals to rebuild trust and rank. Keep asking satisfied customers to leave a review. New reviews prove the business is active and give you momentum even if the old ones are temporarily hidden.
4. Watch Your Listing Weekly
The issue affects reinstated profiles, so if you were recently reinstated, check your review count every week. If the fix lands and Google returns reviews, you want to see it. If your reviews are still missing a month later, open a new support case with your screenshots.
How To Protect Reviews Before the Next Suspension
The safest way to survive a lost-review event is to never be left guessing about what you had. That means keeping your own record.
Keep an Off-Platform Review Log
Do not rely on Google as the only copy of your review history. On a schedule, export or log your reviews: who left them, what they said, the star rating, and the date. A simple spreadsheet or a private tool works. If Google ever removes or loses reviews, you have proof of what existed.
A reliable workflow looks like this:
- Pull your recent reviews on a set schedule, at least monthly.
- Log the count, average rating, and the actual review text.
- Store it somewhere you control, not just inside a Google product.
- Use the log to verify a restored profile matches what you had.
This protects you not only from this bug, but from any future removal, cleanup, or reinstatement issue.
Add Review Monitoring to Your Standing Routine
Review count and rating should be part of your regular local SEO check, right beside rankings and calls. A sudden drop in count is an early warning, whether it is a Google bug, a policy clean-up, or a reinstatement side effect. Spot it fast and you can act before customers notice.
The Bigger Lesson for Local Businesses
This bug is a reminder that your Google Business Profile is rented space. Google holds the keys. When a bug eats reviews, you cannot log in and fix it yourself. The businesses that weather these events well are the ones who keep their own records and move fast when something looks wrong.
Reviews are an asset. Treat them like one. Track them outside Google, respond fast when the count changes, and keep winning new ones. That is how a reinstated profile becomes a strong one instead of a stalled one.
FAQ
Why are my reviews missing after my Google Business Profile was reinstated?
Google confirmed on August 24, 2026 that reviews can go missing after a suspended profile is reinstated. Google is aware and working on a fix, but has not given a release date. It is a known issue, not something you caused.
Will my missing reviews come back?
Google says a fix is in progress, which suggests the reviews should be restored. There is no confirmed timeline. Keep your support ticket documented and monitor your profile so you can see when they return.
What should I do if my reviews are missing after reinstatement?
Reply to your existing support ticket email and tell Support your reviews are missing, so the issue stays attached to your original case. Take a screenshot of your current state and keep collecting new reviews in the meantime.
Should I stop asking for reviews while this bug is fixed?
No. Keep collecting new reviews. Fresh reviews rebuild trust and ranking signal while you wait, and they prove the profile is active.
How can I protect my reviews from future Google issues?
Keep an off-platform log of your reviews on a set schedule. Record the count, rating, and review text somewhere you control. That way you always know what you had, no matter what Google shows.