A Google Business Profile is a valuable tool for supporting business visibility in local search results, but even minor configuration errors can hinder reaching potential customers. In this article, we examine the most common problems with Google Business Profiles and show you how to effectively solve them to fully leverage your listing’s potential.
Missing Verification Code
Many business owners report a problem with their Google Business Profile right from the start: the verification code does not arrive via SMS, email, or mail, which blocks Profile activation. These difficulties can be caused by, among other things:
- incorrect or outdated contact information – typos in the address, incorrect postal code, change of business location, outdated phone number;
- email or anti-spam filter issues – the message goes to the SPAM folder, the email inbox is full, or the code has expired;
- postal delivery problems – the letter with the code may be delayed, lost, or delivered to the wrong address.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Check the correctness of data in the GBP panel and if necessary, make corrections and confirm the changes.
- Request the code to be resent.
- Use alternative verification methods, e.g., SMS, phone call, email, or live video call.
- If you still don’t receive the verification code, contact Google support. The error might be on Google’s side.
Also check out our detailed guide: Google Business Profile Verification – Step by Step.
Profile Verified, but Inactive After 5 Days
Even after successful verification, your listing may remain inactive for several days. This is most often due to:
- extended processing time – Google needs time (5 days) to process changes after verification;
- incomplete data – e.g., business address, phone number, opening hours;
- duplicate Profiles – creating multiple listings for the same business can block the visibility of the correct Profile because Google doesn’t know which one is official.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Check the Profile status in the panel and make sure verification is complete.
- Complete and verify data – add full business information, photos, opening hours, and remove duplicate listings.
- Increase Profile activity – publish posts, respond to reviews, and add photos to improve your listing’s visibility in local search results.
- Contact support and describe the Profile issue. You should receive a response within 3-7 days.
No Access to an Existing Google Business Profile
Problems with accessing an existing Google Business Profile primarily result from:
- listing suspension by Google – mainly due to guideline violations, e.g., false data, keyword stuffing in the business name, repeated data changes, duplicate Profiles, incomplete verification;
- loss of owner account – Google account password change, lack of two-factor authentication (2FA), account hack, removal or failure to transfer access by an agency or freelancer;
- Profile takeover from Google Maps by another user – if the listing previously had no owner, another user might have completed the verification process and now manages the Profile;
- lack of a formal owner – the listing was created automatically by Google or another user, without an assigned administrator.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Search for the business on Google Maps and select the option to claim or report the Profile.
- Check your email inbox – look for messages from Google about suspension (also in the SPAM folder). If the Profile has been blocked, correct the errors and submit an appeal in the GBP panel.
- Secure access to the listing – after regaining control of the Profile, add a second owner as backup access (Users section) to avoid similar problems in the future.
Learn how to claim existing Profiles and regain control of your listing!
Former Employees Still Manage the Google Business Profile
Sometimes it happens that former employees or companies with whom we’ve ended cooperation still have access to the panel and management of the Google Business Profile.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Gain access as the primary owner – if you no longer have full permissions, go through the listing claiming process to regain control of the Profile.
- Check the user list – go to More -> Business Profile settings -> Users and access to check user roles.
- Remove former employees – select the user, then click Remove to revoke their access to the listing.
- Add a second Profile owner – add a second owner and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to increase account security.
See how to change the owner of a Google Business Profile.
Business Does Not Appear on Google Maps
Lack of business visibility on Google Maps can result from various reasons. The most common ones are:
- missing Profile – if the business does not have a listing, its location and contact information will not be visible on Google Maps;
- unverified listing or suspended Profile – a Profile that has not been verified or has been suspended does not appear publicly on Google Maps;
- duplicates or data errors – existing duplicates, inconsistent business data (name, address, phone), or Google guideline violations (e.g., excessive keyword stuffing in the name);
- low visibility – caused by, for example, excessive map zoom, lack of activity (reviews, posts), or indexing delays.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Check if the listing exists – enter the business name and city in Google Maps. If the Profile does not exist, add and verify it.
- Complete the data and remove duplicate listings.
- Increase Profile activity – publish posts, collect reviews, respond to reviews.
- Check for blocks and notifications – if there are problems, submit an appeal or contact Google support.
Read about why my business does not appear on Google Maps.
Blocked Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile can be blocked due to, among other things:
- Google guideline violations (keyword stuffing in the business name, unconfirmed address, duplicate Profiles);
- incomplete data and lack of full verification;
- detection of suspicious activities by Google, e.g., when several people from different accounts work on the Profile;
- too many changes made at once.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Check the Profile status and read all messages displayed in the panel.
- Ensure the data complies with Google guidelines and correct any errors.
- Submit an appeal to Google, following the instructions: https://support.google.com/business/answer/4569145?hl=pl.
Check how to restore a blocked Google Business Profile.
Incorrect Address or Map Pin on Listing
These types of problems with Google listings usually concern businesses located in office buildings, shopping centers, or building complexes. In such cases, the map pin may indicate an incorrect location, making it difficult for customers to find the business.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Edit the address in the GBP panel.
- Manually move the pin to the location of the business entrance.
- In the empty field, enter additional information, e.g., floor number, unit in a shopping center, or directions from the main entrance.
- If your actions haven’t yielded results, contact Google support.
See how to move a pin on Google Maps.
Address Does Not Exist on Google Maps
Another unusual problem with Google Business Profile is the lack of a building number on Google Maps (e.g., in the case of new housing estates that do not yet have an assigned number), which prevents the creation of a new Profile.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Report the address to Google Maps, using the Add a missing place option (https://support.google.com/maps/answer/10010575).
- Use GPS coordinates temporarily so the pin points to the correct location.
- Wait 3-7 days for the update.
Incorrect Route to Business
If navigation leads a customer to the wrong place, there’s a high risk they will give up on their visit.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Check the address in the panel, and if necessary, move the pin to the correct location or enter GPS coordinates.
- Add detailed directions in the description.
- Test the route in the Maps app to ensure the address is correct.
- Send Google a screenshot of the map indicating the new road with your business location marked. Google Maps may not have an updated map, and the incorrect address problem may be due to a lack of the latest roads, buildings, etc.
Google Changes Business Name
Google may change your business name, e.g., due to:
- user suggestions;
- automatic algorithm updates based on internet data;
- non-compliance with guidelines (e.g., the name contains keywords).
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Verify the business name used in the listing and correct it if necessary.
- Reject unwanted changes. With the growAp application, you can do this automatically — our platform blocks all unwanted updates made by users on listings.
- For further problems, contact Google support directly.
Logo Does Not Appear on Business Profile
Whether the logo appears next to the pin on Google Maps is often decided by algorithms that favor larger and more well-known brands.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Add a graphic in .png format and 1200×1200 px in size.
- Clear cache.
- Consider Google Maps ads.
Read why the logo does not appear on the Google Business Profile.
Duplicate Listing
Every business should have only one Google Business Profile, assigned to a specific location. However, duplicate listings sometimes arise, which can mislead customers. This situation can occur, for example:
- when changing business location;
- when changing the business name or rebranding;
- as a result of automatic listing creation by Google.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Find duplicate listings.
- Report the need to merge them.
- Check if the data has been correctly merged.
Check how to merge duplicate Google Business Profiles.
Merging Non-Duplicate Listings
If you have service points close to each other, e.g., in the same shopping mall but on different floors, or two stores on the same street, Google may treat them as duplicates and merge them into 1 listing.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Write to Google support requesting to separate the Profiles, arguing that the locations operate separately, it is not the same point.
Listing Changes Not Approved by Google
Changes with the status Not Approved or Pending indicate a standard verification process by Google algorithms, which can take from 10 minutes to 30 days (https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038311?hl=pl).
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Check the status of changes in the panel.
- Remove suspicious changes and re-enter the data.
- Contact Google support, attaching screenshots and company documents.
Fake Photos Added by Users
False photos added by users are a common problem with Google listings. Users can upload:
- photos unrelated to the business to harm its image;
- outdated, low-quality graphics or inappropriate content, which lowers the Profile’s credibility.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Report the photo problem, following the instructions: https://support.google.com/business/answer/6130451?hl=pl.
- Prevent similar situations in the future – add your own photos and regularly monitor the gallery.
Learn how to add or change a photo on your Google listing.
Fake Reviews on Google Listing
Fake reviews on the Profile may appear, for example, as a result of unfair competitor actions, mass sending from fake accounts, or generation by bots.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Report inappropriate reviews on the Business Profile, following the instructions: https://support.google.com/business/answer/4596773?hl=pl.
- Publicly respond to reported reviews (show facts), avoiding manual content removal.
See how to remove reviews from your business profile.
Reviews Disappear or Do Not Appear on Profile
Reviews usually appear on the Profile within a few minutes to even several days after being published by users. Delays may result, for example, from the need for additional verification by Google or a violation of guidelines by the author. Unfortunately, the business owner cannot prevent difficulties with publishing reviews on the Google Business Profile if they result from the author’s negligence. However, if you want to share your review on another business’s listing, you can take a few steps.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Log in to your Google account.
- Enter the business name in the search engine for which you want to leave a review.
- Find the box with the message Unfortunately, we cannot currently publish this content. Check why the block appeared.
- If your review does not violate guidelines, submit an appeal to Google.
Read about the reasons for invisible Google reviews.
Posts and Photos Rejected on Profile
Google may reject your posts and photos, especially if:
- they violate policies related to, among other things, keyword usage, external linking, photo quality;
- technical errors occur, e.g., files that are too large, incorrect photo format;
- it considers the content SPAM.
How to quickly solve this problem?
- Check if photos and content do not violate guidelines.
- Correct errors and resubmit the materials.
- If the problem persists and photos are still being rejected, contact Google.
Products Not Approved in Google Catalog
Such a problem may appear during the configuration of the Products section, mainly due to:
- data inconsistency between the import file and the website;
- technical issues on the website, e.g., a non-functional shopping cart, lack of terms and conditions/return policy;
- Google policy violations, e.g., watermarked photos, prohibited content.
How to quickly resolve this issue?
- Check the product status in your profile.
- Synchronize data and await re-verification.
- Fix the page and add missing elements.
- Contact Google and request a re-check of your products.
Common Google Business Profile Issues – Summary
Issues with your Google Business Profile most often relate to verification, incorrect data, wrong location, duplicate listings, and inappropriate content or reviews. Regularly monitor your listing and quickly respond to errors to protect your company’s image and fully leverage the potential of your Google Business Profile.
Sources:
- Why can someone change my business name?, https://support.google.com/business/thread/107166386/dlaczego-kto%C5%9B-mo%C5%BCe-zmieni%C4%87-nazw%C4%99-mojej-firmy?hl=pl, [accessed online: 2026-01-13].
- How to add a missing address or correct an incorrect pin location, https://support.google.com/maps/answer/10010575, [accessed online: 2026-01-13].
- Fixing a suspended or disabled profile, https://support.google.com/business/answer/4569145?hl=pl, [accessed online: 2026-01-13].
- Reporting inappropriate reviews in your Business Profile, https://support.google.com/business/answer/4596773?hl=pl, [accessed online: 2026-01-13].
- Reporting inappropriate photos or videos in your Business Profile, https://support.google.com/business/answer/6130451?hl=pl, [accessed online: 2026-01-13].
