How to Delete Reviews on Shopify

Introduction

Customer reviews shape buying decisions. They build trust, surface product problems, and can drive repeat purchases — but they can also create noise when they’re spammy, irrelevant, or clearly inappropriate. Managing reviews well is essential to protecting your brand and improving lifetime value.

Short answer: You can delete reviews on Shopify if they originate from review systems you control (for example, built-in review tools or third-party review platforms you’ve installed), or by removing the code that renders external reviews in your theme. Reviews that originate from external sales channels you don’t control can be harder or impossible to remove directly; in those cases you’ll need to use reporting channels, remove the product from that channel, or migrate review management to a system you own. We’ll walk through each situation, with clear, practical steps and a durable moderation workflow you can implement today.

This post explains how reviews get into your store, the exact steps to remove or hide them depending on their source, how to build safe moderation policies, and how a unified retention platform helps prevent review headaches in the future. Our main message: control the review sources you own, maintain clear moderation rules, and reduce operational friction by consolidating tools — because More Growth, Less Stack delivers better value for money and makes review management simple and reliable.

Why Deleting Reviews Sometimes Matters

The difference between moderation and censorship

Maintaining review integrity isn’t about silencing criticism. It’s about ensuring product pages reflect accurate, relevant, and policy-compliant feedback. Removing obviously malicious content or spam protects customers and preserves trust. At the same time, overzealous deletion erodes credibility.

When deletion is appropriate

Deleting or hiding a review is justified when content is:

• Clearly spam or bot-generated content.
• Abusive, defamatory, or containing personal data that violates privacy.
• Irrelevant to the product (for example, feedback about an unrelated item).
• Duplicate or posted in error.
• Violating your published review policy.

Deletion is not an appropriate response to honest negative feedback. Instead, responding publicly and resolving issues will often turn a negative into a conversion driver.

How Reviews Get Into Shopify Stores

Review sources you will commonly encounter

• Reviews submitted through a review tool that you’ve installed and configured (your review platform).
• Reviews added via theme code snippets that render review data stored in metafields or external review services.
• Reviews aggregated and displayed from third-party ecosystems connected to your store.
• Reviews that appear via external sales channels (for example, marketplace or shop channels) which may have their own moderation controls outside your admin.

Understanding the source is the first and most important step to removing a review.

How to identify the source quickly

Use these checks to find where a review is coming from:

• Inspect the product page with your browser’s developer tools and search for a recognizable review container or script. Look for a section name like "product-reviews" or the block that renders star ratings.
• Open the theme code (Online Store → Themes → Edit code) and search for "product-reviews", "reviews", or any review-related section file in the Sections or Snippets directories.
• Review the list of installed integrations in your admin (Settings → Apps and sales channels). Identify any review or marketing platforms that could be injecting content.
• If a review contains phrasing or UI that doesn’t match your installed review system, consider whether an external sales channel could be the source.

Exact Steps To Delete Reviews Based On Source

If reviews come from a review platform you control

If reviews are managed by a review platform you installed, you’ll have a dashboard for moderation. The generic steps are:

• Open the review platform’s moderation dashboard inside your admin.
• Search for the specific review using product name, reviewer name, or keywords.
• Use the moderation options to hide or delete the review.
• If available, use bulk deletion or filtering tools to remove spam by pattern (e.g., repeated text or known bad email domains).
• Confirm changes and refresh the storefront to ensure the review is gone.

Best practice: Keep a log of deleted reviews (date, reason) to maintain auditability and protect your team if customers dispute removals.

If reviews are rendered by your theme (built-in review code)

Some stores show reviews by embedding code directly into theme files. To remove them:

• Go to Online Store → Themes → Actions → Edit code.
• Search in Sections and Templates for markup or includes that reference reviews, commonly named "product-reviews", "reviews", or "rating".
• Comment out or remove the include statement. For example, a line such as {% section 'product-reviews' %} often controls the display; you can remove or comment it.
• Save and preview the product page.
• If the review count still appears, search for any other references (for example, in header, snippets, or product-template files) and remove them.
• If you prefer a temporary hide, add a CSS override to your theme’s stylesheet that hides the review container (useful if you want a reversible change). For example, append a rule that targets the review container and sets display: none !important;.

Caution: Editing theme code can break layout. Always take a theme backup by duplicating the theme before you edit.

If reviews are coming from an external sales channel you don’t control

Certain sales channels or external platforms may collect their own feedback and display it on your storefront via a connected channel. These reviews may not be removable from your admin.

Options you can take:

• Report the review to the channel or platform using their reporting process if it violates guidelines.
• Remove the product from that channel so the review no longer appears. For many platforms, you can remove a product from the channel via the product’s “Manage sales channels” options.
• If the platform allows you to disconnect or disable the integration, do so to stop the inflow of new reviews.
• If removal isn’t possible, include a clear note on the product page explaining the review origin or choose to migrate review handling to a review system you control.

Bulk deletion and migrations

When migrating reviews or cleaning spam from a large catalog, avoid manual per-review deletion.

Recommended approach:

• Export the list of reviews (if your review platform supports exports).
• Use filters to isolate spammy patterns and bulk-delete or mark them hidden.
• If moving to a new review solution, import only approved reviews and discard others in the process.
• Run a crawl of your storefront after changes to ensure no stale references remain.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

A review persists even after deletion

• Clear your storefront cache and check in an incognito browser window.
• Re-index or redeploy theme assets if your platform caches compiled assets.
• Confirm you deleted the review in the actual data source (the review platform dashboard) and not only hidden it locally in a widget.
• Inspect the page source to find any remaining snippet that could be generating the content.

You can't find a review in any dashboard

• It might be rendered by theme metafields. Check the product’s metafields for any review content that was embedded.
• Inspect the HTML for the review block to identify any script or unique ID that hints at the originating system.
• Check connected sales channels in your admin; some feeds come from external sources and won’t show up in local dashboards.

Removing review UI breaks your reviews SEO or structured data

• When removing visible reviews, ensure you also remove JSON-LD or structured markup that references aggregatedRating or review counts, otherwise you can create inconsistent schema that can harm SEO.
• If you’re replacing the review system, migrate structured data correctly so Google and other search engines continue to see accurate ratings.

Build a Moderation Policy That Scales

Why a written policy matters

A documented moderation policy clarifies when deletion is appropriate and prevents inconsistent decisions that can damage trust. It also protects your team legally and operationally.

Elements to include:

• Acceptable content criteria (what we allow).
• Unacceptable content criteria (spam, hate, PII, profanity).
• Steps for escalation (when to involve legal or leadership).
• A deletion log template (date, reason, moderator).
• Response templates for common negative feedback (public reply & private outreach).

Workflow for day-to-day moderation

A practical, lightweight workflow:

• All incoming reviews enter a moderation queue.
• Auto-flag high-risk reviews by pattern (links, phone numbers, repeated keywords).
• Human review for any flagged content within 24–48 hours.
• If deletion is required, log reason and notify the customer privately explaining the action.
• If feedback is legitimate but negative, publish the review and respond with a resolution path.

Growave’s Reviews & UGC solution includes moderation features that let merchants keep review queues manageable, apply bulk actions, and enforce policy without juggling multiple platforms. See how you can centralize review moderation into a single retention workflow by reviewing our features for managing user-generated content and reviews.

Manage reviews and user-generated content with dedicated moderation tools

Preventing Review Noise Before It Starts

Use verification and incentives wisely

Verified purchases reduce spam and increase credibility. Consider sending post-purchase invitations for reviews only to confirmed buyers and use incentives (discounts, loyalty points) carefully so they comply with platform rules and don’t bias reviewers.

Growave’s platform ties review invitations into loyalty flows so you can reward honest feedback without building a separate stack of tools.

Learn how integrated loyalty and review flows keep feedback authentic

Turn useful negatives into growth opportunities

Negative reviews highlight product and service improvements. Establish an automated path that does the following:

• Sends a customer with a negative rating to a private feedback channel (email or support ticket).
• Offers a discount or replacement only after resolving the issue.
• If the issue is solved, politely ask for an updated review.

This approach preserves your public reputation while improving retention and lifetime value.

Reduce third-party complexity

Every platform you add multiplies maintenance. Consolidating into a unified retention suite reduces points of failure and gives you centralized moderation, reporting, and automation. When you consolidate, you also gain better data on lifetime value and customer behavior.

See how brands reduce operational overhead with a unified retention solution

Technical How-To: Concrete Steps (With Code Safety Tips)

Safely editing theme code to remove review blocks

Before you edit:

• Duplicate your live theme to create a backup.
• Work on the duplicated theme and preview changes before publishing.

Steps to remove a review section:

• Online Store → Themes → Actions → Edit code.
• In Sections or Snippets, search for files named product-reviews, reviews, or rating.
• If you find a line like {% section 'product-reviews' %} or {% include 'product-reviews' %}, comment it out or remove it.
• Save the file and preview the product page.

If you prefer not to edit templates, add a CSS rule to your theme stylesheet to hide the review block. This can be safer for temporary changes but keep in mind CSS hiding does not remove underlying structured data.

Example CSS (add to the bottom of theme.scss or theme.css):

• Add a rule targeting the review container and set display: none !important;

Note: Use selectors specific enough to avoid accidentally hiding other content.

Remove review-related structured data

When you remove visible reviews, remove or update JSON-LD schema blocks that describe aggregateRating or individual reviews. Check for script type="application/ld+json" blocks in your theme files and ensure they match what’s actually shown.

When to call support or developers

If the review content is embedded via a compiled script or a remote widget that you can’t identify:

• Gather evidence (page source, the snippet of HTML/JS).
• Contact your developer or the provider of the review feed.
• As a temporary measure, you can remove the product from the sales channel or disable the widget via theme settings if available.

Legal and Policy Considerations

Protecting against legal risk

• Do not remove truthful reviews to manipulate ratings — that can be viewed as deceptive.
• If reviews contain personal data (contracts, phone numbers, or addresses), removing them is appropriate. Record the reason in your log.
• Maintain transparency; if you delete a review for violating policy, keep a private record and consider a short public statement of policy if customers question changes.

Refunds, disputes, and review deletion

If a customer requests deletion as part of a refund or dispute resolution, document the exchange and ensure deletion decisions align with your public policy. Avoid quid-pro-quo deletion practices that encourage fake positive feedback.

Measuring Impact: How Deleting Reviews Affects Business Metrics

Short-term and long-term effects

• Short-term: Removing spam or irrelevant reviews improves perceived quality and conversion rates.
• Long-term: Over-deleting legitimate negative feedback can reduce trust and lower organic search visibility for product ratings.

Track these KPIs after cleanup

• Conversion rate on product pages.
• Average rating and number of reviews.
• Customer service tickets related to deleted reviews.
• Net promoter score and repeat purchase rate.

Use a dashboard to compare pre- and post-cleanup metrics. If you consolidated systems into a single retention platform, you can measure impact more cleanly because data lives in one place.

Operational Checklist For Review Cleanup Projects

Use this checklist to run a cleanup sprint:

• Audit: Identify review sources across your storefront.
• Backup: Duplicate your theme and export current review data.
• Policy: Publish or update a review moderation policy.
• Delete: Remove spam or violating reviews from the source dashboard.
• Theme: Remove or hide review containers if needed.
• Structured Data: Update or remove schema to reflect visible reviews.
• Communicate: Notify customers when appropriate and log deletions.
• Monitor: Track KPI changes and refine rules.

Why Consolidating Review & Retention Tools Reduces Review Headaches

We built Growave around the idea that merchants should have a single, merchant-first solution that replaces a patchwork of platforms. Consolidating loyalty, reviews, wishlists, referrals, and shoppable UGC into one platform reduces the number of places reviews can get stuck, simplifies moderation, and centralizes reporting. This reduces app fatigue and gives you better value for money because you manage fewer integrations and fewer points of failure.

• Central moderation: One queue for all UGC means faster action.
• Unified data: Reviews feed into lifecycle campaigns (win-back, review requests rewarded by loyalty).
• Fewer integrations: Less code in your theme and fewer scripts that can break.

If you’re ready to reduce operational complexity and keep review management under your control, explore plans that match your growth stage and try a single retention platform to replace multiple point solutions.

Compare plans that scale with your store
Install our retention solution on Shopify to get started quickly

Practical Examples of Moderation Rules (Templates)

These short templates are designed for operational use and can be adapted into your moderation dashboard filters.

• Flag reviews containing links or email addresses automatically for human review.
• Automatically hide reviews that contain profanity longer than a threshold and queue them for review.
• Auto-publish verified purchase reviews; hold unverified reviews for manual approval.
• Bulk-hide reviews from the same email domain if more than N reviews occur in a 24-hour period.

Use your review platform’s filtering capabilities to implement these rules and reduce the manual workload.

Migration Considerations: Moving Reviews to a New System

If you decide to migrate to a new review platform:

• Export existing reviews from the old system.
• Clean the export for spam and duplicates.
• Map fields to the new platform (rating, title, body, reviewer name, date).
• Import only approved reviews.
• Remove any remaining integration code from your theme.
• Test structured data and storefront displays for schema accuracy.

A migration is an opportunity to purge low-quality reviews and start fresh with a moderation policy baked into your review intake flows.

See inspiration from brands that streamlined retention by consolidating their tools

FAQs

Can I delete a review left via an external sales channel (for example, a shop or marketplace)?

Often, reviews collected by external channels are outside your direct control. You can report violating reviews through the channel’s reporting process, remove the product from that channel, or disconnect the integration. When possible, migrate review collection to a system you control so you can moderate directly.

Will deleting reviews hurt my SEO?

Removing spammy or irrelevant reviews typically helps conversion and user experience. However, removing a large number of legitimate reviews can change schema and rating visibility in search results. Make sure you update structured data to match visible content to avoid inconsistent search snippets.

What should our moderation policy include?

At minimum, define acceptable content, clearly list reasons for deletion (spam, PII, defamation, profanity, irrelevance), outline the escalation process, and maintain a deletion log for transparency and auditability.

How can we prevent malicious reviews from affecting our store?

Require verified purchase flags for auto-publishing, use CAPTCHA and authenticated review invitations, and apply automated filters for common spam indicators. Building a review process that integrates with post-purchase flows and loyalty rewards reduces the risk of low-quality reviews.

Conclusion

Deleting reviews on Shopify is rarely a simple "delete"—it depends on the source. The right approach is to control the systems you own, use thoughtful moderation policies, and centralize review and retention tools so moderation becomes predictable and efficient. When you consolidate into a merchant-first retention platform, you reduce integrations, enforce consistent policies, and unlock workflows that turn feedback into repeat business.

We help 15,000+ brands manage reviews, loyalty, referrals, and UGC from a single solution with a 4.8-star rating on Shopify — so you can stop juggling tools and start growing with retention. Start your 14-day free trial and explore our plans to consolidate review management and make moderation simple and efficient. Compare plans that scale with your store

(Note: For hands-on help migrating reviews, setting up moderation rules, or auditing your theme for stray review code, book a demo with our team and we’ll walk you through a tailored plan.) See what brands build with unified retention workflows

Final Practical Resources

• If you need to hide reviews immediately without code edits, duplicate your theme and add a CSS rule to hide the review container, then plan a permanent fix.
• Maintain a deletion log and public moderation policy to keep trust intact.
• Consolidate review functionality into a single retention platform to reduce maintenance and improve moderation speed.

Manage reviews and user-generated content with dedicated moderation tools
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