Troubleshooting
Duplicate Google Business Listings: Find, Remove or Merge Them
Why duplicate Google Maps listings hurt your ranking and reviews, how to find them, and the right way to remove or merge them without risking suspension.
By Chamko Research Team Updated 3 min read
Quick answer
Search your business name and phone number on Google Maps to find duplicates. If you own both, keep the one with the most reviews and request that the duplicate be removed or merged through Google Business Profile support. If someone else created it, mark it as a duplicate with Suggest an edit → Remove this place → Duplicate. Never create a new profile to "start fresh".
Quick answer: Search your business name and phone number on Google Maps to find duplicates. If you own both, keep the one with the most reviews and request that the duplicate be removed or merged through Google Business Profile support. If someone else created it, mark it as a duplicate with Suggest an edit → Remove this place → Duplicate. Never create a new profile to "start fresh".
Duplicates split your reviews, confuse customers and can trigger suspensions for policy violations.
How duplicates happen
- An old listing created by a customer or employee.
- Creating a new profile after losing access.
- Moving address and creating a new listing instead of updating.
- Directory data creating automatic listings.
Find them
- Search your phone number on Google Maps.
- Search your business name plus your area.
- Check old addresses if you have moved.
Remove or merge
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| You own both | Contact Business Profile support and request removal/merge of the duplicate |
| Someone else owns the duplicate | Request ownership, then remove — or report it as a duplicate |
| Duplicate is unclaimed | Suggest an edit → Remove this place → Duplicate |
| Old address after a move | Mark as moved/closed rather than leaving an active duplicate |
Reviews generally do not move automatically between listings, so keep the one with more reviews.
Example: a clinic with three listings
A clinic in Lucknow found three listings: one created by the doctor years ago, one created by a patient (with an old phone number), and one from a previous location. Reviews were split 45 / 12 / 8, so none of the listings looked as strong as competitors.
The fix: they verified the main listing, marked the old-location listing as "permanently closed" through its own management (it was a genuine move), and reported the patient-created listing as a duplicate via "Suggest an edit → Remove this place → Duplicate". Within a few weeks Google merged the duplicate, and most of its reviews eventually appeared on the main listing.
Checklist before reporting a duplicate
- Is it really the same business at the same location? Different departments or branches may legitimately have separate profiles.
- Do you have access to either listing? If yes, manage it directly rather than reporting.
- Note which listing has more reviews and better history — keep that one as the main profile if possible.
- Take screenshots of both listings before you start, for any support request.
Prevent duplicates in future
- Create the profile yourself as soon as you open, so customers don't create one for you.
- When you move, update the existing profile's address instead of creating a new one (if the business name and phone stay the same).
- Don't let agencies create "new optimised" profiles for you — ask them to work on the existing one.
Frequently asked questions
Will merging transfer my reviews?
Not reliably. Keep the profile with the most reviews whenever possible.
Can duplicates get my profile suspended?
Yes. Multiple listings for the same business at the same location violate guidelines.
Should I mark my old location as permanently closed?
If you moved, update the existing profile with the new address instead of closing it.