Google Updated Your Business Profile" — Why Google Changes Your Hours, Phone, Category or Website and What to Do

Quick answer: Google updates profiles using information from users' suggested edits, your website, other online sources and its own systems. When it does, you usually see a "Google updated your profile" or "Updates from Google" notification in your profile. Review it right away: accept correct updates, and edit back wrong ones with accurate information. To reduce unwanted changes, keep your website, Justdial and social profiles consistent with your Google details, log in regularly, enable email notifications and respond quickly — Google gives more weight to profiles that are actively maintained.

Many owners are surprised to see their hours, phone number, category or website changed without their action. It's not a hack — it's how Google keeps Maps information accurate. But sometimes it gets things wrong.

Where updates come from

• User suggested edits: customers or Local Guides suggest changes (suggest an edit).
• Your website: Google may read hours, phone and address from your website, especially if schema markup or footer details differ from your profile (local business schema).
• Other sources: directories, social profiles and third-party data (NAP citations).
• Google's systems: automated checks, including signals that a business has changed hours or closed.
• Calls and AI: in some regions Google has asked businesses about hours through automated calls or Business Profile prompts.

Where to see updates

When you open your profile (search your business name on Google or open Google Maps while signed in), you may see a banner such as "Google updated your profile" or a highlighted field. You'll also get emails if notifications are enabled (notification settings).

How to review updates

1. Open your profile while signed in.
2. Look for the update notice and open it.
3. Review each change.
4. Accept correct changes.
5. For incorrect changes, edit the field back to the correct value and save.

Some interfaces show "Review updates" with options to accept or edit. If an update was applied without notice, edit the field directly.

Why wrong updates keep coming back

• Your website shows different information. Fix your website's hours, phone and address to match Google (website for local SEO).
• Directories disagree. Update Justdial, IndiaMART, Facebook and other listings.
• Users keep suggesting it. If many customers think your hours are different — for example, because you often open late — make your actual hours consistent with what you post.
• Signage disagrees. If your signboard shows a different name or phone, update it or your profile.

Common examples

• Hours changed: Google set hours based on user reports or website data. Fix hours and keep them consistent (hours guide).
• Phone number changed: a number from your website or a directory replaced yours (phone not showing).
• Category changed: Google may adjust categories it thinks are more accurate (Google changed my category).
• Website link changed: Google may replace a link with your social profile or another site.
• Photos changed: Google may choose a different cover photo (cover photo changed).
• Business marked closed: fix immediately (permanently closed fix).

Prevent unwanted updates

• Log in regularly — at least weekly (weekly routine).
• Turn on email notifications.
• Keep NAP (name, address, phone) consistent everywhere.
• Update special hours for holidays so users don't report wrong hours.
• Respond to updates quickly; Google says it may publish updates if owners don't review them.

When to contact support

If incorrect updates keep being applied despite edits, or your profile was changed in ways you can't fix, contact Google Business Profile support with proof — signboard photos, documents and website screenshots.

Example: a gym in Delhi

A gym kept seeing its Sunday hours changed to "Closed". The owner found that its website footer listed old hours. After updating the website and adding special hours for holidays, the changes stopped.

Example: a clinic with a wrong phone number

A clinic's profile showed a receptionist's old number taken from an old Justdial listing. The owner edited the number back, updated Justdial and the clinic's website, and the problem stopped.

Checklist

• Check profile for update notices weekly
• Accept correct updates
• Edit back wrong ones
• Align website and directories
• Turn on notifications
• Contact support if needed

Key takeaways

• Google updates profiles from many sources.
• Review updates quickly and fix wrong ones.
• Consistent information everywhere prevents repeat problems.

Sources and further reading

• Google Business Profile Help — review updates from Google: support.google.com/business
• Change business name, address or phone

Understanding "pending" and "not published" edits

When you edit your profile, changes may show as "pending" while Google reviews them, or occasionally as "not published". Pending edits usually go live within minutes to a few days. Sensitive fields — name, category, address — are more likely to be reviewed. If an edit stays pending for long or is rejected, check that it follows Google's guidelines and matches your signage and website (edits pending). Repeatedly submitting the same edit can delay review, so wait before trying again.

Keeping a change log

For businesses with multiple managers or agencies, keep a simple log of what was changed and when. It helps you spot unwanted changes quickly and avoid confusion between your edits and Google's updates.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Google change my profile?

To keep information accurate using user suggestions and other sources.

Can I stop Google from making updates?

Not completely, but keeping information consistent and responding quickly reduces them.

What if I miss an update?

It may go live; edit it back when you notice.

Does accepting updates affect ranking?

Accurate information helps customers; there's no penalty for accepting correct updates.

Do I get notified of every change?

Not always; check your profile regularly.

Can competitors cause updates?

They can suggest edits; review and correct them.

Should I accept Google's suggested photos or category?

Accept only if accurate; otherwise edit back to the correct information.