Post actualizado el día octubre 25, 2026 by DeiviSanzPlay
You’re in a hurry, you open Google Maps, you search for the pharmacy on duty, and the map sends you to a street that was closed two years ago. The pharmacy exists, but it’s three blocks further on. You curse everything. And rightly so. Learning how to report an error on Google Maps isn’t a geeky whim: it’s the difference between arriving or wasting half an hour going around in circles.
The good news is that the suggestion system Google has works, even if it isn’t instant. The bad news is that many people don’t use it because they don’t know where the button is. Let’s get to the point.
Where the suggest an edit option is (and why it sometimes doesn’t appear)
The key button is hidden in the three-dot menu. You open the app, search for the place, tap the name, and in the top right you’ll see those three vertical dots. Inside there you’ll find «Suggest an edit.» From that menu you can change the name, the address, the hours, the phone number, mark it as permanently closed, or even merge two duplicate listings.
Watch out for a detail almost no one mentions: if the place is verified by the owner, some options are locked and your change goes to manual review. If it isn’t verified, sometimes it’s applied within hours. The difference matters so you don’t get frustrated when your edit is still pending the next day.
You can also report from your computer, at maps.google.com. The flow is the same: you search for the place, click «Suggest an edit,» and fill it in. On desktop the form is more comfortable because you can attach photos of the closing sign or of the correct premises. That speeds up approval more than you’d think.
Which errors can be reported and which can’t
Not everything goes. Google accepts corrections of objective data, not opinions. You can report:
- Place permanently closed: if the business has shut down, mark it. Don’t confuse it with «temporarily closed,» which is for renovations or holidays.
- Incorrect address: the pin is in the wrong place, or the street is misspelled.
- Wrong name: the business changed its name or was never called that.
- Outdated hours: very common in bars and clinics.
- Wrong phone or website: it affects trust and missed calls.
- Duplicate place: two listings for the same spot. Request a merge.
- Place that doesn’t exist: someone created it by mistake or out of malice. Mark it as nonexistent.
What you can’t report is «this place is bad» or «the owner is rude.» That goes in reviews, not in edits. Mixing the two is the fastest way to get Google to ignore your report.
How to report an error on Google Maps step by step (mobile and PC)
On mobile, the process is this:
- Open Google Maps and search for the place or address with the error.
- Tap the name to open the listing.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Choose «Suggest an edit.»
- Select the type of change (closed, address, name, etc.).
- Fill it in with specific details and attach a photo if you can.
- Submit.
On desktop it’s almost identical, but you can also use the «Report a data problem» option that appears at the very bottom of some listings. It serves the same purpose, but the form is longer and allows more detailed comments.
A trick that works: if the error is for an entire street (for example, a closed road or a one-way street set wrong), don’t report it from a business listing. Tap directly on the point on the map and choose «Report a data problem.» That way it goes into the map corrections queue and not the business listings one.
How long Google takes to correct it and what happens to your report
There’s no single answer here. Simple changes, like hours or a phone number, are usually applied within 24-72 hours. Permanent closures and listing merges can take weeks because they go through manual review. And if your suggestion conflicts with the information provided by the verified owner, Google usually gives priority to them. It makes sense, even if it sometimes stings.
You’ll receive an email when it’s reviewed. If they reject it, don’t take it personally. Send it again with more evidence: a photo of the closed premises with the shutter down, a link to the official website showing the new address, or a screenshot of the «moving to» sign. The approval rate goes up enormously when you provide evidence.
If your report is accepted, Google notifies you and sometimes raises your Local Guide level. That comes with symbolic rewards, but above all it has an impact: your later edits are reviewed with more trust.
Typical mistakes people make when reporting
Mistake number one is reporting a temporary closure as permanent. If the bar is on holiday, marking it as permanently closed deletes the listing and messes things up for everyone. Be honest and choose the right option.
The second mistake is leaving the comment empty. «It’s wrong» doesn’t help anyone. Write what’s wrong and what the correct information is. The more specific, the better.
The third is reporting from a new account with no history. Google filters reports from newly created accounts more because there’s a lot of spam. If you have an account with years of use and reviews, your edits carry more weight. It’s ugly, but that’s how it is.
And the fourth: insisting with the same report every day. It doesn’t speed anything up. It only creates noise and can get you flagged as a problematic user.
Beyond reporting: how to be genuinely useful on Google Maps
Reporting errors is only one part. If you really want the map to be reliable, add updated photos of the places you visit, correct hours when you see the sign on the door, and answer the questions other users leave on listings. That silent work is what keeps Google Maps useful for millions of people every day.
And if you have a business, claim your listing and keep it up to date. Many of the errors people report come from listings abandoned by their own owners. Don’t wait for a user to correct your hours: do it yourself first.
In the end, how to report an error on Google Maps is less important than doing it well. One accurate report is worth more than twenty reckless ones. Take two minutes, provide evidence, and leave the map a little better than you found it. Others will thank you, even if they never know your name.
