Someone Changed My Google Business Profile. How Do I Lock It Down?
Last updated: November 13, 2026 · By Kayce Sadler, Founder & CEO, Abode Marketing
You can’t fully stop Google or the public from suggesting changes, but you can review and reject them quickly, clean up who has access, and keep your information consistent everywhere so Google trusts your version. Most unwanted changes come from three places: suggestions from the public, Google’s own automated updates, or another person who still has manager access.
Key takeaways
- Google labels pending changes as “Google updates” in your profile. Review them as soon as you see them.
- Check who has access. Former employees and old agencies are common sources of changes.
- Consistent information on your website and listings makes Google less likely to accept bad suggestions.
- Logging in and updating the profile regularly helps signal that an active owner is managing it.
- Some edits, like a changed phone number or website, can redirect real customers, so treat them urgently.
Who can change my Google Business Profile?
Three groups. First, anyone with owner or manager access to the profile. Second, members of the public, who can suggest edits to hours, phone numbers, addresses or categories through Google Maps. Third, Google itself, which updates profiles using information from your website, other sources and those public suggestions.
Google’s guidelines say it may use information from many sources, so if your own website lists old hours or a former address, Google may “correct” your profile to match it. That’s why consistency matters as much as access control.
How do I see what changed and undo it?
- Look for the updates notice. Search your business name on Google while signed in, open your profile and look for a notice about Google updates. You can usually review each change and keep yours or accept theirs.
- Check the edit fields. Compare the name, address, phone, website, hours, categories and attributes against what you expect.
- Restore the right information. Edit any wrong fields back. Changes you make can take time to show while Google reviews them.
- Screenshot everything. Keep dated screenshots of the correct profile so you can show support what it should look like.
How do I control who has access?
Open the profile’s settings and review the people listed. Remove anyone who no longer works with you, and make sure at least two trusted people in your business hold owner-level access so you’re never locked out if one person leaves.
| Who | Suggested access |
|---|---|
| Business owner | Primary owner |
| Second partner or office manager | Owner |
| Marketing agency | Manager, under their own login, removed when the work ends |
| Former staff or past agencies | None |
Here’s my take: never let an agency own your profile. They should be a manager on a profile you own, the same as they’d be a user on an ad account you pay for.
Why does Google keep accepting wrong suggestions?
Google is weighing which version of your information looks more reliable. If your website, your listings on Apple Maps, Bing and directories, and your profile all say the same thing, a single public suggestion has a harder time winning. If they disagree, Google may side with the suggestion.
- Make the website footer and contact page match the profile exactly.
- Update holiday and special hours ahead of time so customers don’t report you closed.
- Fix old listings on directories and data aggregators that still show a past address or phone.
- Use the business name you actually use on your signage, without extra keywords, which Google’s guidelines don’t allow.
When should I contact Google support?
If someone changed the phone number or website to send your customers elsewhere, if the business was marked closed when you’re open, or if edits keep coming back after you fix them, contact Business Profile support with your screenshots. Repeated hostile edits can be a competitor or a scam, and support can review the history.
What we’d check first
We’d review your profile’s access list, the pending Google updates and every field against your website and top directory listings, then fix the mismatches that make Google side with outside suggestions.
If you’d like a second set of eyes, our free visibility audit covers this and shows where you stand on Google, Maps and AI search.
More owner questions we’ve answered: How do I fix a duplicate profile? · How to pass video verification · Fake review from a former employee?
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn off suggested edits on my Google Business Profile?
No. The public can always suggest edits. What you control is how quickly you review them and how consistent your information is elsewhere.
Why did Google change my business hours?
Google may update hours based on your website, other sources or customer suggestions. Make sure your site shows the same hours and set special hours for holidays.
Will Google tell me when my profile changes?
Google often notifies owners by email or in the profile, but not always. Checking the profile on a regular schedule is the safer habit.
A former employee still has access. What do I do?
Remove them in the profile’s people and access settings. If they’re the primary owner and won’t transfer it, you can request ownership through Google’s process.
Can a competitor mark my business as closed?
A suggestion can be made by anyone. If your business shows as closed, fix it right away and contact support if it happens again.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google — Name, address, hours and representation rules
- Google Business Profile Help: Verify your business on Google — Verification and ownership
- Google Business Profile Help: Suspended profiles — What happens when a profile breaks guidelines
