You can delete your own review, but only within a limited window after you post it
Airbnb lets you remove a review you wrote as a guest, but the timing matters. You have 48 hours after posting to delete it outright. After that window closes, you can still edit what you wrote, but you cannot take it down completely. If you posted a review and want it gone, the 48-hour clock is already running.
The reason for this rule is straightforward: Airbnb wants to prevent hosts from pressuring guests into deleting negative reviews after the fact. A hard important date protects both sides. Once those 48 hours pass, the review stays on the listing, though you can change the text and rating if you change your mind about what you said.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete your review completely only within 48 hours of posting it; after that, deletion is not possible.
- After 48 hours, you can edit your review's text and star rating, but the review itself remains on the listing.
- To delete a review within the window, go to your profile, find the review under "Reviews," and select the delete option.
- If a host asks you to remove a negative review in exchange for a refund or other compensation, report it to Airbnb—this violates their policy.
- Airbnb can remove reviews that violate their content policy, such as those containing personal information, harassment, or false claims.
How to delete a review within 48 hours
Open the Airbnb app or website and sign into your account. Tap or click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Reviews" from the menu. You will see a list of all the reviews you have written. Find the review you want to remove and look for a three-dot menu icon or "More" button next to it.
Click that menu and select "Delete review." Airbnb will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the review is gone from the listing when ready. The host will not see it, and it will not appear in the listing's review section anymore. This only works if you are still within the 48-hour window from when you posted.
How to edit a review after 48 hours have passed
If more than 48 hours have passed, the delete option will no longer appear. Instead, you will see an "Edit" option next to your review. Tap or click it to open the review for changes. You can rewrite the text, change your star rating, or both.
When you save your edits, the updated review replaces the original one on the listing. The host will see that the review was edited, and the new version will show the date you made the change. This is the only way to alter what appears on the listing once the deletion window closes.
What happens if a host asks you to remove a negative review
Airbnb's terms of service prohibit hosts from asking guests to delete reviews in exchange for refunds, compensation, or any other benefit. If a host contacts you and makes this request—whether directly or through a third party—do not agree to it. This is a violation of Airbnb's policy and can result in the host losing their account.
Instead, report the message to Airbnb. Go to your message thread with the host, find the specific message, and select "Report." Explain what the host asked you to do. Airbnb takes these reports seriously and investigates them. You can also contact Airbnb's support team directly through the Help Center if you need to report the behavior outside of a message thread.
When Airbnb itself removes a review
Airbnb can remove reviews that break their content policy, even if you did not request it. Reviews are taken down if they contain personal information (like a host's full name or address), harassing language, threats, or claims that Airbnb determines are false or defamatory. Reviews that mention off-platform communication or payment are also subject to removal.
If your review was removed by Airbnb, you will receive a notification explaining why. If you believe the removal was a mistake, you can appeal through the Help Center. Provide context about why your review should remain and address the specific policy concern Airbnb cited.
Reasons you might want to remove or edit a review
The most common reason guests delete reviews is that they posted something in frustration when ready after checkout and later regretted the tone or content. Others realize they misunderstood a house rule or made an unfair complaint. Some guests also discover that a problem they attributed to the host was actually their own mistake—a thermostat they did not know how to adjust, for example, or a feature they overlooked in the listing description.
If you are in the 48-hour window, deletion is the cleanest option. If you have passed that point but still want to correct the record, editing lets you soften your language, acknowledge something you got wrong, or add context that changes how readers understand your experience. A review that says "The host was unhelpful, but I realize now I did not read the check-in instructions carefully" is more useful to other guests than one that straightforward blames the host.
What you cannot do: removing reviews posted by other guests
You can only remove reviews that you yourself wrote. You cannot delete, edit, or report a negative review that another guest posted about a property where you stayed. If a review contains false information, harassment, or personal details, you can report it to Airbnb, but only Airbnb can decide whether to remove it.
If you are a host reading this and want to address a review you believe is unfair, you can post a public response to it. Hosts can also contact Airbnb support to report reviews that violate the content policy. Airbnb will investigate, but they will not remove a review straightforward because a host disagrees with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a review after 48 hours?
No. After 48 hours, the delete option disappears and you cannot remove the review. You can only edit it at that point. If you need the review gone for a specific reason—such as because it contains personal information or violates Airbnb's policy—contact Airbnb support and explain why.
Will the host know if I edit my review?
Yes. When you edit a review, Airbnb shows the host that the review was edited and displays the date of the change. The host can see the updated version but not the original text you wrote. The edit notification appears on the listing.
What if I posted a review by mistake and want it gone when ready?
If you are still within 48 hours, go to your profile, find the review under "Reviews," and delete it. The review will disappear right away. If you are past 48 hours, you will have to edit it instead. Consider rewriting it to say something like "I posted this in error" or removing all the text and giving it one star as a workaround, though this is not ideal.
Can a host force me to delete a negative review?
No. Hosts cannot force you to delete a review, and asking you to do so in exchange for money or other compensation violates Airbnb's policy. If a host makes this request, report it to Airbnb through the Help Center or by flagging the message in your conversation thread.
What if my review was removed and I did not ask for it?
Airbnb removed it because it violated their content policy—likely because it contained personal information, harassment, false claims, or off-platform contact details. You will receive a notification explaining the reason. If you believe the removal was wrong, you can appeal through the Help Center with an explanation of why your review should remain.