Why Are Google My Business Photos Rejected?

Here’s a helpful video overview that walks through the most common reasons why Google Business Profile photos might be rejected — well worth a quick watch!

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Why Are Google My Business Photos Rejected?

If your photos keep getting rejected on your Google Business Profile (GBP), you’re not alone. This is a widespread issue rooted in a combination of technical requirements, policy guidelines, and occasional system quirks.

1. New Profile Restrictions

Profiles that are new or recently reinstated often face a temporary block on media uploads—typically lasting up to two weeks after verification. During this “sandbox” period, even valid photos may be delayed or initially rejected.(Blanket Digital, Obenan, Rooah!) A number of business owners have also reported cases where images initially showed as rejected but automatically appeared after 24–48 hours, without any intervention.(Reddit)

2. Quality & Format Requirements

Google prefers image clarity. Uploads that are too blurry, poorly lit, or low-resolution are likely to be rejected. Recommended specs include:

• Resolution: at least 720 × 720 pixels (minimum: 250 × 250 px; maximum: around 1500 px on the longest side)
• File size: 10 KB to 5 MB
• Formats: Only JPG or PNG are supported(Blanket Digital, Obenan)
  Using very high-quality camera files (e.g., RAW or large file sizes) can sometimes trigger automatic rejection—resizing is often the solution.(Reddit)

Google prohibits images that contain:

3. Content Policy Violations

• Inappropriate or offensive content
• Excessive or promotional text, watermarks, logos, or contact details
• Misleading, irrelevant stock images, or copyrighted material(MarcelHeap, D Marketing Academy, Relentless Digital, ZingaCP Blog)

Text should occupy no more than 10% of the image area and should be placed near the edges—not covering the main subject.(Relentless Digital, Rooah!)

4. Duplicate or Copyrighted Content

Google detects duplicate or previously-used images—even across different accounts—and flags them for removal. The same goes for stock or watermarked images.(Relentless Digital, Blanket Digital)

5. AI Moderation & Metadata Issues

Google’s automated SafeSearch algorithms may mistakenly flag harmless images—especially those with unusual angles, odd lighting, or metadata mismatches. Tools like Cloud Vision API (SafeSearch) can help pre-check images.(Blanket Digital, Rooah!, Aixbiz) Removing unnecessary metadata (e.g., GPS tags) and re-taking or slightly editing the photo can also help.(ZingaCP Blog)

6. User Reports or System Bugs

Sometimes, users may flag images as inappropriate or misleading, triggering manual or automated removal. Additionally, there are known system glitches that occasionally auto-reject photos—only to approve them later.(Reddit)

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Real User Experiences

Real business owners have shared on forums:

“Most photos show as rejected when they are first uploaded. After 24–48 hours, they will then be approved.”(Reddit)
“Photos taken by high-quality cameras or new iPhones can actually be too high quality—reducing size/resolution helped them get approved.”(Reddit)

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Tips to Avoid Rejection (and Get Your Photos Approved)

Step	What to Do
1⃣	Wait at least 14 days after profile verification before uploading images.
2⃣	Ensure photos are high-quality but not excessively large, formatted as JPG/PNG, and sized between 720×720 px and 5 MB.
3⃣	Avoid stock photos, text overlays, logos, or other promotional elements. Stick to relevant, original images of your business.
4⃣	If rejected, wait 24–48 hours—they may still appear.
5⃣	Use Cloud Vision SafeSearch to check for algorithmic red flags; edit or re-crop if necessary.
6⃣	If issues persist, contact Google Business Profile Support for assistance.