Google Business Profile changes in October 2026: what Adelaide businesses should know

Google Business Profile · October 2026

Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing a local customer sees when they search for what you do. It shows your hours, your reviews, your photos and how to get in touch, usually before anyone visits your website.

A few changes and tests have been spotted in October 2026. One has been confirmed by Google. Two are reported tests that Google hasn’t announced. Here’s what each one means and some simple steps to keep your profile active and verified.

Confirmed: review appeals are taking longer

If you’ve reported a review and Google decided not to remove it, you can appeal that decision. Google has confirmed that these appeals are currently delayed.

A Google team member posted in the official Google Business Profile Help Community that, due to high volume of review-related appeals, processing times are currently extended, and that Google can’t give a specific response timeframe for pending cases.

Google’s notice also included a clear instruction: don’t create a duplicate appeal. Once your appeal is submitted, you don’t need to do anything further. Google pointed businesses to its help pages on missing and delayed reviews, reporting inappropriate reviews and checking the status of a review removal appeal.

What this means in practice:

Reported test: Posts shown higher in the local panel

Industry site Search Engine Roundtable reported on 19 October 2026 that Google appears to be testing a higher position for the Posts section of the local knowledge panel (the business panel that shows up in Google Search). The report cites a local search specialist who saw Posts move up and then back down every few days.

This is a reported test, not a confirmed rollout. Google hasn’t announced it, and it may not appear for every business or every search. We’re mentioning it because it’s a useful reminder that Posts are part of your profile, not because you should expect a particular result.

According to Google’s own help page, Posts let you share announcements, offers, updates and event details with customers on Search and Maps. You can create three types:

Google also notes that posts older than six months are archived unless a date range is set, and that posts are reviewed against its content policy before they go live. Posts with a phone number in the description might be rejected if the number can’t be verified as belonging to the business.

Reported test: government ID as a verification option

Search Engine Roundtable also reported on 20 October 2026 that some businesses are seeing a new verification screen asking them to upload a photo of a government ID. The screen reportedly says the ID is only used for verification and won’t be shown publicly.

Again, this is a reported test. It is not listed on Google’s verification help page, and Google hasn’t announced it.

Google’s verification help page currently lists these methods:

Google says the methods available to you are determined automatically and depend on things like your business type, public information, region and hours. Some businesses may need more than one method. After you complete the steps, Google says reviews can take up to five business days.

A sensible precaution: only ever complete verification steps inside your own Business Profile. Google’s help page says Google will never ask for your verification code, and you shouldn’t share it with anyone, including people who help manage your profile.

Why keeping your profile active matters

Google’s own guidance on local results says they are mainly based on relevance, distance and prominence. Google also says there’s no way to request or pay for a better local ranking.

Google’s tips for its local results include:

Google says reviews also feed into prominence: more reviews and positive ratings can help your business’s local ranking.

Simple steps for this month

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