Can a Guest Change Their Airbnb Review? The Official Policy Explained

After receiving a negative or inaccurate review, many hosts have the same hopeful thought: "Maybe the guest will reconsider and change it." Perhaps you resolved the issue they complained about, or maybe the review was left in the heat of the moment.

So, can a guest change their Airbnb review? The simple answer is yes, but only under very specific and limited circumstances.

Airbnb's review system is designed to be a snapshot of a guest's experience at the time of their stay. As such, the ability to edit a review is intentionally restrictive to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the platform. Understanding these strict rules is crucial for managing your reputation effectively.

The Guiding Principle: The 14-Day Review Period

The entire review process operates within a 14-day window following a guest's checkout. Here’s the critical flow:

1. Both you and the guest have 14 days to write a review.
2. Your reviews are kept private during this period.
3. Reviews are only published once both parties have submitted their review, OR after the 14-day period ends, whichever comes first.

This "double-blind" system is designed to encourage honest and unbiased feedback, as neither party is influenced by what the other has written.

The Critical Edit Window: The 48-Hour Rule

Once a review is published, the clock starts ticking on a final, brief edit window.

According to Airbnb's official policy, a review can only be edited by the author (guest or host) within 48 hours of it being published.

However, there's a huge catch that most people miss: this rule only applies if the other party has not yet submitted their review. If you and the guest both submit reviews within the 14-day period, they are published immediately, and the 48-hour edit window is the only chance to make a change.

In practice, the opportunity for a guest to change a review is extremely rare. After those 48 hours, the review is permanently locked.

The Host's Trump Card: Responding Publicly

There is one action a host can take that immediately and permanently locks a guest's review: posting a public response.

The moment you reply to a guest's review, they lose all ability to edit it, even if they are still within the 48-hour window. This is a critical piece of strategy for hosts.

• If you want to preserve the chance for a guest to edit their review, do not post a public reply.
• If you believe a review violates policy, your first action should always be to report it, not respond to it. A public response can sometimes complicate the removal process.

Can You Ask a Guest to Change Their Review?

This is a delicate area, and you must proceed with extreme caution to avoid violating Airbnb's Extortion Policy.

It is strictly forbidden to pressure a guest to change their review in exchange for anything of value. This includes offering a partial refund, a discount on a future stay, or any other form of compensation.

The Safe Way to Communicate

While you cannot offer an incentive, you can professionally inform a guest that you have resolved an issue they mentioned in their review. This should be done without any mention of their review. For more on how to handle coercive guest behavior, see our guide on dealing with Airbnb review extortion.

Scenario: A guest leaves a 3-star review complaining the Wi-Fi was slow. You investigate and find the router just needed a simple reset.

• ✅ Safe & Professional Approach:

  "Hi [Guest Name], thank you again for staying with us. I wanted to follow up on the feedback you provided about the Wi-Fi. You were right, it was slower than usual. I investigated the issue and found that the router just needed to be reset. It's now back to its full speed. I just wanted to thank you for bringing this to my attention so I could resolve it for future guests."

• ❌ Dangerous Approach (Extortion):

  "Hi [Guest Name], I saw your review about the Wi-Fi. If I give you a $50 refund for the trouble, would you be willing to update your review to 5 stars?"

The first approach is helpful and professional. It opens the door for a guest to voluntarily contact Airbnb to request a change, but it doesn't pressure them. The second approach is a direct violation of the Extortion Policy and could get your own account flagged.

How a Guest Can Request a Review Edit

If a guest genuinely wants to edit their review (and is within the 48-hour window), they must do so themselves. You can guide them to the process, but never do it for them.

1. Guest Navigation: The guest must go to their Profile, then select Reviews.
2. Find the Review: They need to go to the Reviews by You tab.
3. Initiate Contact: There is no direct "edit" button after the first submission. The guest needs to find the review they wrote for your stay and look for an option to get help or contact Airbnb support regarding that review.
4. Make the Request: The guest must clearly state to the Airbnb support agent that they made a mistake and wish to edit their review. The agent will then guide them through any possible next steps.

This process is intentionally not simple. For more details on this, a guest can refer to the official Airbnb Help Center article on editing reviews.

If a Review Can't Be Edited, What Are Your Options?

Since the window for a guest to change a review is so small, it's not a strategy you can rely on. If a damaging review is locked in, you have two primary options:

1. Request Removal: If the review violates any of Airbnb's policies (e.g., it contains false information, irrelevant details, or personal attacks), your best option is to request its removal.
2. Respond Publicly: If the review is simply a negative opinion that doesn't violate policy, your only move is to craft a calm, professional public response.

To learn more about these options, see our Ultimate Guide to Managing Airbnb Reviews.

FAQ: The Nuances of Review Edits

1. If I ask Airbnb support, can they edit a guest's review for them?

No. Airbnb support will not edit a review on behalf of a guest. The guest must be the one to initiate the change, and only within the strict time limits.

2. A guest told me they would change their review but hasn't. What can I do?

Unfortunately, nothing. If the 48-hour window has passed, the review is permanent. You cannot force a guest to follow through, and repeatedly messaging them about it could be seen as harassment.

3. Can I remove my review of a guest?

Yes. You can contact Airbnb support at any time to request the removal of a review you wrote about a guest. However, you cannot edit it after the review period ends.

4. Why is Airbnb so strict about this policy?

The integrity of the review system depends on reviews being an authentic reflection of a specific moment in time. If reviews could be easily changed weeks or months later, they would be less trustworthy for future guests. The strict policy, while sometimes frustrating for hosts, is designed to protect the value of the platform for everyone.

---

The Bottom Line: Don't Bank on an Edit

While it is technically possible for a guest to change their review, the chances are slim and the timeline is incredibly short. As a host, your energy is much better spent on proactive measures:

• Preventing bad reviews from happening in the first place.
• Knowing when a review violates policy and is eligible for removal.
• Learning how to write a professional public response when a review must stay.

Focus on these strategies, and you will build a resilient hosting business that isn't dependent on the hope of a guest changing their mind.