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KDP policy help
KDP review policy: why legitimate reviews vanish and which ones you can contest.
"Why did my reviews disappear?" is a top KDP community question. Most removals follow fixed rules, and most complaints go to the wrong place.
Checked:
✓The policy rules behind removals✓Which reviews you can contest, and how✓What never to do about a bad review
Why reviews are removed
Amazon removes reviews that break its guidelines: reviews by family, friends, or anyone with a financial tie to you; reviews that were compensated; and reviews that talk about shipping instead of the book. It also removes reviews that reference other products or contain personal attacks.
- Friends and family reviews are against policy
- Paid or free-copy-for-review trades are removed
- Reviews complaining about delivery, not the book, are removed
When a removal is a mistake
Sometimes legitimate reviews are caught by the same filters, especially after a campaign sends a burst of new reviews. You cannot directly restore a removed review, but the author side can open a case for reviews that clearly broke no rule.
What you can actually do
Build reviews from real readers over time, report reviews that genuinely break guidelines through the product page, and never buy reviews, which risks both the review and the account.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why did my reviews disappear overnight?
Amazon periodically sweeps reviews that match guideline violations. A burst of similar reviews after a promotion is the most common trigger.
Can I get a removed review restored?
Directly, no. If a review clearly broke no rule, contact support from your KDP account with the book and review details.
Can I delete a bad review?
No. You can only report a review that breaks guidelines. Asking readers to remove or change reviews violates policy and can be flagged.
Why can't a reader leave a review on my book?
Amazon requires a minimum purchase history to review. New accounts and accounts with unusual purchase patterns are restricted.
Fix the causes of slow sales first.
Reviews follow sales. Diagnose the launch before chasing more ratings.