Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile Video Verification

One live, unedited recording of at least 30 seconds, ideally 2 to 3 minutes, filmed and uploaded from your phone, that shows the location, the sign or the tools, and something only the owner or staff can do.

Review my verification plan See the recording route

Start here

Where You Are Now

Three situations bring people to this page and each one needs a different starting point. Pick the line that matches yours.

  • 01

    You have not filmed yet

    Read the five recording conditions, then walk the route for your business type before the camera is on.

    Start with the rules
  • 02

    Your video was rejected

    Open Review issues on the profile, match the reason Google named against the three failures below, and re-record with the missing evidence added.

    Find the reason
  • 03

    You are waiting or stuck

    See how long a review takes, what not to do while it runs, and what to do when the upload fails or the video option never appears.

    See what happens next

The brief

What Google Checks

A verification video answers three questions in one unbroken recording: where the business is, that it exists at that address, and that you are the one running it. The evidence changes with the business type. The three questions do not.

The three things one continuous recording has to capture Three abstracted camera frames on a single unbroken timeline. The first shows a street sign and a neighbouring building, confirming location. The second shows a shopfront with a permanent name board, confirming the business exists. The third shows a till, confirming staff-only access. The evidence changes by business type but the three requirements do not. ONE CONTINUOUS TAKE REC 02:14 0:00 2:30 01  LOCATION 02  EXISTENCE 03  MANAGEMENT Street signs and what is nearby Permanent sign, name matching Something only staff can do
One take, three pieces of evidence. Gold marks what the reviewer is looking for in each part of the walk.

Step 01

Video Verification Rules

Google publishes conditions the recording itself has to meet, separately from what it has to show. Most rejections come from missing one line on those lists, not from camera quality.

The five conditions the recording itself has to meet A phone held in recording mode, annotated with five conditions: started inside the Get verified flow, one unedited take, at least thirty seconds with two to three minutes as the target, recorded and uploaded from a mobile device, and the route walked once before filming. REC 02:14 LIVE UNEDITED 30 SECONDS MINIMUM Started inside Get verified One take, no cuts or filters Two to three minutes is the target MOBILE ONLY PLANNED FIRST Filmed and sent from the phone Walk the route without the camera
The five conditions apply to every business type, before a single shot is chosen.

Your video must be

  • 01

    Recorded live

    Captured inside the Get verified flow on your phone. Google says pre-recorded videos are not allowed and you cannot record offline and upload later.

  • 02

    Unedited, unique and complete

    One recording with no breaks. No trimming, no stitched clips, no filters.

  • 03

    At least 30 seconds

    Google sets a minimum and no maximum. Aim for 2 to 3 minutes: long enough to hold each shot until it is readable, short enough to stay in one take without mistakes.

  • 04

    From a mobile device

    Recorded and uploaded through the Business Profile on your phone.

  • 05

    Planned before you record

    Google's own instruction. Walk the route once without the camera.

Your video must not include

  • Sensitive numbers. Bank account, tax or ID numbers.
  • Private information about you or anyone else.
  • Other people's faces. Record during off-hours and keep the camera on fixtures, equipment and documents.

Step 02

Your Recording Route

The three requirements are the same for everyone. What satisfies them is not. Pick the profile type and you get the walk, Google's wording for each stop, and the shot that answers it.

The same three requirements, different evidence by business type Two rows under three shared column headings. A storefront proves location with a street sign, existence with a permanent name board, and management with a till. A service-area business proves location with a house number and landmark, existence with tools and branding, and management with a branded vehicle or a matching document. 01 LOCATION 02 EXISTENCE 03 MANAGEMENT STOREFRONT Fixed premises with signage SERVICE AREA No storefront, works on site
Same three columns, different evidence: the street sign becomes a house number, the name board becomes tools, the till becomes a branded van. Gold marks what the reviewer is looking for in each shot.
Business type

Storefront and hybrid 3 stops 2 to 3 minutes, one take

Walk it in the order Google lists: outside first, then the sign, then inside. A hybrid business follows the same route and may add its vehicle or tools at the end.

  1. 01

    Show your business location

    Start on the street

    Include street signs, building numbers, nearby businesses, or familiar places around your business.

    Shot tipStart recording on the pavement. Hold on the nearest street sign or building number for three to five seconds, pan to a neighbouring business, then walk toward your own frontage without stopping.

  2. 02

    Show proof that your business exists

    Film the storefront sign

    Make sure your business name is clearly printed on a permanent fixture, like a signboard, wall, or window. The name shown in your video must match the name on your Business Profile.

    Shot tipFill the frame with the sign long enough to read it. Compare the sign to the profile name before you film: extra keywords, an old trading name or a different spelling are all rejection risks.

  3. 03

    Show proof of management

    Show staff-only access

    Record things only an employee can access, like opening a cash register, kitchen, storage room, or using a point-of-sale system.

    Shot tipUnlock the entrance, walk through and end on one clear staff-only action. One action done properly beats four done in a rush.

Service area 3 stops 2 to 3 minutes, one take

No storefront, so the evidence changes: identifiers at the address, the tools and branding you work with, and a branded vehicle or a document that ties you to the business name.

  1. 01

    Show where your business operates

    Prove where you operate

    Record street signs, nearby landmarks, or other identifiers at your business address. Avoid filming empty land or locations without clear markers. If you run a service-area business from your home, you can record landmarks and signs in your immediate neighborhood to verify the address.

    Shot tipRecord the nearest street sign or house number, then a landmark that identifies the neighbourhood. If you work from home, Google says the immediate neighbourhood is enough.

  2. 02

    Show proof that your business exists

    Show tools and branding

    Show the professional tools, equipment, or products you use for work. This can include specialized machinery, your workspace, business cards, or branded apparel.

    Shot tipLay the equipment out before recording so the walk is continuous. A branded uniform or vehicle in the same shot does two jobs at once.

  3. 03

    Show proof of management

    Show van or documents

    Record yourself performing a service or accessing business-only assets, such as unlocking a van that has your business branding. You can also show business documents like a business permit, invoice, or utility bill that matches the name on your Business Profile.

    Shot tipIf you use a document, frame only the business name and hide account numbers. Google prohibits bank, tax and ID numbers in the recording.

Step 03

Before You Press Record

The recording cannot be paused, trimmed or restarted halfway, so everything that can be settled in advance should be. Ten minutes here saves a second review cycle.

  • 01 Hold the profile name and the permanent sign side by side and compare them letter for letter.
  • 02 Charge the phone past half and clear enough storage for a three minute recording.
  • 03 Wipe the lens. A smeared lens is the most common reason a sign will not read back.
  • 04 Pick an hour with no customers in the building, so no face has to be avoided mid-take.
  • 05 Grant location, camera and microphone access before you start, not while filming.
  • 06 Walk the whole route once with the phone down, counting the seconds at each stop.
  • 07 Put the sun behind you rather than behind the sign, or the sign will silhouette.
  • 08 Decide the exact closing action and have the keys in your hand before you press record.

Step 04

Upload From Your Phone

The whole thing happens inside the Business Profile app flow. There is no file to attach and nothing to prepare on a computer.

The five phone screens between opening the profile and Google reviewing the video Five abstracted phone screens in order: opening the Business Profile and tapping Get verified, choosing Business video as the method, granting location camera and microphone access, recording the route live, and uploading the finished take for review. REC 02:14 SENT FOR REVIEW 01 GET VERIFIED 02 BUSINESS VIDEO 03 ALLOW ACCESS 04 RECORD LIVE 05 UPLOAD
Five screens stand between the profile and the review queue.
  1. 01

    Open the profile

    On your phone, go to your Business Profile signed in with the owning Google Account.

  2. 02

    Tap Get verified

    You may be asked to enter your phone number, then tap Next.

  3. 03

    Choose Business video

    Tap Business video, then Next.

  4. 04

    Read the requirements

    Allow access to location, camera and microphone when asked.

  5. 05

    Tap Start recording

    Then tap the record button and film the full route live.

  6. 06

    Stop and review

    Check that every required item is visible before you send it. Tap Try again if not.

  7. 07

    Upload video

    Tap Upload video. If it fails to upload, Google says to upload it again.

Step 05

Why Videos Get Rejected

Google names the reason under Review issues, and its own published examples come down to three. Each one is a missing frame rather than a bad video.

What a rejected frame is missing and what replaces it Three pairs of camera frames. Each pair shows a rejected shot on the left and the corrected shot on the right. Not enough proof of location becomes a street sign held in frame with a neighbouring building. Business could not be identified becomes a permanent name board matching the profile exactly. Not enough proof of management becomes a staff-only action such as opening a till. GOOGLE SAYS Not enough proof of location Hold a street sign or house number in shot, then pan to what stands next door. GOOGLE SAYS Business could not be identified Show permanent signage carrying the name exactly as the profile spells it. GOOGLE SAYS Not enough proof of management Do something only staff can do. Never film card details, bank numbers or customers.
What the reviewer saw, and the frame that answers it.
Google review issues, what was missing, and what to add next time
Review issueWhat was missingAdd to the next recording
Business name not visible on storefront The permanent sign was not shown, was unreadable, or did not match the profile. Fill the frame with the sign, hold three to five seconds, and check the name matches before filming.
No nearby area shown Recording started at the sign or inside, so the location was never confirmed. Begin on the street with a street sign, building number or neighbouring business in shot.
Missing proof of authorization No staff-only action, branded asset or matching document appeared. End on a cash register, kitchen, storage room, point-of-sale system, branded vehicle unlock, or a permit or invoice.

A second attempt is not a correction of the first one. Google reviews each recording on its own, so the new video has to carry everything the accepted parts of the first video showed, plus the evidence that was named as missing, still in one unbroken take.

Step 06

After You Submit

Submitting starts a review with two possible endings and one loop back. Knowing which one you are in stops the most expensive mistake: filming again while the first video is still being read.

What happens after the video is submitted A timeline running from submission through a review that usually takes up to five business days. It ends in one of two outcomes: verified, which unlocks editing the profile, or review issues, which loops back to a re-record of the same route with the named reason fixed. SUBMITTED Day 0 IN REVIEW Usually up to 5 business days Do not submit a second video VERIFIED Editing unlocked REVIEW ISSUES A reason is given FIX THE NAMED REASON, RECORD AGAIN
A rejection is a return to the same route, not the end of it.

  • While it is in review

    Google says the review can take up to 5 business days. Leave the profile alone while it runs: starting a second recording or editing the business information mid-review only adds another check.

  • If it is successful

    The profile is verified and the information you have been holding back can be published and edited normally.

  • If it is not successful

    The reasons appear under Review issues on the profile. Read every line before re-recording, because more than one requirement can fail in the same take.

  • If the upload itself fails

    Google says to upload it again. A failed upload is a transfer problem, not a rejection, and it does not count against the recording.

  • If video is not working at all

    Google may offer another method on the profile: phone, text, email or postcard, depending on eligibility. The methods offered are decided by Google, not chosen by you.

  • When you want it deleted

    On your phone, open the profile, then More, Business Profile settings, Advanced settings, Video uploads, Delete videos. Google says it will delete the video later if you do not.

Questions

Video Verification Questions

The situations the route above does not cover: shared premises, who is allowed to hold the phone, and what happens after the profile is verified.

The video must be recorded and uploaded from a mobile device through your Business Profile. If you begin on desktop, sign in on your phone with the same Google Account, open the profile and continue from Get verified.

Google says a home-based service-area business can record landmarks and signs in the immediate neighbourhood to confirm the address, then show tools, equipment or branded items and a matching business document. Do not film empty land or a plain door with no identifiers.

Google requires the name in the video to match the name on your Business Profile. Correct the profile name to match the permanent sign before recording. If there is no permanent on-site signage at all, Google says the business should be listed as a service-area business instead of a storefront.

Treat the building as the first requirement and the unit as the second. Start outside with the street sign and the building name or number, walk in without stopping the recording, then hold on your unit number and your own permanent sign before moving to the staff-only action. Do not stop and restart at the entrance: the location and the unit have to be connected in the same take.

The recording has to happen on a phone signed in to an account with access to the profile, and it has to show proof of management. A manager or an owner who can genuinely open the register, the storage room or the branded vehicle can film it. Someone who cannot demonstrate that access has nothing to show for the third requirement.

Google asks for what the camera shows, not for narration, and it asks you to keep other people out of shot. Speaking is optional. It does help you hold your pace, so counting the seconds out loud at each stop is a practical habit rather than a requirement.

Google does not publish a limit on the number of verification videos. What it does publish is that each one is reviewed on its own, so an attempt that adds one missing item while dropping something the previous video showed can fail for the opposite reason. If the option to record stops appearing on the profile, contact Google Business Profile support rather than creating a second listing.

Google says changes to business information can require re-verification to keep the profile accurate. Follow the verification method shown on your profile again. It is a standard check, not a penalty.

No. The first requirement is proof of the location on the profile, so a recording made at the previous address confirms an address that is no longer yours. Update the address first, then record a new video at the new location with the same three requirements.

Zammy Zaif

Zammy Zaif

Global Search & Business Growth Strategist

This guide follows Google's published verification requirements, with recommendations added from a local search perspective. Google makes the final verification decision. Requirements can change: check Google Business Profile Help for the current wording.

Plan the recording before you film

Bring the profile type, the sign, the address and any Review issues message. I will map the route against Google's requirements, flag the evidence that is missing and prepare a shot list for the next attempt.

Review my verification plan See other problems