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Is Google Removing the "Permanently Closed" Option From Business Profiles?

The Short Answer

Some business owners have reported that the “Permanently closed” status option has disappeared from their Google Business Profile dashboard, while others say it is still there for them. Google has not confirmed whether this is a bug, a test, or an intentional change, and even the SEO reporters who first flagged it are not sure yet. Nothing to act on today, but worth watching.

What Is Actually Being Reported

The first report came from an SEO watching Google Business Profile in Japan, who noticed the “Permanently closed” option missing from the dashboard and asked whether others were seeing the same thing elsewhere. Since then, the picture has been mixed: at least one other business owner has posted a screenshot showing they can still select it normally, which suggests this may be affecting only some accounts or listings rather than rolling out everywhere at once.
Even the reporter covering the story put it plainly: it is not clear yet whether this is a genuine change, a bug, or something specific to certain accounts. Google has not put out any official statement addressing it.

Why the "Permanently Closed" Status Exists in the First Place

It is a distinct option from “Temporarily closed,” which is meant for short interruptions like a renovation, an off-season pause for a seasonal business, or a short-term closure with a clear return date. “Permanently closed” is meant for a business that has genuinely shut down for good, and marking it that way is part of how a listing eventually gets fully removed from Google’s local results.

What To Do Right Now

  • If you are not trying to close a listing today, there is nothing to do, this does not affect a business that is already open and operating normally
  • If you do need to mark a listing closed and cannot find the option, check your dashboard directly since this appears to vary by account
  • If the option is missing when you need it, Google's Business Profile support is the right place to ask, rather than guessing at a workaround
  • Keep an eye on whether this becomes a confirmed, permanent change over the next few weeks

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

No, this report is about whether owners can still choose to apply that status themselves, not about listings being changed automatically.
Temporarily closed is for short interruptions with an expected return, like a renovation or seasonal break. Permanently closed signals the business has shut down for good and can lead to the listing eventually being removed from search.
It does not hurt to look, but there is no urgency, this is not confirmed as a widespread change yet, and having or not having the option does not affect a business that is currently open.

Want Someone Keeping an Eye on Google's Changes So You Do Not Have To?

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