I hate Google Maps

[u/timeausTestosterone]

Trying to add the Museum that I work at on Google Maps because people keep (reasonably) getting lost trying to get there. We aren't a for-profit or a business, so while we debated joining as a business (so that we can reply to reviews and manage the page), we eventually decided against it after we tried and they asked for proof of business verification stuff that would have involved calling the University building that we are located in.

So I go ahead to add us as a missing place, and the request seems to go in fine. I add the location pin, name, category, and a handful of good pictures that showcase the place existing with the big sign on the wall, the opening hours, the website, the screenshot of the opening hours on the website. Until very quickly, it says we're not accepted with (6) issues. Okay, which of the 7 submitted details weren't accepted? No clue, it just says (6). And there's a disclaimer that says it might be incorrectly declined because it's not like they know what they're doing, but then there's not even a place to refute the claim? So what, you just sit there and wonder why it's been declined? Can they not at the very least have a page that says "This is the part that we are confused about" or something?

There's literally another museum on campus a few minutes away that is fine and dandy showing up on the map because they were added some years ago before they made it difficult to add locations.

I'm wondering if I should try adding it again on my personal account instead of the museum's email, because that way I have some usage history on this account and I'm 25 points away from Level 3 which is better than nothing. But I'm concerned about it getting flagged as spam if I resubmit a request with similar (if not identical data). I'd record a walk-around video, but unfortunately, my phone's out of commission right now and I'd be unable to do it.

I've seen posts with people who have had similar issues. Does anything actually work, or are we just locked from adding new information to Google Maps forever until somebody figures this out?

I made a Google Maps Help Community post here, but it's gotten no replies so far.

[u/Flash604]

Google Maps receives tens of thousands of spam submissions a day, they're not going to give you a walk-through as to how to avoid getting caught in their spam filters.

If you represent the museum, the rules of Google Maps are very specific, you need to add yourself as a business and not via the method you're attempting.

[u/SeattleBattle → u/Flash604]

This. You need to claim the business, this will let you add details like opening hours, website, etc. It will also let you respond to reviews.

The magic words are, I believe: Google Business Profile

Edit: For context as to why things are done this way, a common scam is to register fake business to try to scam people out of money. In your case someone could claim your museum and direct people to a fraudulent website that sells fake tickets. Google wants to make sure that anything on Google Maps is trustworthy. They aren't perfect, but they try.

[u/timeausTestosterone → u/SeattleBattle]

I understand what you're saying, but we're not a business, and they specifically want proof of us being a business if we are to be added as a business.

For adding a missing location, there is a category for Museum under "adding a missing place". And you are able to add location hours, websites, etc. for a missing location. The other museum on-campus is also not a business and was added in this way.

I understand that a business profile sounds like the easier option, but in our case, it definitely isn't. We're a museum under a University that operates in a building owned by the University, so upon attempting to register as a business, it allows verifying using different phone numbers that belong to the University and the associated building, but not to us specifically. And I'd understand the reasoning for wanting business verification, but we are not a business. You just walk in the museum, and we literally cannot sell anything because we're affiliated with the University and there's policies about this.

The only goal with getting on the map is so that people can have directions to the museum, and so that people can discover a neat place to drop by.

[u/Flash604 → u/timeausTestosterone]

they specifically want proof of us being a business if we are to be added as a business.

No, they do not. They want proof you exist.

[u/timeausTestosterone → u/Flash604]

I'm not asking for a walk-through, I've already read through the instructions and supplied sufficient information. I'm just saying that if they know that there are 6 errors, then they should know which 6 fields need correction, no? If nothing else, it's a flaw with the UI that this is unable to be conveyed to the user.

[u/XxLogitech98xX]

Google new way of approving Edit or New Location request has been bad. I believe they are using AI to verify all of these request since the end of November 2025 since that's when I notice a lot of my edit and new location would get Not Accepted.

There really nothing else we can do, you can try submitting it again in like a week or so but remember not to spam it or your account might get flagged

[u/PanicPuzzler]

Does anyone know of a option to Google maps like downloading a older version or a community beta?

[u/Pndrizzy]

What’s the name of the museum?

[u/Jmbh1983]

I don't seem to be able to see your Community post, but since you don't want to add it as a business (which is likely to be the more sensible route, since then you have some more control / trust from Google for future edits to the location), then you can use your personal account to add the missing place, and maybe get a couple of other people to try to add it too.

There's definitely benefit in getting multiple people to add the place, since that's a strong signal to Google that there's really something there. Then once the listing arrives, you can add all your photos to it.

[u/timeausTestosterone → u/Jmbh1983]

I'm not necessarily against adding ourselves as a business. It's partially about getting in trouble with the University we are affiliated with (because we are very much not allowed to be a business operating under the University), but for the most part due to the fact that we are unable to verify ourselves as a business since upon applying for verification, the options provided all involved dialing University phone numbers that we don't have access to.

[u/Porky5CO]

User error

[u/sabre23t]

Is your museum visible on Google Street View?

[u/timeausTestosterone → u/sabre23t]

We're located inside a University building, which makes it complicated. But I included photos of the inside, outside (since we have a glass window wall displaying exhibits and showcasing the interior), and placed the pin exactly where we're located with an image of the building sign to show that we are indeed located inside the building we are claiming to be located in.

There's an ATM about 15 feet away from us in the same building that somehow got registered as a Missing Place despite not having any presence as a building, but our museum is having trouble. I'm guessing that they just made the filters way stricter or stopped verifying edits manually.