How to Change Business Hours on Google (2026 Guide)

Nothing annoys a customer quite like turning up at a shop that Google said was open. Wrong hours are one of the easiest mistakes to fix and one of the costliest to ignore, especially around bank holidays, school breaks and the odd family emergency that closes you for a day.

Google gives you several different tools for hours, and picking the wrong one is where people go astray. Below I'll walk through each one using the steps in Google's help pages: main hours, special hours, more hours and closing the profile for a longer break.

Which Google hours setting should you change?

Start here, because the right choice depends on how long the change lasts and what sort of change you need.

Your situation	Google setting to use
Your regular weekly timetable has changed	Main hours
A bank holiday or a short one-off closure	Special hours
Different times for a service, such as delivery or senior hours	More hours
A longer closure, the off-season or no end date	Temporarily closed
The business has shut for good	Permanently closed

Changing the main business hours on Google from a computer

Main hours are the standard weekly pattern shown on your Business Profile in Google Maps and Search. Google's help gives this route:

1. Go to your Business Profile at business.google.com.
2. Select Edit profile, then Hours.
3. In the Business hours section, click the pencil icon next to Hours and choose the option for main hours.
4. Tick the box next to each day you're open.
5. Use the dropdowns to set opening and closing times.
6. Click Save.

If you'd rather not show hours at all, the same page describes choosing the no-main-hours option and saving. I wouldn't hide them unless there's a reason, because customers like certainty.

Updating business hours on Google in the Maps app

Google's help describes editing your profile from your phone too. Open the Google Maps app, tap Business at the bottom right, tap Edit profile, make your changes and tap Save after making changes. Labels can differ between app versions, so look for Hours inside the profile editor.

Setting special hours on Google for holidays

Special hours override your main hours for specific dates, which makes them the right tool for a bank holiday or a staff training day. Google's steps:

1. Go to your Business Profile, then select Edit profile and Hours.
2. In the Business hours section, select Edit next to Special hours.
3. Choose a date. You can confirm a suggested date, add a custom date or open an existing one.
4. Set the hours. For an open day, clear the Closed checkbox and enter opening and closing times. For a closed day, keep Closed checked.
5. Select Save.

Three details from Google's article save headaches. First, special hours only show if your business hours are set to Open with main hours. Second, a set of special hours can't exceed 24 hours, so for an overnight opening you split the time across two dates. Third, you can add another time block on the same day with More, then Add hours, which suits a lunch break.

Using More hours on Google for delivery, takeaway or senior sessions

Some businesses run different services on different timetables. A restaurant might serve from 5pm but deliver from midday, or a shop might hold a quiet shopping hour. Google's help says to use More hours when your business offers specific services at different times, such as senior hours or delivery and takeout hours. The exact screens are in a separate Google article, so follow what your profile editor shows.

Marking a business temporarily closed on Google

For a longer break, special hours aren't the right fit. Google says that special hours cover temporary changes of up to six days in a row, and that for seven or more days you should use Temporarily closed. Its closure article also says to use it for the off-season or when there's no set end date. The route mirrors the permanent one:

1. Open your Business Profile and select Edit profile, then Hours.
2. Click the pencil icon next to Hours.
3. Choose Temporarily closed.
4. Select Save.

Google's pages describe the cut-off between a short closure and a longer one in slightly different words, so follow whichever option the screen suggests for your dates. One thing to know: Google says temporarily closed businesses may rank below open ones for broad searches, depending on category and query. It's a good reason not to leave the setting on a day longer than necessary. To reopen, Google refers you to its help article on marking your business as reopened.

Why Google changes to business hours aren't instant

After you save, don't expect an instant update. Google states that it reviews your changes before they go live on your profile, and it doesn't give a time. You can check the progress of an edit through the edit status tool Google links to. If you've got a big event coming, such as a holiday weekend, make the change well beforehand so there's no gap.

A hours routine for local business owners

A tiny habit prevents most hours mistakes. Here's the one I'd suggest:

• Set special hours for every bank holiday as soon as you know your plan.
• Check that your website, social profiles and shop window all show the same times.
• Look at your profile on your phone once a month, the way a customer would.
• Update hours the same day you change your rota, not later.

There's more about getting the rest of your profile right in my Google Business Profile optimisation checklist, and if you want to know why local listings reward the effort, read why local SEO still works for small businesses. My local SEO checklist for service businesses has the wider list.

If your Google business hours won't change

When a change doesn't appear, check the usual causes in order:

• You haven't saved. Look for the Save button at the end of the edit.
• The edit is still being reviewed. Google says it checks changes before they go live.
• Special hours are set but your main setting isn't Open with main hours, so they're not showing.
• You're not signed in to the account that manages the profile.

If you've ticked all of those, Google's Business Profile community is the place to ask.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change business hours on Google?

Go to your Business Profile at business.google.com, select Edit profile, then Hours. Click the pencil icon next to Hours, set your open days and times, and click Save. Google reviews changes before they appear live.

How do I set holiday hours on Google?

Use special hours. In Edit profile, Hours, select Edit next to Special hours, choose the date, set the hours or keep Closed checked, and save. Your business must be set to Open with main hours for them to show.

How long do special hours last on Google?

Google's help says special hours cover temporary changes of up to six days in a row. For seven or more days it suggests Temporarily closed.

Why haven't my new hours appeared on Google?

Google says it reviews your changes before updating them live and doesn't state how long that takes. You can check your edit status, and make sure you pressed Save.

Can I change my hours from my phone?

Yes. Google's help says to open the Google Maps app, tap Business at the bottom right, tap Edit profile, make your changes and tap Save.