How to Leave a Google Review (Desktop, Maps App and Phone)

To leave a Google review, search for the business on Google or open it in Google Maps, sign in to your Google account, find the reviews section and select “Write a review” (or “Rate and review” in the Maps app). Choose a star rating, add a written review and any photos, then post. Your review appears publicly under your Google profile name, and you can edit or delete it later from your contributions in Google Maps.

Below are the exact steps for desktop and phone, plus what to do if your review doesn’t show up and how to write one that other people will find useful.

What you need before you start

• A Google account. Reviews are tied to an account, so you need to be signed in. If you use Gmail or an Android phone, you already have one.
• A real experience with the business. Google’s policies require reviews to be based on a genuine experience. You don’t have to have bought something, but you should have actually visited or dealt with the business.
• The right listing. Some businesses have several locations, and some professionals have their own listing separate from their practice. Check the address before you write.

How to leave a Google review on a computer

1. Go to Google Search or Google Maps and search for the business name, adding the city if it’s a chain.
2. Click the business to open its profile panel, usually on the right of search results or on the left in Maps.
3. Find the reviews section and click Write a review. If you aren’t signed in, Google asks you to sign in first.
4. Choose a star rating from one to five.
5. Write your review in the text box. Some businesses also show optional questions about specific aspects, such as service or price.
6. Add photos if you want to, using the camera or photo option.
7. Click Post.

How to leave a Google review on your phone

In the Google Maps app

1. Open Google Maps and search for the business.
2. Tap the business name to open its place page.
3. Scroll to the reviews area or open the Reviews tab, and tap the stars or Rate and review.
4. Choose your stars, write your review, add photos and tap Post.

In the Google app or a mobile browser

Search for the business, open its profile, scroll to the reviews and tap Write a review. The steps are the same as on desktop. Google also often shows a prompt in Maps asking you to rate places you’ve recently visited, if your location history is turned on.

From a review link

Many businesses share a direct review link by text, email or a QR code at the counter. Opening that link takes you straight to the review form for that business, which saves searching.

Google changes button labels and layouts from time to time, so if you don’t see a label exactly as written here, look for a star rating or pencil icon in the reviews section.

How to edit or delete your Google review

1. Open Google Maps on your computer or phone.
2. Open your profile or the menu, and go to Your contributions or the Contribute area, then Reviews.
3. Find the review, select the three-dot menu next to it, and choose Edit review or Delete review.

Editing is common and entirely fine. If a business fixes your problem after you post a negative review, updating the review to reflect what happened is fair to the business and useful to other readers. You don’t have to, and no business should pressure you to.

Why your Google review might not appear

If you post a review and it doesn’t show up, or disappears later, it’s usually one of these:

• It’s still being processed. Google’s systems check reviews before and after they’re published, and some take a little time to appear.
• It was flagged by Google’s filters. Reviews that look like spam, contain links, include personal information, use offensive language or are off-topic may be removed or never published.
• It looked like a conflict of interest. Google doesn’t allow reviews of your own business, a current or former employer, or a competitor.
• There was an unusual surge of reviews. When a business suddenly receives lots of reviews, for example after a news story, Google may temporarily limit new reviews to protect against review bombing.
• You’re viewing a different listing. Check that you reviewed the right location.

Our guide to a Google review missing from a profile covers these causes in more depth, including what business owners can check.

How to write a Google review that helps people

The most useful reviews answer the questions the next customer has. A few habits make a big difference:

• Be specific. “The plumber arrived within the two-hour window, explained the problem, and cleaned up afterward” is more helpful than “Great service.”
• Describe what happened, then your opinion. Facts first, feelings second.
• Mention the date or context if it matters, such as a weekend brunch rush or a particular service.
• Leave out personal information, yours or anyone else’s, including employees’ full names or phone numbers.
• Keep negative reviews fair. Say what went wrong and whether the business tried to fix it.

An example of a helpful review

Took my car in for a brake inspection on a Tuesday morning. They quoted the price before starting, called me when they found a worn rotor, and didn’t push extra work. Ready by early afternoon as promised. The waiting area was small, but the staff were friendly and clear about everything.

An example of a fair negative review

Booked a table for six on a Saturday and waited 40 minutes past our reservation with no update. The food was good once it arrived, and the manager took dessert off the bill, but the wait and lack of communication spoiled the evening. Would try again on a weeknight.

Rules to keep in mind

Leaving a review on Google is simple, but a few rules apply to everyone:

• Don’t accept payment or perks for a review. Google prohibits incentivized reviews, and under the FTC’s 2024 rule on consumer reviews, businesses can’t offer rewards conditioned on positive reviews.
• Don’t review a business you have a stake in. That includes your own business, your employer and competitors.
• Don’t post more than one review for the same place from multiple accounts.
• Stick to your honest experience. Opinions are protected speech, but false statements of fact about a business can create legal problems. The Consumer Review Fairness Act stops businesses from using contracts to bar honest reviews, but it doesn’t protect false claims. Our guide on defamation vs opinion explains the line in general terms.

A worked example

Here is an illustrative scenario. A customer has a bad experience at a dry cleaner: a jacket comes back with a stain that wasn’t there before. She opens Google Maps on her phone, finds the right location, taps Rate and review, gives two stars and describes what happened, including that the counter staff said they couldn’t do anything.

The next day, the owner replies publicly, apologizes and asks her to come back. She returns, the owner arranges for a specialist cleaning and covers the cost. A week later, she opens Your contributions in Maps, edits her review to say the owner made it right, and changes her rating. Nobody pressured her, and her updated review now tells future customers something useful about how the business handles mistakes.

If you’re a business owner reading this

If you want customers to leave reviews, make it easy: share your direct review link after every visit and ask every customer, not just the ones who seemed happy. Our guide on how to get more Google reviews covers the full process, and our review management service can handle requests and replies for you.

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave a Google review without a Google account?

No. You need to be signed in to a Google account to post a review. Creating one is free, and if you use Gmail or an Android phone, you already have one.

Can I leave an anonymous Google review?

Not fully. Reviews show the name and profile photo on your Google account. You can change the display name on your account, but the review remains linked to it and must follow Google’s policies.

Why did my Google review disappear?

Google may have removed it for breaking a policy, such as including links, personal information or off-topic content, or its systems may have flagged it as possible spam. Sometimes reviews also take time to appear. Check that you’re looking at the right location.

Can a business delete my Google review?

No. Businesses can reply to your review or report it to Google if they think it breaks Google’s policies, but only Google can remove it. Genuine reviews that follow the rules generally stay up.

Can I add photos to a Google review?

Yes. When writing or editing your review, use the photo option to add pictures from your device. Photos should be relevant to the business and follow Google’s content policies.