Have you ever visited a restaurant that served the best pasta you’ve ever tasted? When you have a great dining out experience, you want to share it with other people. That is where Google Reviews come in.

Right now, word of mouth has gone digital. Before trying a new barber, buying a car, or even visiting a dentist, everybody does one thing first: they check the Google reviews.

If you are wondering how to leave a Google review, this guide will walk you through every single step. So, let’s dive in.

How to Leave a Google Review on a Computer

• Open Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or any browser you use. Go to Google.com.
• If you see a blue “Sign In” button at the top right corner of the screen, click it and log in with your email and password. If you see your profile picture or an initial there, you are already logged in.
• Type the name of the business you want to review in the search bar. We recommend that you be specific.
• On the search results page, look to the right-hand side. You will see a Knowledge Panel box with the business’s name, photos, map location, and hours.
• Scroll down in that box until you see the section labeled “Reviews.” 
• Click on the “Write a review button. A window will pop up here.
• Click the stars to rate your experience, type your review, and click “Add photos” to upload.
• Then hit the “Post” button to add your review.

How to Leave a Google Review on Mobile (Android & iOS)

You can leave a review on your phone in two ways: via a browser or the Google Maps app.

Option A: Using the Google Maps App (The Easiest Way)

• Tap the map icon on your phone.
• Type the business name in the search bar at the top.
• Once it pops up on the map or in the list below, tap the name to open their full profile.
• Here, tap on the “Reviews” tab.
• Tap the number of stars you want to give, then write your review.
• Click on the “Post” button you will see in the top right corner.

Option B: Using a Mobile Browser (Chrome or Safari)

If you don’t have the Maps app, just use your internet browser.

• Go to Google.com.
• Search for the business name.
• Tap the “Reviews” tab in the business profile that appears.
• Tap the stars to start your review.
• Fill in the details and hit “Post.”

How to Leave a Google Review Anonymously

This is a common question. “I have a Yahoo email; can I still leave a review?”

The answer is yes, but there is a small trick. You cannot leave a review anonymously or as a “guest.” You must have a Google Account. But that account does not have to be a Gmail address.

Here is how to set it up:

• Go to the Google Sign-In page.
• Click “Create account.”
• When it asks for a username, look for the option that says “Use my current email address instead.”
• Type in your Yahoo, Outlook, or work email.
• Follow the steps to verify your email.

Now you have a Google Account linked to your non-Gmail address, and you can leave reviews just like everyone else!

How to Edit or Delete a Review

We have all been there. You hit “Post” and then realize you made a typo, or maybe you left a 1-star review in the heat of the moment, and now you want to change it.

The good news is that your review is not set in stone. You can change it or delete it entirely whenever you want.

How to Edit or Delete on Mobile (Google Maps)

• Open the Google Maps app.
• Look at the bottom of the screen. You will see a tab that says “Contribute” (it usually has a little plus sign icon). Tap that.
• Near the top, tap on “View your profile.”
• Scroll down until you see your list of reviews.
• Find the review you want to change.
• Tap the three little dots next to that review.
• Select “Edit review” to change the stars or text, or tap “Delete review” to remove it forever.

How to Edit or Delete on a Computer

• Go to Google Maps in your browser.
• Click the Menu button (the three horizontal lines in the top left corner).
• Click “Your contributions.”
• Click the tab that says “Reviews.”
• Find the review in the list.
• Click the three dots and choose Edit or Delete.

Why Isn’t My Google Review Showing Up?

You wrote a long, thoughtful review, hit post, and… nothing. It’s not showing up on the business profile. This can be frustrating.

Google has become very strict lately to fight against fake reviews (spam). Sometimes, real reviews get caught in the safety net. Here are the most common reasons your review might be invisible:

• You included a link: Google hates it when you put URLs or email addresses in a review. They think you are trying to advertise something. Remove the link, and it might appear.
• It looks like spam: If you copy and paste the same review for 10 different businesses, Google will hide them all.
• Profanity: Even if you are really angry, avoid using swear words. Google’s automatic filters will block the review immediately to keep the platform family-friendly.
• Conflict of Interest: You generally cannot review a place you work at, or a competitor’s business, if Google can link your account to those places.

Can a Business Delete My Bad Review?

This is a huge myth. Many people think, “Why bother leaving a bad review? The owner will just delete it.”

The truth is: Business owners cannot delete reviews.

They have no “delete” button. If they could delete bad reviews, every restaurant would have a 5-star rating!

However, a business owner can report a review to Google if it violates the rules. For example, if you write a review that is racist, hateful, or clearly fake (like reviewing a place that hasn’t opened yet), the owner can flag it. Google will then look at it and decide whether to remove it. But if you are just sharing your honest opinion that the service was slow, that review stays up forever unless you delete it.

FAQs

Do I need to download the Google Maps app to leave a review?

No. You can simply use the internet browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.) on your phone or computer. Just search for the business on Google and look for the reviews section.

Can I review a business if I didn’t buy anything?

Yes. Google allows you to review an experience. For example, if you walked into a shop and the staff were rude to you, so you left without buying, you are allowed to write a review about that interaction. However, you should not review a place you have never actually visited.

How long does it take for my review to show up?

As soon as you click “Post,” it is live. However, sometimes there is a delay of 24 to 48 hours if Google’s automated systems are double-checking it for spam.

Will the business know I viewed their profile?

No. Business owners cannot see who viewed it. But they can see how many people viewed their profile. They will only know you were there if you leave a review or send them a message.

Why is there no option to leave Google reviews?

Here are the reasons why there is no option to leave Google reviews:

• The business is temporarily closed
• There’s a technical issue with your Google account
• The business is in a category that doesn’t accept reviews
• Google hides reviews if they seem like spam or break its guidelines.

Can I leave a review without a rating (stars)?

No. You must select a star rating (1 to 5) to post a review.