How to Leave a Google Review: Step by Step

You visited a business, it went well or it didn't, and now they've asked you for a Google review. This guide shows you where to click, what makes a review useful to other people, and what to leave out.

You can give one to five stars and stop there, or add a few sentences as a written review.

Before you start

You need a Google account and have to be signed in. Google asks you to sign in when you start writing.

You can't post anonymously. Google's help page says: "All reviews are public and anyone can find what you add. You're unable to add an anonymous review." (Google Maps Help) Next to your review, people see the name on your Google profile, and they can also see your other reviews and the photos you added to Maps, including where they were taken. Check that name before you post.

And nobody pays you for it. Google puts it this way: "Your reviews and opinions are voluntary. We don't pay reviewers to add reviews to Google Maps." (Google Maps Help)

Leave a Google review on a computer

1. Open Google Maps in your browser and sign in.
2. Search for the business you want to review.
3. In the panel on the left, scroll down and click Write a review.
4. Click the stars. One star is the lowest score, five is the highest.
5. Add your text if you like, and photos if you have them.
6. Submit the review.

Google's own instructions are in the Google Maps Help.

Leave a Google review on Android

1. Open the Google Maps app and make sure you're signed in.
2. Search for the business or tap it on the map.
3. At the bottom, tap the name or address.
4. At the top, tap Reviews.
5. Tap the five empty stars and pick your score.
6. Write your text under "Share more about your experience".
7. Submit the review.

Some places also show a few short questions about your visit. You can answer them, but you don't have to.

Leave a Google review on iPhone or iPad

The steps are the same as on Android: open the Google Maps app, find the business, tap its name or address at the bottom, tap Reviews at the top, choose your stars, write your text and submit.

If the business gave you a link or a QR code, it's quicker: you land on the business's page right away, or on a page where one tap takes you to the review form, so you don't have to search.

What makes a review useful

Stars alone don't tell other people much. A few specific sentences help more than any amount of praise. These questions give you a start:

• What did you buy, book or have done? "Oil change and tire rotation" says more than "auto shop".
• What stood out? Waiting time, advice, cleanliness, price, whether they did what they promised.
• Would you go back or recommend them? And why.
• When were you there? "In September" helps readers place your review in time.

Two examples of how that can sound:

Five stars:

"They designed our new kitchen. The adviser took their time and even talked us out of a more expensive appliance we didn't need. Installation was on time, and a missing handle arrived two days later."

Three stars:

"The food was good, especially the pasta. But we waited 25 minutes for our table even though we had a reservation, and nobody told us why."

Criticism is fine as long as it's fair. Google's policy says: "We do allow content that describes negative experiences in a respectful manner." (prohibited and restricted content policy)

Adding photos

Photos make a review more concrete. Only upload pictures you took yourself. Google's tip: "Upload media of a place that you captured using a camera." Google asks you to avoid screenshots, stock photos and collages, and it can remove low-quality photos without appeal (Tips for posting media to Maps).

What Google doesn't allow in reviews

Google checks reviews against its prohibited and restricted content policy. Three points matter most for you as a reviewer.

Real experiences only. A review "should reflect an actual experience with a business, and be genuine and unbiased." If you've never been there, don't review it.

No conflict of interest. If you work or used to work there, are related to the owner, or run a competing business, don't review it. Google lists "current or former employment, a contractual or consultory relationship, or other professional or personal affiliations" as examples.

Nothing in return. A discount, a free drink or a prize draw entry in exchange for a review is against Google's policy. The same goes for changing or deleting a negative review: a business may not offer you anything for that either. If one does, turn it down.

Edit or delete your review

You can edit or remove your review at any time.

On a computer: In Google Maps, click the menu at the top left, then Your contributions and Reviews. Next to the review, click More, then choose Edit review or Delete review.

In the app: Tap Contribute, then View your profile, scroll and tap See all reviews. Next to the review, tap More, then choose Edit review or Delete review.

One thing to know: "If you edit your review, the date of when the last edit was made will show up as the review's post date." (Google Maps Help)

Why your review isn't showing

Sometimes a review is written but doesn't appear on the business profile.

• It's still being checked. In the help for business owners, Google writes: "Reviews are checked to ensure they comply with our policies. In some cases, this process might take a few days" (About missing or delayed reviews).
• It breaks a policy. It may still be visible in your own Google Maps profile, but Google says it "may be marked as 'Not posted,' 'Private,' 'Not Accepted,' or similar" (Removed and rejected content). Other people won't see it. If you think that's a mistake, you may be able to edit and repost it or appeal.
• Reviews are paused for this place. Google can stop new reviews on a profile for a while, for example when the business itself broke the rules on fake reviews (Business Profile restrictions for policy violations), or temporarily to protect business owners (About missing or delayed reviews).

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave a Google review anonymously?

No. Google publishes every review with the name on your Google profile.

Can I leave stars without text?

Yes. Text is optional. A review with a few sentences is much more helpful to others, though.

Can I review my own employer?

No. Current or former employment is a conflict of interest for Google. The same goes for family and competitors.

How long until my review shows up?

Google checks reviews before they appear. In some cases that takes a few days, according to Google. If it never appears, check your own profile to see whether it's marked "Not posted".

For businesses: share this guide

If you run a business and ask customers for reviews, you can link to this page. Some people don't leave a review simply because they don't know where to click. How to ask without being pushy is covered in How to Ask Customers for a Google Review, and the shortest way to the review form is a link or QR code: How to Use QR Codes to Collect Reviews in Person.

With Regiofy you get a QR code for your review page, from which your customers reach Google with one tap, and you see new reviews from Google, Tripadvisor and Trustpilot in one place. Free for 14 days, no credit card.

Create a Google review QR code