How to Leave a Google Review (Step-by-Step, 2026)
Leaving a Google review takes less than a minute once you know where to tap. Here's the exact step-by-step for phone and desktop — plus how to write a helpful one and what to do if it won't post.
Leaving a Google review is one of the most useful things you can do for a local business you like — it helps them get found, and it helps the next customer decide. The good news: it takes under a minute once you know exactly where to tap. This guide walks through how to leave a Google review on your phone and on a computer, how to write one that actually helps, how to review anonymously, and what to do if your review won't show up.
Search the business name on Google → tap its name to open the profile → scroll to "Reviews" → tap the star rating → write a sentence and tap Post. That's it. Everything below is just the detail.
What you need before you start
Only two things. First, a Google account — the same one you use for Gmail, YouTube or an Android phone. Reviews can't be posted without being signed in (more on anonymous reviews below). Second, the name of the business. You don't need the app, you don't need to be at the location, and you don't need to have spent money there — just a genuine experience to describe.
How to leave a Google review on your phone
This works the same on iPhone and Android, in any browser or the Google app. It's the fastest route for most people.
- Open Google (the app, or google.com in your browser) and make sure you're signed in to your account.
- Type the business name in the search bar and tap it in the results so the business profile opens.
- Tap the Reviews tab, or scroll down to the reviews section.
- Tap the row of empty stars and choose your rating from 1 to 5.
- Write a short comment about your experience, add a photo if you have one, then tap Post.
Many businesses now hand you a card or have a small stand on the counter. Tap it with your phone (NFC) or scan the QR code and it opens the "write a review" screen directly — skipping the search entirely. If you see one, use it; it's the one-tap version of every step above.
How to leave a Google review on a computer
Prefer a full keyboard? The desktop steps are nearly identical.
- Go to google.com and confirm you're signed in (top-right corner).
- Search the business name. Its profile panel appears on the right of the results (or open Google Maps and search there).
- Click Write a review in that panel, or scroll to the reviews and click the stars.
- Pick your star rating, type your review, optionally add photos, and click Post.
How to write a review that actually helps
A star rating on its own is fine, but a sentence or two makes your review far more useful to the business and to future customers. You don't need to write much — just be specific.
- Name what you got. The dish, the service, the treatment — specifics help others know what to expect.
- Mention a person if they stood out. Staff names make reviews feel real and mean a lot to the team.
- Say what made it good (or not). Speed, friendliness, value, the result — one concrete detail beats ten vague adjectives.
- Keep it honest and your own. Don't copy text, and only review places you genuinely experienced.
"Booked a same-day repair with Mia — she explained the fix clearly, finished in an hour, and the price matched the quote. Easiest plumber I've used." That's a five-star review that helps everyone.
— Example review
Can you leave a Google review anonymously?
Not truly anonymously — Google requires you to be signed in, and your review shows the name and photo on your Google account. There's no setting to post with no name attached, and reviews from fake or empty profiles are often filtered out as spam.
What you can do is control how you appear: open your Google account settings and adjust the name and profile photo associated with it. Some people keep a more private display name. Just remember that businesses can see who reviewed them, and a review from a complete, real-looking profile carries far more weight and is much less likely to be removed.
How to edit or delete a review you left
Changed your mind, or the business put things right? You can update or remove your own review any time.
- Open Google Maps or search, and go to your profile menu → Your contributions → Reviews.
- Find the review, tap the three-dot menu next to it.
- Choose Edit review to change the stars or text, or Delete review to remove it entirely.
Why won't my Google review show up?
If you posted a review and it isn't visible, you're usually not doing anything wrong — Google runs every review through automated spam filters, and a few common things can hold one back:
- It's still processing. New reviews can take anything from a few minutes to a couple of days to appear publicly.
- Your profile looks new or empty. Reviews from brand-new accounts with no photo or history are more likely to be held or filtered.
- It tripped a spam signal — links, phone numbers, promotional wording, or several reviews posted in quick succession from one device or network.
- It breaks a content policy — profanity, personal attacks, or off-topic content can be removed automatically.
If your review is genuine and still doesn't appear after a few days, completing your Google profile (real name and photo) and avoiding links in the text usually helps. We cover this in depth in our guide on why Google reviews don't show up.
For business owners: make leaving a review effortless
If you run a business and you're reading this to share it with customers, here's the real lesson: every extra step costs you reviews. Asking a happy customer to search your name, find the profile, scroll to reviews and sign in loses most of them. The businesses that collect the most reviews remove that friction entirely.
A tap & scan card, plate or stand opens your review page in one tap — no searching, no app. Hand it over at checkout or leave it on the counter, and far more of those willing customers actually follow through. It's the single biggest lever you have on your review count, and it's why our guide to getting more reviews starts there.
Our tap & scan Google review cards, plates and stands send your customers straight to the "write a review" screen — no searching, no app, no typing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the Google Maps app to leave a review?
No. You can leave a review from any web browser at google.com or in Google Maps — the app just makes it slightly quicker on a phone. The steps are the same either way.
Can I leave a review without a Google account?
No. Google requires you to sign in to a Google account to post a review, which is how it links the review to a real person and filters out spam. Creating an account is free and takes a minute.
Do I have to be a paying customer to review a business?
No. Google asks that reviews reflect a genuine experience — that can include a visit, a consultation, or a phone interaction. You shouldn't review a business you've had no real contact with.
Will the business know it was me?
Yes. Your review displays the name and photo on your Google account, and businesses can see who left each review. There's no fully anonymous option.
